These Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sliders are inspired by Chili's Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks. Perfect for game days, backyard barbecues, or anytime you want to kick things up a notch, this cheesy slider recipe is the ultimate mashup of sweet, savory, and spicy.
Why You’ll Love It
I've been seeing Chili's Nashville Hot Mozzarella sticks everywhere and knew I had to put my own cheesy spin on it!
So if you’re a fan of that sweet-spicy flavor profile, these sliders will blow your mind.
King’s Hawaiian rolls bring their signature sweetness, which balances out the heat from the Nashville hot butter perfectly, giving you a slider that’s equal parts comfort and kick.
The melty mozzarella cheese takes these little sandwiches over the top, creating a gooey, stretchy bite every single time.
And when you dunk it in your favorite ranch dressing, it's like a dang dream come true!
And since they bake together in one batch, they’re easy to make for a crowd—no need to individually assemble each slider.
Whether you’re preppin' cheesy snacks for a gathering, or just treating yourself to something deliciously indulgent, these Nasvhille hot mozzarella sliders are fast, fun, and guaranteed to please.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- King’s Hawaiian Original Sweet Rolls: These are key for that sweet, soft flavor. If you need a substitute, any soft dinner roll will do, but the taste won’t be quite the same. If you're using rolls that aren't sweet, add ¼ cup of brown sugar to the nashville hot butter.
- Mozzarella Cheese (about 10 slices): The gooier, the better with these tasty little sliders! Substitute with provolone, pepper jack or even white cheddar for a slightly different flavor.
- Butter: Adds richness and helps distribute the spices evenly. Use vegan butter if you’re dairy-free. You could also use oil like they typically do in a Nashville Hot Sauce - but personally, I think it's better with butter!
- Smoked Paprika: For that smoky, deep flavor. Regular paprika works too, but won’t have the same smokiness.
- Garlic Powder: Adds a nice kick of savory flavor. Fresh garlic is kind of too strong here; stick to the powder for a balanced taste.
- Onion Powder: Balances out the garlic and gives it a nice, rounded flavor. If you don't have any, this is one of the ingredients you can skip.
- Chili Powder: Adds a bit of depth and complements the cayenne’s heat.
- Cayenne Pepper: The star of Nashville hot flavor! Adjust according to heat preference. I tend to stay on the medium/mild heat side of the spectrum just in case my kids want to try it. If you want it to be super spicy, add up to 1 tablespoon of cayenne.
- Ranch Dressing: Perfect for cooling down the spice and adding a creamy element to each bite. Make your own or use your favorite brand from the grocery store.
How to Make It
Making these Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sliders is ten times easier than making the mozzarella stick versions. Here's how you do it:
- Prep & Preheat: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F.
- Slice the Rolls: Carefully cut the pack of King’s Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally (keeping the rolls connected) and place the bottom half on a baking sheet.
- Add the Cheese: Layer the mozzarella slices evenly on top of the bottom half of the rolls. Pop them in the oven for about 10 minutes, or until the cheese begins to melt and get all stretchy.
- Make the Nashville Hot Butter: While the cheese is melting, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, remove from heat and stir in the smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, and cayenne pepper until everything’s nicely combined. Taste and add more cayenne if desired.
- Assemble & Brush with Butter: Once the cheese is melty, take the baking sheet out of the oven. Place the top half of the rolls on, and brush half of the Nashville hot butter over the tops. Return to the oven for another 10 minutes, letting the butter infuse the rolls with that fiery flavor.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and brush with the remaining hot butter. Serve these sliders warm with a side of ranch dressing for dipping.
What to Serve with them:
These Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sliders are perfect for get-togethers. Here are some of my favorite easy appetizer recipes to serve with them:
- Pecan Pie Goat Cheese Dip
- Cucumber Cream Cheese Spread with Everything Bagel Chips
- Grinder Feta Dip
- Goat Cheese Pepperoni Pizza Dip with Hot Honey
- Easy Marinated Cheese Appetizer Recipe with Salami & Pickles
Recipe
Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sliders
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pack King’s Hawaiian Original Sweet Rolls
- 8 oz Mozzarella Cheese about 10 slices
- ½ stick Salted Butter
- 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ teaspoon Onion Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Chili Powder
- ½-1 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper less if you’re serving to kids
- ½ cup Ranch Dressing for dipping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
- Carefully cut the King’s Hawaiian Original Sweet Rolls in half and place on a baking sheet.
- Place the cheese evenly on top and put in the oven for 15 minutes or until the cheese has started to melt.
- Meanwhile, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Turn off the heat and add smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder and cayenne. Stir everything together until combined.
- Once the cheese has melted on the Hawaiian rolls, remove the sheet pan from the oven and put the other half of the buns on top.
- Brush half of the Nashville Hot Butter over the top and stick back in the oven for 10 minutes.
- Remove from heat, brushing with remaining Nashville Hot Butter and serve with ranch dressing for dunking.