Name: Easy Cheesy Meatball Sliders Recipe on Hawaiian Rolls
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 18 min
Ingredients: 12 medium sized Frozen Meatballs; 2 cups Tomato Sauce ((I also use vodka sauce)); 1/2 stick Salted Butter; 1 Garlic Clove (finely minced); 2 tbsp Parmesan Cheese (grated); 1 tsp Fresh Parsley (finely minced (plus a little more for garnish)); 1 pack King’s Hawaiian Original Sweet Rolls ((or 12 slider rolls)); 12 small slices Fresh Mozzarella Cheese

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These easy meatball sliders are the ultimate game day snack or easy meal for a busy weeknight! Made with juicy meatballs (frozen for convenience!), garlic butter, and lots of cheese, these delicious meatball sliders are baked to golden brown perfection on sweet Hawaiian rolls and slathered in the most flavorful butter mixture.

a white plate full of cheesy meatball sliders with one split in half so you can see the meatball and sauce.

Why You’ll Love It

These pull-apart meatball sliders are everything you love about mini meatball subs but in a cute, bite-sized form that’s perfect for sharing. And y'all know I LOVE a cutie pie food!

You'll be obsessed with the way the Hawaiian sweet rolls soak up the garlic butter and parmesan cheese, creating a delicious butter base that crisps up beautifully in the baking dish.

Plus, using frozen meatballs and store-bought pasta sauce makes this one of those huge time savers that still tastes like you spent hours making it. And also, if you want a homemade meatball recipe, you know I got you!

But regardless, the good news is that whether you go with homemade meatballs or frozen meatballs, these beefy parmesan sliders turn out amazing every time.

And let’s be real, anything topped with a piece of mozzarella cheese and melted to perfection is an automatic win!

Serve them up as a great appetizer or a complete meal—either way, you won’t have leftovers! So let's get to it shall we?!

an up close view of a meatball stuffed hawaiian roll slider with melted cheese on top.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Meatballs: Whether you use frozen meatballs or make your own meatballs with ground beef, some spicy sausage, bread crumbs, black pepper, and italian seasoning, onion powder, etc.. they’ll be delicious. In my opinion, the best cocktail meatballs that you can find in your freezer section are made by Simek's. But if you want to make my go-to meatball recipe, you just need some ricotta and a few other simple ingredients from the grocery store.
Tomato sauce: I love using vodka sauce in this recipe but you could absolutely swap it for marinara sauce, plain tomato sauce, or any pasta sauce you have on hand.
Salted Butter: Salted butter is used and melted to make the perfect butter mixture. Use olive oil if you prefer but butter is best!
Fresh Garlic: Freshly minced for that garlic bread flavor! Garlic powder works in a pinch.
Parmesan cheese: Adds a salty, nutty bite! You can use more for extra flavorful meatballs or even a crusty cheesy crust!
Fresh Parsley: Use fresh or dried parsley flakes or even some fresh basil for garnish.
King’s Hawaiian Original Sweet Rolls: Any slider rolls or dinner rolls will work, but these add the perfect sweetness.
Mozzarella cheese: A piece of mozzarella cheese on each slider ensures lots of cheese.

a hand holding a meatball slider that's been cut in half.

How to Make Them

PREP THE MEATBALLS: Add vodka sauce and meatballs to a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook for 10-15 minutes or until heated through, then set aside.

PREHEAT THE OVEN: Set your oven to 400F degrees.

a half stick of butter and chopped garlic in a glass measuring cup.

melted butter, parsley, garlic and parmesan.

MELT THE BUTTER MIXTURE: In a small bowl, add butter and minced garlic. Microwave on high for 30 seconds, stir, then heat for another 15 seconds. Stir in parmesan cheese and fresh parsley flakes and set aside.

PREP THE BAKING DISH: Add 2 tablespoon of the butter mixture to the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish (you could also use a parchment paper lined sheet pan) then place the slider buns inside.

a baking dish full of hawaiian rolls brushed in garlic butter with holes cut out in the middle of each one.

CUT THE CENTER OF THE ROLLS: Use a sharp knife to cut out the center of the rolls - making sure the hole is the same size of your meatballs so it fits right in. Then brush the top of the rolls and coat buns with the remaining melted butter.

a white baking dish filled with meatball stuffed kings hawaiian rolls.

STUFF THE ROLLS: Now place a juicy meatball inside each one. Top with another spoonful of pasta sauce.

mozzarella topped meatball sliders in a baking dish before going in the oven.

ADD CHEESE: Place a piece of mozzarella cheese on each meatball.

BAKE: Transfer to the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the roll tops are golden brown.

a baking dish full of melty cheesy meatball sliders.

SERVE: Let rest for a few minutes before serving. Garnish the tops of the rolls with more parsley and an extra sprinkle of parmesan cheese if desired.

SAVE: You can place any leftover meatball sliders in an airtight container or wrap them in aluminum foil. You can enjoy this perfect finger food for up to 3 days after you've made them.

an up close meatball slider cut in half so you can see the meatballs, sauce, cheese and bread.

Pro Tips

These cheese sliders are bound to be one of your favorite recipes. Whether you make them for the Super Bowl, a big game, or just because you love a great recipe, you’ll be adding these to your next time list for sure! Here are some tips for these pull apart meatball sliders:

For best results, let the slider rolls sit at room temperature before baking.
Store leftover sliders in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
For an extra crispy top, place the sliders under the broiler for 2-3 minutes at the end.
Want a spicier version of this slider recipe? Use arrabiata sauce or sprinkle on some red pepper flakes to the sauce.
Try these in the air fryer at medium-high heat for a crispier finish!

a birds eye view of a white platter topped with a dozen cheesy meatball sliders.

What goes with Meatball Sliders?

Here are some more of my favorite easy recipes to serve with these easy cheesy meatball sliders.

Or honestly anything from this collection: The Best Super Bowl Snacks & Appetizers Recipe Collection!

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