Description
Soft and savory mini meatball sliders featuring juicy homemade meatballs smothered in marinara sauce and topped with melted cheese on buttery slider buns. This easy and crowd-pleasing appetizer or party snack brings together classic Italian-inspired flavors in a convenient handheld size.
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 lb ground beef (or beef + pork blend)
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp grated parmesan
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Sliders
- 12 slider buns or small dinner rolls
- 1 ½ cups marinara sauce
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella or provolone cheese
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Optional: extra parmesan and fresh basil for topping
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and allow even cooking.
- Make Meatball Mixture: In a mixing bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, grated parmesan, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until ingredients are well incorporated.
- Form and Bake Meatballs: Shape the mixture into 12 evenly sized small meatballs and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until the meatballs are browned and completely cooked through.
- Warm Marinara Sauce and Coat Meatballs: While meatballs cook, gently warm marinara sauce in a small pot on the stovetop. Once meatballs are done, add them to the sauce and toss to coat evenly.
- Prepare Slider Buns: Slice each slider bun horizontally but keep the top and bottom halves attached if possible. Lay the buns open on a baking dish to assemble.
- Assemble Sliders: Spoon a small amount of marinara sauce on the bottom half of each bun, add a meatball, then generously sprinkle with shredded mozzarella or provolone cheese.
- Close Buns and Add Butter Mixture: Replace the tops of the buns. Mix melted butter with garlic powder and Italian seasoning, then brush this mixture evenly over the tops of the buns for flavor and a golden finish.
- Bake Sliders: Place the assembled sliders into the oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the cheese is melted and the buns’ tops turn golden brown.
- Finish and Serve: Remove sliders from the oven and optionally sprinkle with extra parmesan cheese and fresh basil. Serve the sliders warm for best taste.
Notes
- To add a spicy kick, include crushed red pepper flakes into the marinara sauce.
- For an extra cheesy slider, layer cheese both under and over the meatballs before baking.
- Save time by using frozen cooked meatballs or a store-bought marinara sauce.
- These sliders can be prepped ahead of time and baked fresh when ready to serve, making them great for meal prep.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Dinner, Party Food
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American / Italian-Inspired
