Pull Apart Meatball Sliders
These Pull Apart Meatball Sliders are topped with garlic bread topping - they're a crowd-pleasing football appetizer!
Servings: 12 sliders
Calories: 369kcal
Ingredients
For the Meatballs
- ⅓ cup Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs
- 2 Tbsp milk
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- ½ medium white onion diced
- 8 oz. ground beef
- 8 oz. ground pork
- 1 large egg lightly beaten
- 2 Tbsp fresh Italian parsley minced
- 1 tsp minced garlic cloves
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- 2 Tbsp Parmesan cheese grated
For the Sliders
- 1 8-oz. can tomato sauce or marinara sauce
- 1 package slider buns or small sandwich buns 12 pack
- 6 slices provolone cheese
- 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
For the Garlic Butter
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter melted
- 2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp kosher salt
Instructions
For the Meatballs
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
- Using a medium bowl, combine the bread crumbs and milk; let soak for 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, add the olive oil to a medium frying pan and place over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the diced onions and cook for 6-7 minutes, or until onions begin to soften. (Note: Leave the skillet out as it will be used again once the meatballs are cooked.)
- Transfer onions and soaked bread crumbs into a large bowl. Add all of the remaining meatball ingredients (beef, pork, egg, parsley, garlic, salt, pepper, oregano, red pepper and Parmesan cheese). Mix until just combined. (Tip: Take care not to overmix or the meatball may be tough.)
- Shape mixture into (12) golf ball-sized meatballs and place 1” apart on prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until meatballs are no longer pink in the center.
- Reduce oven temperature to 350°F.
- Transfer cooked meatballs back into the skillet. Add tomato sauce and stir until well combined. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 8-10 minutes, or until sauce has thickened noticeably. Remove skillet from heat.
For the Sliders
- Cut the dinner rolls in half through the middle. Place bottoms of the rolls onto a baking sheet.
- Layer the slices of cheese on top of the rolls.
- Place the meatballs onto the dinner rolls, putting one meatball on each roll. Add a spoonful of extra sauce on top of each meatball. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese evenly on top of meatballs. Cover with the top half of the dinner rolls.
- Using a small bowl, make the garlic butter by whisking together the melted butter, Parmesan cheese, garlic, Italian seasonings and kosher salt; brush this mixture evenly on bun tops.
- Bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes, or until rolls are golden brown and cheese has melted. (Note: If necessary, place a piece of aluminum foil on top of rolls if they are browning too quickly.)
- Cut into individual sliders and serve hot.
Nutrition
Calories: 369kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 791mg | Potassium: 267mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 487IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 263mg | Iron: 3mg