Description
Pull Apart Meatball Sliders are a fun and flavorful party appetizer or meal made with juicy homemade meatballs, marinara sauce, melted mozzarella, and buttery garlic slider buns. These sliders combine Italian-inspired flavors with the convenient format of Hawaiian rolls for a delicious, shareable treat perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Slider Buns
- 12 Hawaiian slider rolls (or slider buns or dinner rolls)
- 1/4 cup butter (melted)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 tbsp parsley (minced)
Meatballs
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
- 1/2 medium onion (shredded or finely minced)
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 tsp salt
- 1.5 tbsp Italian seasoning (or ½ tbsp each dried oregano, basil and parsley)
- 2 tbsp milk
- Cut out bread from slider buns, soaked in milk
Toppings and Sauce
- 2 cups marinara sauce (homemade or store bought)
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded, divided into 1/2 cup portions)
- 1 tbsp Parmesan cheese (grated, for garnish)
- 1 tbsp fresh basil (minced, for garnish)
- 1 tbsp parsley (minced, for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the Slider Buns: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the slider buns on it. Using a knife, carefully slice a hole in the top of each bun, cutting about 2/3 through. Set the cut-out bread pieces aside.
- Make Garlic Butter: In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, minced garlic, and minced parsley. Brush this garlic butter evenly on the tops, sides, and inside cut areas of each slider bun.
- Bake the Buns: Place the tray with the buns in the oven and bake for 5 minutes until lightly toasted.
- Prepare the Meatballs Mixture: Pour the milk over the reserved cut-out bread pieces and mash them into small bits. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, grated Parmesan, shredded onion, minced garlic, salt, Italian seasoning, and soaked bread mixture. Mix thoroughly until well combined. Divide the meat mixture into 12 equal portions and shape each into a meatball.
- Cook the Meatballs: Choose one cooking method: Stovetop – heat a splash of oil in a frying pan over medium heat, cook meatballs in batches, browning all sides until cooked through (5-8 minutes). Oven – preheat to 400°F and bake meatballs on parchment-lined sheet for 20-25 minutes. Air Fryer – preheat air fryer to 400°F and air fry meatballs in batches for 8-12 minutes until cooked through.
- Coat Meatballs with Sauce: Transfer cooked meatballs to a large bowl, pour marinara sauce over them, and stir to coat evenly.
- Assemble the Sliders: Evenly divide 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese among the bottoms of each slider bun. Place a meatball on top of each, spoon a little extra marinara sauce on each meatball, and then sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese on top.
- Bake the Assembled Sliders: Return the sliders to the oven and bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle additional grated Parmesan cheese, fresh basil, and parsley over the sliders. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- You can use store-bought or homemade marinara sauce depending on preference.
- Italian seasoning can be substituted with equal parts dried oregano, basil, and parsley.
- For extra flavor, consider adding a pinch of red pepper flakes to the meatball mixture.
- The sliders can be cooked entirely on stovetop or air fryer if you prefer, but baking the buns and final assembly is recommended in the oven.
- Leftover sliders can be stored in the refrigerator for 1-2 days and reheated carefully to preserve texture.
