I collect easy dinner recipes the way some women collect diamonds, and this easy recipe for Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders features the always-popular Italian flavors of meatballs, spaghetti sauce and cheese.
Your whole family will love the combination of soft, slightly sweet Hawaiian Rolls, homemade meatballs, savory marinara sauce, and a generous layer of melted Mozzarella cheese.
A brush of seasoned garlic butter and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese add a tasty finishing touch before the sliders are baked in the oven. They’re simple to make and so delicious for an easy dinner, party appetizer, or perfect game day snack.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Easy to Make: These sliders are super simple to assemble, and bake in the oven in less than 30 minutes.
Winning Flavors: The combination of soft Hawaiian Rolls, savory marinara sauce, hearty meatballs, melted Mozzarella cheese and seasoned garlic butter is irresistible!
Crowd-Pleaser: Whether you serve them as a delectable appetizer for a casual party, bring them as your offering to a potluck, or make them for a satisfying main course, these sliders are universally loved by people of all ages!
Ingredients Notes
Shown from the top, here are the simple ingredients you’ll need to make these mini meatball sandwiches:
Hawaiian Rolls – I used the 12 pack of King’s Hawaiian Original Sweet Rolls for this recipe, but you can use another brand or even make your own soft dinner rolls.
Marinara Sauce – You can use prepared or homemade marinara sauce, or your favorite spaghetti sauce.
Meatballs – I made a batch of homemade meatballs with Italian sausage and ground beef for this recipe, but you can also use cooked, frozen large Italian meatballs of your choice. You can also use turkey meatballs, chicken meatballs, or meatless meatballs.
Butter – I used salted butter, but you can use unsalted butter instead, depending on your taste preferences.
Garlic – I highly recommend fresh garlic in this cheesy meatball sliders recipe, as the garlic butter adds wonderful flavor. In a pinch, you can substitute garlic powder. (1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder is roughly the equivalent of one clove of garlic.)
Parmesan Cheese – Grated Parmesan cheese is sprinkled over the Hawaiian roll sliders just before serving for additional flavor. You can also use shredded Parmesan if you prefer.
Mozzarella Cheese – Grated mozzarella cheese has just the right consistency to melt and add delicious flavor to the little sandwiches. Either part skim or whole milk mozzarella cheese works equally well.
Chopped Chives – I like chopped fresh chives to add a little color and dash of flavor for the final touch. You can also use finely chopped parsley if you prefer, or skip the garnish.
Equipment Needed
You won’t need any fancy kitchen equipment to make these Hawaiian roll meatball sliders:
- Baking sheet
- Aluminum foil
- Serrated breadknife
- Tablespoon
- Garlic press
- Small bowl
- Pastry brush
- Cooling rack
Step by Step Instructions
Here’s how to prepare this easy meatball sliders recipe. (For complete directions, scroll down to the printable recipe card.)
STEP ONE | Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
STEP TWO | Cut the sweet Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally, keeping the whole slab intact. Arrange the bottom half of the rolls on the prepared baking sheet.
STEP THREE | Spoon about a tablespoon of the marinara sauce on each roll.
STEP FOUR | Top each of the bottom buns with a meatball. Then, spoon more marinara sauce over the meatball.
STEP FIVE | Sprinkle all over with mozzarella cheese.
STEP SIX | Place the bun tops over the cheese. Combine the melted butter and garlic in a small dish, and brush the tops of the rolls all over with the garlic butter mixture.
STEP SEVEN | Cover loosely with foil and bake for 10 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking until sliders are hot, buns are golden brown, and cheese has melted, about 10 more minutes.
STEP EIGHT | Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Sprinkle all over with Parmesan cheese.
PRO GARNISHING TIP: To evenly sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese on the sliders, pour some of the cheese in a wire mesh strainer and shake it gently over the meatball cheese sliders.
How to Store in the Refrigerator
If you have leftover cheesy meatball sliders, cool them to room temperature, place them on a plate, and gently cover with plastic wrap or foil. You can also store leftover sliders in an airtight container. Refrigerate and plan to enjoy them within 3 days.
How to Freeze
Cool the baked sliders to room temperature, and transfer them to a container or freezer safe plastic bag. They can be stored in the freezer for a period of 3-6 months. For optimal results, wrap the cooled individual sandwiches in plastic wrap before placing them in the container or Ziploc bag. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
When ready to reheat, for best results thaw the sliders by placing them in the refrigerator overnight.
Reheating Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and cover the sliders loosely with foil. Bake for 8 minutes, remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 3-4 minutes or until the sliders are thoroughly warmed.
Recipe Variations
Caprese Meatball Sliders: Use tomato basil pasta sauce instead of marinara, and substitute chopped fresh basil instead of chives to top the sliders.
Spicy BBQ Meatball Sliders – Substitute your favorite spicy barbecue sauce for the marinara sauce, and use grated pepperjack cheese instead of mozzarella. So good with coleslaw!
What to Serve With Slider Sandwiches
Here are some of the sides and salads I love to serve with these pull apart meatball sliders:
Tater Tots – Crispy golden brown tater tots compliment the savory flavors of the meatball subs.
Mixed Green Salad – A light and refreshing salad with a zesty vinaigrette provides a nice contrast to the heartiness of the sliders.
Potato Salad – These delicious Italian sandwiches go nicely with cool, creamy potato salad. Check this roundup of 15 redskin potato salad recipes with bacon at our sister site.
Pasta Salad – A cold macaroni salad with creamy Balsamic dressing adds a satisfying element to the meal.
Veggies with Dip – A platter of fresh, sliced vegetables with a flavorful dip offers a light and crunchy option.
Fruit Salad – An assortment of sweet cut fruit provides a refreshing and colorful contrast to the savory Italian meatball sliders.
Soup – A warm and comforting soup like corn chowder pairs well with the sliders on a cooler day.
Baked Beans – Smoked baked beans with savory bacon are a hearty and flavorful side dish.
Corn – Grilled or boiled corn on the cob, or pan-fried sweet corn is a classic and satisfying side option.
FAQs
Mozzarella or Provolone are traditional for these mini Italian sliders, but you can also use another mild melting cheese like Monterey Jack or white cheddar.
Yes, you can. Assemble the sliders through Step 6, but wait to brush with garlic butter until you’re ready to bake. Cover with foil and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Then brush with the garlic butter and proceed with the recipe, adding a few minutes to the cooking time if sliders are cold.
Yes, feel free to use your favorite frozen meatballs. Just be sure they are completely cooked before adding them to the sliders.
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Printable Recipe Card
Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders
Equipment
- Baking sheet
- Tablespoon
- Small bowl
- cooling rack
Ingredients
- 12 Hawaiian rolls
- 12 meatballs cooked
- 1 1/2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 3 tablespoons butter melted
- 1 garlic clove peeled and finely minced
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- Cut the Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally, keeping the whole slab intact. Arrange the bottom half of the rolls on the prepared baking sheet.
- Spoon about a tablespoon of the marinara sauce on each roll.
- Top each bun with a meatball. Then, spoon more marinara sauce over the meatball.
- Sprinkle all over with mozzarella cheese.
- Place the bun tops over the cheese. Combine the melted butter and garlic in a small dish, and brush the top of the rolls all over with the garlic butter.
- Cover loosely with foil and bake for 10 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking until sliders are hot, buns are golden brown, and cheese has melted, about 10 more minutes.
- Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Sprinkle all over with Parmesan cheese. Garnish with chopped chives, if desired. Makes 12 sliders.
Notes
Nutrition
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About Eliza Cross
Eliza Cross is the author of 17 books, including Small Bites and 101 Things To Do With Bacon. She shares ideas to simplify cooking, gardening, time and money. She is also the owner of Cross Media, Inc. and founder of the BENSA Bacon Lovers Society.
