Comfort food doesn't get much better than this! These Meatball Parmesan Sliders take everything you love about a classic meatball sub and turn it into a cheesy, pull-apart, bite-sized dish.
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Whether you serve these sliders as an appetizer or a quick dinner, they’re universally loved and sure to impress. It’s a fun twist on a traditional Italian favorite that doesn’t require spending all night in the kitchen. Each bite delivers warm, cheesy, saucy goodness that’s perfect for any gathering!
Serve these sliders with a few of my favorite sides for a complete and satisfying meal. Pair them with my Easy Baked Beans for a sweet and smoky kick, add a bowl of Mexicorn Dip for a zesty appetizer, and don’t forget some Air Fryer French Fries—crispy, golden, and perfect for dipping.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Family friendly - Kids and adults alike will all love the classic Italian flavors of these sliders!
- Quick and easy prep - Just a few minutes of prep, and the oven handles the rest.
- Portable and convenient - These sliders are easy to make and easy to take on the go!
- Comfort meal made simple - You get all the rewards of a delicious, comforting meal without all the extra hassle.
Ingredients
Gather the ingredients below to make these meatball sliders!
- Kings Hawaiian Rolls are soft, have a hint of sweetness, and are the perfect size for sliders.
- Frozen meatballs are convenient
- Marinara, whether that’s a more herby marinara or a cheese or meat sauce, use your favorite!
- Mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese melt best when freshly shredded.
- Butter can be either salted or unsalted.
- Garlic paste has the perfect smooth consistency for the garlic butter.
- Fresh parsley, dried basil, and dried thyme add great flavor to the garlic butter. Fresh or dried variations will both work.
- Red pepper flakes add a little heat and lots of flavor to the garlic butter.
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- Meatball variations: Try chicken, Italian, Swedish, or any other meatball variant to switch up the flavors. You can also make your own homemade meatballs to add a more personal touch.
- Cheese swaps: Provolone, or other cheese blends can be used in place of or in addition to your mozzarella or parmesan.
- Other slider bun options: If you’re not a fan of the slight sweetness of Kings Hawaiian Rolls, you can use white slider buns, brioche buns, or any other bun that you prefer instead.
- Sauce variations: You can completely switch up this recipe by swapping the marinara for a honey BBQ, buffalo sauce, or Alfredo sauce.
How to Make Meatball Parmesan Sliders
Once you've gathered all your ingredients, preheat the oven to 375ºF and follow the steps below to make these Hawaiian roll meatball sliders.
- Step 1: In a medium bowl, mix all garlic butter ingredients until well combined.
- Step 2: Place rolls in a greased 9x13-inch pan and cut a hole in the center of each with a serrated knife.
- Step 3: Spread garlic butter into the holes and bake for 6–8 minutes, until melted.
- Step 4: Combine cheeses and spoon half into the holes.
- Step 5: Press one meatball into each hole followed by a spoonful of marinara.
- Step 6: Top rolls with remaining cheese and bake for 20–25 minutes, until melted and golden.
Helpful Tips
- Thaw meatballs completely – Make sure your frozen meatballs are fully thawed before baking to ensure even cooking and a tender texture.
- Don’t overfill the rolls – A spoonful of sauce is just enough; too much can make the bottoms soggy.
- Line your pan for easy cleanup – Use parchment paper or foil under the rolls to make cleanup even quicker.
- Use a cookie scoop for even portions – A small cookie scoop works great for adding the cheese and marinara neatly and evenly.
- Add a broil finish for extra crispness – If you like a crispier top, broil the sliders for 1–2 minutes at the end (watching closely!).
Recipe FAQs
Avoid using too much marinara sauce and make sure your rolls are slightly toasted with garlic butter before adding the fillings.
Absolutely! You can assemble everything beforehand, except for the marinara sauce, and keep it tightly wrapped in the refrigerator for up to a day in advance. Then, just add the sauce and a finishing sprinkle of cheese before you bake.
To make use of the leftover pieces of rolls that were cut out, you can either snack on them, serve them as mini dippers, make homemade breadcrumbs, or use them in a bread pudding or stuffing.
The easiest way to reheat your leftover sliders is to preheat your oven to 350ºF, cover your sliders with foil, and bake for 15-20 minutes or until heated through.
Storage & Freezing Instructions
Storage Instructions
To store leftover meatball sliders, place them into an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Freezing Instructions
These meatball sliders can be put in an airtight, freezer-safe container and kept in the freezer for up to a month.
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Meatball Parmesan Sliders
Ingredients
For the Garlic Butter
- ¼ cup butter (softened)
- ½ teaspoon garlic paste
- 2 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
For the Sliders
- 24 Kings Hawaiian Rolls
- 24 frozen meatballs (thawed)
- 1 cup marinara
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup shredded parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375ºF.
- To make garlic butter, place all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl. Mix well until uniform throughout.
- Place rolls in a greased 9x13-inch pan.
- Using a serrated knife, cut a hole out of the middle of each roll.
- Using a butter knife, spread garlic butter in and around the holes that you cut out.
- Bake rolls for 6-8 minutes or until the butter is melted.
- In a small bowl, combine mozzarella and parmesan cheeses.
- Even distribute half of the cheese mixture between the 24 holes.
- Press one meat ball into each hole followed by a spoonful of marinara.
- Finally, sprinkled the remaining cheese mixture over top of the rolls.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until cheese is melted and slightly golden.
Notes
- Thaw meatballs completely – Make sure your frozen meatballs are fully thawed before baking to ensure even cooking and a tender texture.
- Don’t overfill the rolls – A spoonful of sauce is just enough; too much can make the bottoms soggy.
- Line your pan for easy cleanup – Use parchment paper or foil under the rolls to make cleanup even quicker.
- Use a cookie scoop for even portions – A small cookie scoop works great for adding the cheese and marinara neatly and evenly.
- Add a broil finish for extra crispness – If you like a crispier top, broil the sliders for 1–2 minutes at the end (watching closely!).
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