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Lena's Kitchen

Lena's Kitchen

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Home » Appetizers

Cheesy Italian Meatball Sliders Recipe

Posted: February 18, 2021 by lena gladstone | Updated: February 19, 2021

907 shares

These party-perfect Cheesy Italian Meatball Sliders are loaded with tasty seasonings, melted cheese, and juicy meatballs. They’re easy to make, use simple ingredients, and can be prepared ahead of time.

Jump to Recipe
close up on a tray of baked slider buns covered in cheese and herbs

Soft brioche buns filled with cheese, marinara, and a juicy meatball are what dreams are made of. The perfect game day snack, these Cheesy Italian Meatball Sliders are drool-worthy and full of the best savory flavors. The gooey stretch of melted mozzarella is the cherry on top of this delicious appetizer.

Instead of slicing the buns in half like a hamburger slider, we’re instead going to scoop out the top of the bun and stuff it with meatballs, marinara sauce, and cheese. How does it get better than that? Oh yeah, with garlic herb butter, Italian seasonings, and parmesan cheese all over!

tray of baked slider buns covered in cheese and herbs

Grab your friends, turn the game on, and serve platter after platter of these cheesy sliders next to Buffalo Chicken Tenders, Loaded Deviled Eggs, and some drinks!

small bowls with meatball slider ingredients next to a bag of slider buns

Ingredients you need for Italian meatball sliders

  • St. Pierre Bakery brioche sliders – These brioche buns are so soft, fluffy, and the perfect vessel to hold the cheesy meatballs in marinara sauce. You can find St. Pierre Bakery slider buns in your local grocery store bakery aisle.
  • Frozen meatballs – Using premade frozen meatballs speeds up this recipe. Use an Italian variety to compliment the other ingredients. If you’re more of a fan of homemade meatballs, try making my Asian Pork Meatballs.
  • Marinara sauce – Use your favorite storebought marinara sauce or season a can of crushed tomatoes with Italian seasonings like oregano, paprika, parsley, and salt and pepper.
  • Garlic herb butter – This will dress the buns so each bite is savory, soft, and creamy.
  • Cheese – Mozzarella cheese will melt on the inside of the sliders while the parmesan on top acts as the perfect garnish.
womans hand brushing butter onto hollowed slider buns
womans hand adding a spoonful of marinara into hollowed slider buns
slider buns on a tray covered in cheese

How to make meatball sliders

  1. Make the herbed garlic butter: Mix the butter and garlic together in a saucepan over low heat. Transfer the melted garlic butter to a bowl and mix with the parsley and salt.
  2. Cook the meatballs: In the same pot, add the meatballs and marinara sauce and cook for 10 minutes on medium-low heat.
  3. Prepare the buns: Use a cookie cutter or knife to cut meatball-sized holes out of the buns. Place the buns on a baking sheet, brush each one with garlic butter (inside and out), and bake in the oven for 5 minutes.
  4. Add the meat and cheese: Add mozzarella, one meatball, and marinara into each bun. Top with more cheese and bake. When the sliders are finished baking and the cheese has melted, finish each one with a sprinkle of parmesan and parsley before serving.
overhead view of a tray of cheesy baked sliders

Tip and substitutions

  • Not sure what to do with the leftover bread from the slider buns? Use the cut pieces of bread to make croutons in stuffing, a brussels sprouts salad, or to add to spaghetti.
  • Use any kind of meatball you like. Italian flavored beef or pork meatballs will pair best with the savory marinara and cheese but you can lighten it up with turkey or chicken instead. To make it vegetarian-friendly, use meatless meatballs!
  • You must pre-cook the meatballs before baking them in the sliders. Otherwise, they’ll be undercooked and not safe to eat.
close up of a meatball slider cut in half

Can meatball sliders be made ahead of time?

The sliders can be assembled ahead of time on the baking sheet. Just cover them well in foil and keep them in the fridge until you’re ready to bake.

The sliders are best enjoyed hot and fresh out of the oven. Storing any leftovers in the fridge will make the buns soggy.

womans hand taking pulling 1 slider from a tray of cheese-covered sliders

More party appetizers to try

Whether you need more party snacks or an exciting appetizer, these recipes will do the trick:

  • Ribeye Steak Crostini
  • Ahi Tuna Poke Wonton Nachos
  • Chili Lime Shrimp Tacos
  • Asian Pork Lettuce Cups

If you try these Cheesy Italian Meatball Sliders, let me know what you think! Rate and review this recipe in the comments below. Don’t forget to take a picture and tag me on Instagram @lenaskitchenblog!

Cheesy Italian Meatball Sliders

4.3 from 15 votes
Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
Cook Time: 20 minutes mins
Total Time: 25 minutes mins
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Lena Gladstone
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
These party-perfect Cheesy Italian Meatball Sliders are loaded with tasty seasonings, melted cheese, and juicy meatballs. They’re easy to make, use simple ingredients, and can be prepared ahead of time.

Ingredients

  • 12 brioche sliders, center removed, or use hawaiian rolls
  • 6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
  • 4 tbsp garlic, finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp parsley, or fresh basil plus more for garnish, finely chopped
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 12 meatballs
  • 2 cups marinara sauce
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella
  • ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • In a small pot, melt the butter with the garlic. Once the butter is melted and the garlic is fragrant, add them to a small bowl along with the chopped parsley and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
  • In the same pot, add the meatballs and marinara sauce. Cook for 10 minutes on medium-low heat.
  • Using a cookie cutter or knife, cut out holes in the tops of the brioche sliders (big enough to fit 1 meatball). Don’t cut all the way through. Remove the center of the brioche slider.
  • Brush garlic herb butter in each cutout and on top of the sliders. Bake for 5 minutes uncovered.
  • Remove the sliders from the oven. Divide 1 ½ cups of mozzarella cheese in each opening, one meatball per slider with some sauce. Top with the remaining ½ cup mozzarella cheese.
  • Bake for 5-7 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese mixed with chopped parsley. Enjoy while they are hot.
Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: American, Italian
Keyword: 30 minute meal, appetizer, easy appetizer, meat, meatballs, party, party food, side dish, snack

Nutrition

Calories: 505kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 83mg | Sodium: 941mg | Potassium: 415mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1103IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 316mg | Iron: 3mg
907 shares

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4.34 from 15 votes (9 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Reviews
Questions

Comments

  1. Deb

    at

    How far in advance can you prepare them? Won’t they get soggy?

    Reply
    • lena

      at

      Deb, the sliders can be assembled ahead of time (a few hours ahead of time is good, just as long as you bake them right before serving) on the baking sheet. Just cover them well in foil and keep them in the fridge until you’re ready to bake.

  2. Lauralea Dawson

    at

    5 stars
    My husband loved these and I loved how quick and easy they were to make! Next, I’ll try a vegetarian version for my daughter and I 🙂

    Reply
    • lena

      at

      That’s so great to hear, thank you!

  3. Jolanta Ostrovetsky

    at

    5 stars
    Amazing appetizer. Easy to make . I bought good quality meatballs to save time. Just wow. Look so good on the plate when you present it to the guests. And so so tasty. Thank you Lena.

    Reply
  4. Yovita

    at

    5 stars
    It was so delicious. My boys loved it. Definitely going to repeat again!?

    Reply
  5. Kristina

    at

    5 stars
    This is our first time making them but second time trying these sliders. This is such a great treat for an after school snack, an appetizer for a dinner party, also great way to use meatballs in a different way. Love this combination and the taste is phenomenal! If you haven’t made it yet, what are you waiting for?

    Reply
  6. Natasha

    at

    5 stars
    These look so yummy!! I need to make them ?

    Reply

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Welcome, glad you’re here!

Hi, I’m Lena Gladstone, the recipe developer and food photographer behind Lena’s Kitchen. Here you will find approachable food recipes to share with the whole family. Keto friendly, weeknight dinners all made with fresh ingredients. Click here to learn more!

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