Description
Mini Meatball Sliders are the ultimate game day appetizer featuring juicy Italian-style meatballs simmered in marinara, topped with melted mozzarella, and baked inside soft slider buns brushed with garlic butter.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450g) ground beef (80/20)
- ½ pound (225g) ground pork
- ½ cup (60g) breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup (25g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 2 cups (480ml) marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 12 slider buns (Hawaiian rolls)
- 1½ cups (170g) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, gently mix ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, garlic, egg, parsley, salt, pepper, oregano, and milk until just combined.
- Shape into 20–24 mini meatballs (about 1½ inches).
- Bake meatballs for 12–15 minutes until browned and cooked through.
- Transfer meatballs to a saucepan with marinara sauce and Italian seasoning. Simmer 10 minutes.
- Reduce oven temperature to 350°F (175°C).
- Slice slider buns horizontally without separating rolls and place bottom half in a greased baking dish.
- Place one meatball on each bun section and spoon extra sauce over top.
- Sprinkle evenly with mozzarella cheese.
- Place top buns over cheese layer.
- Mix melted butter with garlic powder and parsley, then brush over tops.
- Cover loosely with foil and bake 10 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake another 5 minutes until golden and melty.
- Cool slightly, slice along seams, and serve warm.
Notes
- Add red pepper flakes for extra heat.
- Ground turkey can be substituted for a lighter version.
- Assemble ahead and refrigerate before baking.
- Reheat leftovers at 325°F for about 10 minutes.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slider
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 65mg