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Meatball Sliders are the ultimate party food, with juicy baked meatballs, saucy spaghetti, and melty mozzarella tucked into soft Hawaiian rolls brushed with garlic butter. I make a pan of these for every game day, and the girls love that each slider is basically a spaghetti and meatball dinner you can grab with one hand. If you love a baked slider, try our French dip sliders next.
Tender homemade meatballs, marinara coated spaghetti, and buttery Hawaiian rolls bake into the most fun handheld twist on a classic Italian dinner.
Meatball Sliders Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 20 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 40 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 1 hour
- 🍽️ Serving: 12 sliders
- ⚡ Calories: 339kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Cheesy, saucy meatball sliders on buttery garlic rolls
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, about as simple as our ham and swiss sliders
Quick Answer
Mix and roll seasoned ground beef meatballs and bake them until cooked through. Toss cooked spaghetti with marinara and parmesan. Place Hawaiian roll bottoms in a baking dish, layer on the saucy spaghetti, a meatball on each, and shredded mozzarella, then add the roll tops. Brush everything with garlic butter, cover with foil, and bake at 375 degrees F for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake a few more minutes until the tops are golden.
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Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- A full dinner in slider form. Each roll holds a meatball, saucy spaghetti, and cheese, so it is a complete meal you can eat with your hands.
- Homemade meatballs. Seasoned with onion soup mix and parmesan, the meatballs are juicy and full of flavor.
- Garlic butter topping. Brushing the rolls with seasoned butter gives the tops that irresistible golden, buttery finish.
- Hawaiian rolls are perfect. Their soft, slightly sweet texture is the ideal base for the savory, cheesy filling.
- Great for a crowd. One pan makes 12 sliders, so they are made for parties, game day, and potlucks.
- Make ahead friendly. Assemble them earlier in the day and bake when guests arrive for an easy hosting win.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- They are the ultimate party and game day food that always disappears fast.
- Each slider is a full spaghetti and meatball dinner you can hold in one hand.
- They are easy to make ahead, just like a big batch of our homemade meatballs.
- Soft Hawaiian rolls and garlic butter make them totally irresistible.
Key Ingredients
Here is everything you need to make a pan of cheesy meatball sliders.
- Ground beef: The base for the homemade meatballs. Lean 80/20 keeps them juicy without being greasy.
- Hawaiian rolls: Soft and slightly sweet, they are the perfect slider base. Keep them connected as a slab.
- Spaghetti and marinara: Cooked spaghetti tossed in marinara adds the saucy pasta layer in every bite.
- Mozzarella and parmesan: Mozzarella melts into gooey cheese while parmesan adds salty, nutty flavor.
- Garlic butter topping: Melted butter with Italian seasoning, garlic, and onion powder brushed over the tops for a golden finish.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
These sliders are easy to customize for your crowd.
- Use store bought frozen meatballs to save time on a busy night.
- Swap in ground turkey or Italian sausage for the meatballs.
- Add a layer of pepperoni or banana peppers for a pizza slider twist.
- Use your favorite jarred sauce, like vodka sauce or a spicy arrabbiata.
- Make them on a sheet of garlic bread or sub rolls instead of Hawaiian rolls.
How to Make Meatball Sliders
- Mix the ground beef with the seasonings, roll into 12 meatballs, and bake until they reach 165 degrees F.
- Toss the cooked spaghetti with the marinara sauce and parmesan until evenly coated.
- Place the roll bottoms in a greased baking dish and spread the saucy spaghetti over the top.
- Add a meatball to each slider, then sprinkle the mozzarella over everything.
- Add the roll tops, then brush the garlic butter mixture all over the tops.
- Cover with foil and bake at 375 degrees F for 20 minutes, then uncover and bake until the tops are golden.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Do not overmix the meatballs or they can turn out dense and tough.
- Keep the rolls connected as a slab so they are easy to assemble and slice.
- Cook the spaghetti al dente since it softens more in the oven.
- Use all the garlic butter for the most flavorful, golden tops.
- Spray your foil or use nonstick foil so it does not stick to the cheesy tops.
- Let them rest for 10 minutes before slicing so they hold together.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
Serve these meatball sliders warm, sliced apart so everyone can grab their own. They are hearty enough to be the main event at a party, with a green salad or a veggie tray on the side to round things out.
They are perfect for game day, birthday parties, and potlucks. Set them out next to other Italian favorites like our homemade Italian meatballs or a warm bowl of Italian wedding soup for a bigger spread.
For a full Italian feast, add a cheesy pasta to the table too. Our chicken alfredo bake pairs perfectly and keeps everyone happily fed. However you serve them, these sliders are always the first thing to disappear.
Meatball Sliders FAQs
Yes. Assemble the sliders completely, cover, and refrigerate for up to a day. Brush with the garlic butter just before baking, and add a few extra minutes since they start cold. You can also bake the meatballs ahead and store them separately.
Absolutely. Store bought frozen meatballs are a great shortcut. Just heat them through according to the package before assembling the sliders, and choose a smaller meatball that fits nicely on a Hawaiian roll.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350 degree F oven, covered with foil, until warmed through. The microwave works too, though the rolls will be softer.
You can freeze the baked meatballs and the assembled, unbaked sliders. Wrap the unbaked sliders well and freeze for up to 2 months. Bake from frozen, adding extra time, until hot in the center and golden on top.
Soft Hawaiian rolls are the classic choice because they are slightly sweet and hold up well to the saucy filling. Any soft slider roll or dinner roll slab will work if you cannot find Hawaiian rolls.
A crisp green salad, a Caesar salad, or a simple veggie tray balances the richness. For a heartier spread, add chips, pasta salad, or a warm bowl of soup alongside the sliders.
Hosting game day? Make a pan of our French dip sliders next.
Meatball Sliders
Ingredients
For the meatballs:
- 1/2 pound lean ground beef 80/20
- 2 tablespoons Italian bread crumbs
- 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 envelope beefy onion soup mix
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For the sliders:
- 8 ounces spaghetti noodles cooked al dente and drained
- 1 cup jarred marinara sauce
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 12 Hawaiian rolls
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
For the topping:
- 1/2 cup salted butter melted
- 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside. Line a sheet tray with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef, bread crumbs, parmesan, egg, onion soup mix, garlic powder, oregano, and pepper until well combined, do not overmix. I like to use my hands for this step.1/2 pound lean ground beef, 2 tablespoons Italian bread crumbs, 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese, 1 large egg, 1/2 envelope beefy onion soup mix, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Divide the mixture into 12 portions and roll into balls. Place on the prepared sheet tray, not touching.
- Bake the meatballs for 10-15 minutes until an internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- While the meatballs are baking, make the spaghetti. Place the cooked noodles into a large bowl with the marinara sauce and parmesan cheese, stir to combine.8 ounces spaghetti noodles, 1 cup jarred marinara sauce, 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- Slice the rolls in half lengthwise. Place the bottom, cut side up into the prepared baking dish.12 Hawaiian rolls
- Add the spaghetti on top of the rolls.
- Place one meatball onto each slider.
- Add the mozzarella on top of the meatballs.2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Top with the top of the rolls.
- In a small bowl, stir together the butter, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and onion powder. Brush this all over the tops of the rolls, use it all!1/2 cup salted butter, 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Cover with nonstick foil or spray a large piece of foil with nonstick spray and cover the sliders, make sure the oil doesnt touch the tops.
- Bake for 20 minutes, remove the foil, and bake for an additional 4-5 minutes or until the tops of the rolls are browned.
- Allow to cool for 10 minutes, then slice and serve.
Notes
- Use a pastry brush to evenly apply the garlic butter mixture.
- Bake the sliders in a preheated oven on the center rack for the best results.
- Use an ice cream scoop for evenly sized meatballs.
- Make sure to not overcook the meatballs; juicy meatballs are the best meatballs.
- Let the sliders rest for 5-10 minutes after baking for the cheese to set slightly before serving.
Nutrition
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