Name: Meatball Sliders Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 12 bakery rolls (sliced in half); 2 cups tomato sauce; 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese; 12 meatballs (I will always use this recipe); 6 slices mozzarella cheese (cut in half); 3 TBSP salted butter (melted); 2 tsp. Italian seasoning

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This meatball sliders recipe is a great way to use up leftover meatballs! It’s so easy! Combine the meatballs with bakery-fresh buns, canned tomato sauce, and sliced cheese and you’ll be enjoying these portable Italian-inspired bites in no time!

A meatball slider sits on a piece of parchment paper on a wooden cutting board. There are more sliders and a jar of tomato sauce and fresh basil in the background.

I love an easy recipe that is also delicious! And these meatball sliders totally fit that bill. Plus, they’re also full of melty cheese, lots of red sauce, and my favorite venison meatballs ever, so it’s nothing but a win-win-win in my book!

A meatball slider sits on a piece of parchment paper on a wooden cutting board. There are more sliders in the background.

Ingredients for this recipe:

Meatballs (they can be of the homemade variety or store-bought, I’m not here to judge)
Bakery Rolls (I used potato, because the size was perfect, but simple BBQ ones would work too! Even those little Hawaiian rolls would be delish!)
Tomato Sauce (I made so many batches of this recipe, minus the cream, to use all winter long)
Mozzarella cheese (shredded and/or sliced, whatever you have on hand, my friend)
Butter (because, duh)
Italian Seasoning (for flare!)

A silver tray is filled with the ingredients to make this meatball sliders recipe.

How to make baked meatballs sliders

Cut all the buns. If they aren’t already cut for you. Pro tip: ask an associate at the bakery counter to slice open your buns for less work!
Place the bottoms of the buns in a baking dish. In neat little rows.
Spread with tomato sauce. Be as generous or as stingy with the sauce as you’d like. I love a saucy meatball slider, but you do you, baby.
Add a layer of cheese. Shredded or sliced. I had both on hand so I used both in this recipe, but you can do all sliced or all shredded. Or even throw in some provolone or swiss if you’re feeling adventurous!
Add the meatballs. If they weren’t cooked in or served with sauce, add another dollop of sauce on top. We don’t want dry sliders!
Cover with another layer of cheese. Again, sliced or shredded. I like to do sliced on top because it forms a sort of cheesy blanket and encases the entire sandwich in its deliciousness.
Finish with the top of the bun. Be sure to brush the tops with melted butter and sprinkle with the Italian seasoning for a beautiful finish! The butter will help the buns crisp up in the oven and the seasoning adds so much flavor!
Bake until melted. Cover the tray in tinfoil and bake in a 350-degree oven for about 25 minutes. Serve and enjoy! I like to do extra sauce on the side for dipping, too!

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A hand holds a meatballs slider. The cheese is all melted and gooey.

Storing and reheating leftover meatball sliders

As with any leftover, I’m all about wrapping those suckers in tinfoil and putting them in the fridge. This makes reheating a breeze too! Simply wrap the leftovers in the foil you had on the baking dish and refrigerate, when ready to reheat pop the whole foil packet into a 350-degree oven until warmed through! They can also be reheated in the microwave, but the buns will get very soft and squishy, so be careful!

A hand holds a meatball slider with a bite taken out of it.

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5 from 1 vote