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    Home » Recipes » Appetizer Recipes » Easy Meatball Sliders with Hawaiian Rolls

    Published: Dec 29, 2021 · Modified: Feb 28, 2022 by Linda Warren

    Easy Meatball Sliders with Hawaiian Rolls

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Easy Meatball Sliders with Hawaiian Rolls are full of meatballs smothered in sauce, sprinkled with cheese, and sandwiched between the perfect-sized Hawaiian rolls. They are great appetizers for New Year's Eve, special occasions, game days, or just a quick meal. Easy as 1-2-3 using prepackaged ingredients, these beauties can be on your table in less than 15 minutes!

    Holding a meatball slider over a trayful of sliders..

    Appetizers are great for any time of year, whip them up for special celebrations, football tailgating, barbecues, holiday parties, and especially New Year's Eve. I love how these Meatball Sliders go together so easily and can even be eaten for lunch or dinner.

    Now that New Year's Eve is almost here, I love to accompany these cheesy sliders with other favorites like ooey-gooey Pizza Dip, Crockpot Meatballs, and BBQ Chicken Pizza Bites.

    Tray of lined up hot meatball sliders.

    And you won't believe how deliciously popular these Italian Meatball Sliders are! The ingredient list is simple and all are packaged items easily found at your neighborhood grocers. These ingredients not only make these sliders super easy to make but save a ton of time too! Believe it or not, they can be on the table in about 15 minutes! It can't get much easier than that!

    Variations

    • Meat - try subbing in turkey or chicken meatballs or plant-based meatballs
    • Rolls - opt for dinner rolls, potato rolls or even brioche rolls in lieu of Hawaiian rolls
    • Sliders with a twist - use garlic bread or Texas Toast in lieu of rolls
    • Flavor - change to a filling from your favorite food list like Cheeseburger Sliders, Chicken Parmesan Sliders, BBQ Pork, or even Taco Sliders

    Can you make these meatball sliders ahead of time?

    Yes, you can however, I think they are better prepared just before the guests arrive. If you want, you can prepare them up to grating the cheese on top then keep in the refrigerator until the guests arrive. Pop them in the oven for 5-10 minutes (depending on how cold they are).

    Ingredients

    Slider buns – I used Kings’ Hawaiian rolls or you can opt for dinner rolls, potato rolls, or even brioche bread or rolls

    Meatballs – Frozen meatballs are a quick and easy way to throw this appetizer together. I prefer Cooked Perfect Angus Meatballs. Just cook all 15 of them in the microwave for 5 minutes. You can also opt to make your own homemade meatballs.

    Pasta sauce – Use your favorite sauce, I love Rao’s Marinara but you can also make your own.

    Cheese – Mozzarella is the best ooey-gooey stretchy cheese to use in this recipe. I added parmesan as well for a little extra zest.

    Fresh Basil – this is totally optional but adds so much flavor.

    Olive oil – Try to find the garlic-infused olive oil as it really adds the perfect touch. ‘Cause who doesn’t love garlic! However, a regular light olive oil will also work.

    How to Make Meatball Sliders

    Slider bun in baking dish brushed with oil and browned under broiler.
    1. Place just the bottoms of the Hawaiian rolls in a baking dish. Brush with garlic oil and toast under broiler. This helps them from becoming soggy. Watch carefully so they don't burn.
    Meatballs atop browned slider buns.
    1. Place one cooked meatball on top of each roll.
    Meatballs covered with marinara.
    1. Top each meatball with a little marinara.
    Meatballs in baking dish sprinkled with cheese and basil.
    1. Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella, Parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves.
    Meatballs covered with top of roll and sprinkled with Parmesan cheese.
    1. Cover the meatballs with the top of the Hawaiian rolls. Brush with more garlic-infused olive oil then sprinkle with more Parmesan cheese.
    Meatball appetizer ready to bake.
    1. Ready for the oven! Bake for 5 minutes then carefully remove baking dish from oven. Cut through rolls if they are stuck together and place on serving plate.
    Lifting meatball slider on Hawaiian roll out of baking dish.

    Look at all that ooey-gooey stretchy cheese! That's my favorite part! You can also make these for dinner using larger rolls and serve with french fries or a side salad (depending on how good you want to be 🙂 ) Enjoy!

    Air Fryer Meatballs are great for these sliders too!

    What do you serve with Meatball Sliders with Hawaiian Rolls?

    All your other favorite appetizers, of course! However, for every day, you can serve them with a side salad or some pasta for lunch or dinner.

    More delicious appetizers

    Try my Crockpot French Dip with flavorful au jus for dipping.

    Meatball Tacos with Parmesan cheese taco shells and marinara sauce are simply irresistible!

    Brie with Caramelized Onions, Prosciutto, and Fig Jam from What a Girl Eats.

    Smoked Fish Dip uses smoked white fish that is seasoned with Old Bay, Worchestershire sauce, and a few dashes of hot pepper sauce. Add a little mayonnaise and sour cream for creaminess and you've got a little piece of appetizer heaven.

    Find more easy appetizer recipes here on 2CM!

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    Lifting meatball slider on Hawaiian roll out of baking dish.

    Easy Meatball Sliders with Hawaiian Rolls

    A quick & easy meal or appetizer starting with frozen meatballs & jarred pasta sauce that can be ready to go in less than 15 minutes.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Rate
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 15 Sliders
    Calories: 171kcal
    Author: Linda Warren

    Ingredients

    • 15 Hawaiian Rolls or other small slider buns
    • 3-5 Tablespoons garlic-infused olive oil
    • 15 pre-cooked meatballs
    • ½ jar of your favorite pasta sauce
    • Handful of fresh basil chopped (optional)
    • 4 oz mozzarella cheese shredded
    • Parmesan or Pecorino Romano Cheese

    Instructions

    • Preheat broiler.
    • In an 8x11-inch baking dish, lay out the bottom of the 15 slider buns.
    • Brush with garlic olive oil (or a mixture of garlic and oil or melted butter) and place under broiler, about 6" from heat) until toasted. Watch carefully as they can brown quickly. (Don't pass up this step as it keeps the buns from getting too soggy with the tomato sauce.)
    • Remove from oven. Turn oven to bake and set at 350 degrees.
    • Place a meatball, that's been warmed (per package directions), on each bun.
    • Top with pasta sauce, then sprinkle on mozzarella cheese and a little Parmesan cheese. Top with a few basil leaves.
    • Place remaining halves of buns on top. Brush again with garlic-infused oil and sprinkle additional Parmesan cheese on top.
    • Place back in oven and cook for 5 minutes or until all is toasty and cheese is melted.
    • Remove, cut into individual rolls and serve on a platter.

    Notes

    VARIATIONS
    • Meat - try subbing in turkey or chicken meatballs or plant-based meatballs
    • Rolls - opt for dinner rolls, potato rolls or even brioche rolls in lieu of Hawaiian rolls
    • Sliders with a twist - use garlic bread or Texas Toast in lieu of rolls
    • Flavor - change to a filling from your favorite food list like Cheeseburger Sliders, Chicken Parmesan Sliders, BBQ Pork, or even Taco Sliders

    Nutrition

    Calories: 171kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 55mg | Potassium: 45mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 50IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 1.1mg

    This post has been updated with more helpful information. It was first published on July 31, 2016.

    More Appetizer Recipes

    • Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas
    • Hawaiian Roll Breakfast Sliders
    • Apple Bacon Cheese Phyllo Cup Appetizers
    • Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers

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    Hey, I’m Linda, the recipe creator, photographer and cocktail lover at 2 Cookin Mamas. Here you’ll find easy recipes that are not only delicious but can get you out of the kitchen ASAP. Come and join me and let me take you on a tasty trip through your kitchen. Thanks for stopping by! Learn more about me

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