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!
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Hearty Crowd-Pleasing Appetizers
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.
For an incredible appetizer spread, I love to accompany these cheesy sliders with other favorites like ooey-gooey Pizza Dip, easy Crockpot Meatballs, Tuna Dip, and BBQ Chicken Pizza Bites.
Why You'll Love These Meatball Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls
These cheesy baked Meatball Sliders with frozen meatballs go together so easily and can be on the table in about 15 minutes. It doesn't get much quicker and easier than that!
The recipe has simple ingredients with packaged items easily found at the grocery store. These ingredients not only make these sliders super easy to make but save a ton of time too!
They are hearty enough to be eaten for lunch or dinner.
And you won't believe how deliciously popular these Italian Meatball Sliders on King's Hawaiian Rolls are!
Ingredients
Slider buns - I used King's 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. You can also opt to make homemade meatballs. Air Fryer Meatballs are great for these sliders.
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 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
Here are the simple steps for making these mini meatball sliders:
- If using frozen meatballs, cook them according to the package directions.
- Place just the bottoms of the Hawaiian rolls in a baking dish. Brush with garlic oil and toast under the broiler. This helps them from becoming soggy. Watch them carefully so they don't burn.
- Place one cooked meatball on top of each roll.
- Top each meatball with a little marinara.
- Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, and fresh basil leaves.
- Cover the meatballs with the top of the Hawaiian rolls. Brush with more garlic-infused olive oil then sprinkle with more Parmesan cheese.
- Ready for the oven! Bake for 5 minutes then carefully remove the baking dish from the oven. Cut through rolls if they are stuck together and place on serving plate.
Look at all that ooey-gooey stretchy cheese! That's my favorite part!
Recipe Variations
- Meat - try subbing in turkey or chicken meatballs or plant-based meatballs.
- Rolls - opt for dinner rolls, potato rolls, or even brioche rolls instead of Hawaiian rolls
- Sliders with a twist - use garlic bread or Texas Toast instead of rolls.
- Flavor - change to a filling from your favorite food list like Cheeseburger Sliders, Chicken Parmesan Sliders, BBQ Pork, or even Taco Sliders.
You can also make these for dinner using larger rolls.
Can you make these meatball sliders ahead of time?
Yes, you can but 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 them in the refrigerator until the guests arrive. Pop them in the oven for 5-10 minutes (depending on how cold they are).
What to Serve with Meatball Sliders
Here are some great sides for meatball sliders:
- Coleslaw
- Veggie Tray - Raw chopped and sliced vegetables with dip
- Salads
- Soup
- Fresh Fruit or a Fruit Salad like a Waldorf Salad
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
Place the sliders in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can freeze them for up to 3 months. Thaw them in the fridge overnight.
Reheat the sliders on a baking sheet loosely covered with foil in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes or until warmed through.
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!
Air Fryer Mac and Cheese Balls are everyone's favorite side made into an easy finger food.
Smoked Fish Dip uses smoked white fish seasoned with Old Bay, Worcestershire 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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Easy Meatball Sliders with Hawaiian Rolls
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
- 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
This post has been updated with more helpful information. It was first published on July 31, 2016.
Paula says
These were amazing - new favorite game day food! Thanks for sharing the recipe (and for introducing me to Cooked Perfect Angus meatballs)!
Linda Warren says
You are so welcome! We just had them for the football game this weekend - so good. Aren't those meatballs fantastic? I use them for spaghetti and meatball dinners all the time now.
Carmen says
I would not use frozen meatballs again. They are tuff and too small
Linda Warren says
I hope you'll try these sliders again with a better frozen meatball brand. I love to use Cooked Perfect Angus Meatballs which are perfectly sized for slider rolls. Since the meatballs only get cooked as per package instructions, they are juicy and not at all tough. The 5 minutes in the oven, covered with sauce, is just to melt the cheese and does not cook the meatballs enough to make them tough. Check out your brand of frozen meatballs or, even better, make your own.
Patrick Lloyd says
Make the dang 2.25 oz meatballs, perfect for a very thoughtful recipe share, and be done with it. This ain't McDonald's. Great work. Thanks Linda!
Linda Warren says
Thanks Patrick! Glad you enjoyed this easy app! I actually make mine with the 1-oz size which takes just 1 minute per 3 meatballs to cook in the microwave. I like the idea of using the 2-oz size you suggested to make larger portions for dinner (and hungry men lol).
Julie Evink says
We had some friends over for a tailgating party and made these. They were a hit and everyone asked for the recipe! YUM!
Linda Warren says
I'm so glad to hear everyone loved them! They're a favorite at our house too!
Sues says
This is my new favorite dinner!! The only problem is that I want toe at WAY too many of them! Such a delicious idea.
Linda Warren says
lol I know the feeling! Great comfort food dinner for sure.
gwmax44907 says
Never saw or heard of slider buns before. I don't think my local stores carry them.
Linda Warren says
You can just use a package of potato rolls or something similar. They usually come with 12 rolls per package, all connected.
Elsa | the whinery says
I like! quick and easy and can feed a crowd.