Description
These Mini Meatball Sliders are a perfect crowd-pleasing recipe featuring juicy homemade meatballs nestled in soft slider buns, topped with marinara sauce and melted mozzarella cheese. Ideal for parties or family gatherings, this Italian-American classic combines searing and baking to deliver flavorful, tender meatballs in bite-sized sandwiches.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound ground pork
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Sliders
- 10 small slider buns
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare meatball mixture: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, milk, egg, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if desired. Mix gently until all ingredients are just combined to avoid tough meatballs. Roll the mixture into 20 small meatballs.
- Sear the meatballs: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Brown the meatballs evenly on all sides for about 5–6 minutes to develop a crust and enhance flavor.
- Bake the meatballs: Transfer the seared meatballs into a baking dish and pour marinara sauce over them. Bake in the preheated oven for 12–15 minutes, until the meatballs are cooked through.
- Assemble the sliders: Slice each slider bun in half. Place 2 meatballs on the bottom half of each bun, spoon additional marinara sauce over the meatballs, and sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese on top.
- Broil the sliders: Place the assembled sliders under the broiler for 1–2 minutes until the cheese melts and becomes bubbly and slightly golden.
- Garnish and serve: Remove sliders from the broiler, garnish with chopped fresh parsley, and serve immediately. Enjoy your delicious mini meatball sliders!
Notes
- For more flavor, add chopped fresh basil to the marinara sauce or a pinch of Italian seasoning to the meatball mixture.
- You can prepare the meatballs ahead of time and bake them just before serving to save time.
- Serve with pickles or a fresh side salad to complete your meal.
- To make this recipe gluten-free, substitute the breadcrumbs with gluten-free alternatives and choose gluten-free slider buns.
