Pull-Apart Meatball Sliders
Sink your teeth into these easy, mouthwatering pull-apart meatball sliders that bring together tender meatballs, melty cheese, homemade marinara sauce, and soft Hawaiian rolls. This irresistible comfort food is perfect for a crowd or a cozy night in!
Flavor on Top of Flavor!
I don’t know what it is about a meatball, but whenever I see one I’m always ready to try it. It is one of the best appetizers or main entrees! They’re simple to make and don’t take much effort at all. The only problem with them is that they go so quickly!
My Easy Pull-Apart Meatballs Sliders are not known as “The Best Meatball Sliders” just for show! These juicy homemade meatballs sit on soft Hawaiian Rolls and are topped with a rich marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese. These sliders will have you drooling more than normal! Just one taste won’t be enough!
Let’s Talk Meatballs!
Meatballs are one of my favorite appetizers to make and eat! You honestly can’t have just one. Once you pop one in your mouth, you’re ready for another one! But, sometimes, meatballs can be tricky to get right. Here are a few tips & tricks to help you make the best meatballs:
Pick the Right Ground Meat. I cannot stress this enough! The right ground meat will determine how delicious the meatballs will be. I highly suggest using a mixture of any of the following meats for flavor and deliciousness: beef, pork, and lamb
Keep all the Ingredients Cold. Making sure that all of your ingredients are cold prevents the fats from melting beforehand. You don’t want the fats in the meatballs to melt before baking.
Make a Sample Meatball. It is always a good idea to make a sample meatball/patty before baking off all of the meat. This allows you to adjust the seasoning level before cooking everything off. Take a small amount of the meat and pan-fry it. Taste and adjust accordingly.
Don’t add too many Breadcrumbs. The more breadcrumbs that are added to the mix, the more filler t will have. The bread will soak up the fat, causing the meatballs to come out dry.
Try Finishing the Meatballs in a Sauce. Try cooking the meatballs halfway through and then cooking them the rest of the way in the sauce. This will ensure that they are extra moist and tender.
Pull-Apart Meatball Sliders Ingredients:
This recipe combines so many simple ingredients into such delicious subs. The ingredients can be found in pretty much any store too which is even better!
Some of the ingredients are probably sitting in your refrigerator waiting to be used.
Ground Meat: The meat you choose for your meatballs is critical! I used equal amounts of ground beef (preferably 80/20) and ground pork. Both added enough fat to keep the meatballs moist.
Garlic & Onions: You can’t have a meatball or meatloaf without some chopped garlic and onions. Fresh makes such a difference in the final product. Plus, they both added some texture to the meatballs. You can cook them beforehand, but raw will work just fine.
Parmigiano Reggiano: This added so much richness to the meatballs! I used grated cheese so that it would evenly distribute throughout the mix and added some additional salt.
Binders: To keep your meatballs together, you’re going to need something to use as a binder. Breadcrumbs & Eggs help to stabilize the mix while baking. I used 2 eggs and about 1 cup of breadcrumbs.
Fresh Parsley: The parsley honestly doesn’t add anything besides color and a little freshness to the meatball mix. You can use dried parsley (only use about 2 tbsp of dried parsley) if that’s all you have. But, fresh looks so much better!
Salt & Ground Black Pepper: I kept the seasoning pretty simple for the meatballs and the sauce. With all of the fresh ingredients, I didn’t want to overpower either of them with a bunch of seasonings. Salt and ground black pepper worked just fine.
Mozzarella Cheese: The shredded mozzarella cheese on the subs was the icing on the cake! It melted beautifully on top of them. You can also use sliced mozzarella, it will work just as well!
Hawaiian Sweet Rolls: Choosing the right roll for your sliders is very important! You want to make sure that it’s soft, fluffy, and firm enough to hold all of the meatballs and sauce. The Hawaiian Sweet Rolls adds the perfect balance of sweetness, butter, and softness to the sliders.
Butter: To make the sub rolls even better, brush them with some melted so that they get toasted while in the oven. The little bit of crunch on the edges of the rolls will be heavenly!
GARLIC BUTTER: The garlic butter on these sliders were the perfect topping before baking. It adds even more flavor while making the bread crispy and delicious.
How to Make Pull-Apart Meatball Sliders
Now that we understand what goes into the recipe, let’s get started! The great thing about this recipe is how easy it is to make!
The meatballs are no stress and the sauce is so simple! I couldn’t stop eating these meatballs! I almost didn’t have enough for my subs. Combined with the marinara sauce, this sub is heavenly!
The full written recipe is below, but here’s an overview.
STEP 1: Make Meatballs. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Mix ground beef, ground pork, garlic, onions, Parmigiano Reggiano, breadcrumbs, eggs, parsley, salt, and ground black pepper in a large bowl. Make sure to use my hands to get it fully incorporated.
STEP 2: Bake Meatballs. Line a sheet tray with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Roll the meatball mixture into large balls (about 2 - 3 oz per ball) and place on the sheet tray. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes or until fully cooked through.
STEP 3: Make Garlic Butter & Build Sandwiches. Remove the meatballs from the oven and hold them hot. Mix the ingredients for the Garlic Butter in a small bowl. Cut the Hawaiian Rolls in half. Put the bottom half of the rolls in a 9x13 baking dish. Layer the bread with the sliced mozzarella, meatballs, and marinara sauce. Sprinkle the extra shredded mozzarella over the top.
STEP 4: Bake, Serve, and Enjoy! Top with the other half of the rolls. Brush with garlic butter. Bake for 8 - 10 minutes in the oven or until the cheese fully melts. Remove from the oven and let cool for 3 - 5 minutes. Pull apart the sliders, serve, and enjoy!
WHAT TO SERVE WITH these sliders?
These Meatball Sliders are a FULL MEAL by themselves! It’s so much going on in one slider that it’s honestly hard to concentrate. But for those who are extra greedy like me, here are some other dishes to make an ultimate feast:
Tossed Caesar or Mixed Green Salad
Crispy French Fries or Potato Wedges
Greek Cucumber Salad
Fried Pickles or Onion Rings
Garlic & Parmesan Green Beans
Homemade Coleslaw
Steamed Broccoli
I’d love to hear your feedback about these EASY Pull-Apart Meatball Sliders! Leave me a message in the comments section below. Remember to share and enjoy! Follow Be Greedy Eats on Pinterest and Instagram as well!
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