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–+ servings
6 meatball sliders in a baking pan

Italian Meatball Sliders with Mozzarella and Marinara

These baked Italian meatball sliders are the ultimate cozy comfort food - perfectly seasoned homemade beef meatballs baked in marinara, tucked into soft Hawaiian rolls with melty mozzarella, and brushed with herbed butter. They’re simple to make, crowd-pleasing, and ideal for weeknight dinners, game days, or casual entertaining. With bold Italian flavor and gooey, cheesy bites in every roll, these sliders are guaranteed to disappear fast!
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 9 sliders
Course: Appetizer, lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

For the meatballs:
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 tsp ground fennel
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley or 1/2 tsp dried
  • 1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
For assembling:
  • 12 oz marinara sauce
  • 9 Hawaiian slider buns
  • 1 ball of fresh mozzarella divided into 18 pieces
  • 2 tbsp melted butter
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
  2. In a large bowl, mix together all meatball ingredients until just combined. Form 9 meatballs and place in a baking dish or oven-safe skillet.
  3. Pour marinara sauce over meatballs. Bake for 25 minutes.
  4. Reduce oven to 350°F.
  5. While meatballs bake, cut a circle on top of each bun (not all the way through) and press down to form a cavity.
  6. In each bun hole, add 1 tsp marinara, a piece of mozzarella, and one meatball. Top with more mozzarella.
  7. Mix melted butter and Italian seasoning. Brush over bun tops.
  8. Bake assembled sliders for 15 minutes, until golden and melty. Serve warm.

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