Name: Easy Cheesy Italian Meatball Sliders
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 12 slider rolls (I prefer King's Hawaiian Brand); 12 Italian meatballs, cooked; 1 to 1 1/2 cups jarred marinara sauce; 1 1/2 to 2 cups Italian blend cheese, shredded; 3 tablespoons butter, melted; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon dried parsley

Jump to Recipe

One bite of these meatball sliders and you’ll be craving more! These small individual sandwiches are quick to prepare and a great option to a full size meatball sub.

Wooden plate with five small meatball burgers on it. There is a bamboo pick in each of the burgers.

Football season and the Super Bowl are like holidays around my friends and these Italian Meatball sandwiches are perfect for a party appetizer or a snack for just the two of you!

Easy and delicious is my motto when feeding a crowd this time of year. That’s why I use all pre-made store bought ingredients.

Prep time: 10 minutes
Bake time: 15 minutes
Total time: 25 minutes
Preparation level: Beginner +

What You’ll Love

Cheesy, Saucy, and Satisfying – Everything you love about classic Italian comfort food, packed into a handheld bite.
Perfect Party Food – Great for game day, potlucks, or family gatherings.
Customizable – add fresh basil, use different cheeses or buns.
Kid-Friendly & Crowd Pleasing – Easy to eat and simple flavors everyone will love!

Ingredient Notes & Variations

Rolls: I always use King Hawaiian Brand Rolls but you can use any roll that you prefer.
Meatballs: Frozen Italian Style Meatballs which are pork. Turkey meatballs, chicken meatballs or beef meatballs can be used as an alternative.
Jarred Marinara Sauce: My favorite is Rao’s Marinara. You can use spaghetti sauce or any favorite sauce that you have.
Shredded Cheese: Packaged Italian blend (a combination of parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese). You can also use sliced cheese, just place a small piece of cheese on top of each meatball.
Sprinkle a little crushed red pepper flakes while you are cooking the meatballs for some heat.
Varieties: The classic ham and cheese sliders, chicken sliders and for Breakfast, try egg and bacon sliders.

There is a small white plate with two Italian Meatball sliders on it. Plate is on a wood surface.

Step-by-Step Instructions

There is a gray board with uncooked meatballs on it. Board is on a wood surface.

There is a skillet with meatballs cooking in it. There is a gray spatula resting in the skillet. Skillet is on a wood surface.

If using raw meatballs, cook according to package instructions.

There is a gray board with twelve round bread rolls on it and a large kitchen knife. Board is on a wood surface.

There is a baking sheet with the bottom half of twelve rolls and tomato sauce. Baking pan is on a wooden surface.

Use a long serrated knife and cut the rolls in half horizontally.
Spoon a little bit of the marinara sauce on the bottom portion of each bun.

There is a baking sheet with the bottom half of twelve rolls, tomato sauce and cooked meatballs. Baking pan is on a wooden surface.

There is a baking sheet with the bottom half of twelve rolls, tomato sauce, cooked meatballs, and shredded cheese. Baking pan is on a wooden surface.

Place a cooked single meatball on each bun.
Sprinkle the Italian blend cheese on top of the meatball.

There is a baking sheet with meatball sliders ready to be baked. Baking pan is on a wooden surface.

There is a baking sheet with twelve baked meatball sliders on it. Baking sheet is on a wood surface.

Place the top portion of the bun on top. Brush each roll with the melted butter and seasoning (garlic powder, dried parsley).
Cover the sliders with foil and bake.
Uncover and bake until the tops are golden brown. Using an oven mitt, remove them from the oven, cut them with a knife and serve.

See the recipe card below for complete measurements and cooking times.

Round wooden plate with five small buns with meatballs and sauce on them. There are wooden picks on the top of each bun. Plate is on a white surface.

Laura Belle’s Tips

Use a baking sheet instead of a baking dish. It makes it a lot easier to cut and remove the sliders after they are finished baking.
A fun way to serve them is on a tray as a pull apart meatball sliders meal.
Press down the meatballs before I cook them. This makes them a little flatter and a little easier to assemble and eat.
When cooking the meatballs use a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat until the inside is 165 degrees. You can flatten the meatballs a little before cooking.

Reheating

I don’t think you will have any leftovers of these Easy Cheesy Italian Meatball Sliders but just in case!

Tent the meatballs with foil so that the tops won’t get too brown and place the meatball sliders in a preheated 350 degrees oven for 10 – 15 minutes.

Wooden plate with six small meatball burgers on it. The front burger is cut in half. There is a bamboo pick in each of the burgers.

Make Ahead

Cook the meatballs ahead and store them in the fridge until you need them. Just reheat the meatballs until they have a warm center. Assemble them when ready to serve.

Sides to Serve with Meatball Sliders

Potato Wedges – Classic comfort food.
Steamed Broccoli – Adds a nutritious crunch.
Macaroni Salad – Always a great side dish.
Side salad – A fresh, light contrast to the Italian flavors.
Potato Salad – Because who doesn’t love potato salad?
Coleslaw from Sugar Spun Run is easy and delicious!

Yield: 12