By Becky Hardin
Updated Sep 24, 2025
Whenever I whip up these Baked Meatball Sliders, they disappear fast! I pack juicy meatballs into soft slider rolls, smother them with marinara, and finish them off with plenty of melty cheese. They’re always a hit at my table.
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Easy Baked Meatball Sliders Recipe
If you’ve been around here for a while, you already know my mom makes the BEST meatballs ever. It’s my grandma’s famous recipe that she passed down, and my mom perfected—and honestly, nothing else compares. They’re hands-down my #1 recipe recommendation on The Cookie Rookie!
So of course, I had to take those legendary meatballs and turn them into the ultimate slider. Think juicy, flavorful meatballs smothered in tangy marinara, topped with melty cheese, and tucked into garlic-toasted Hawaiian Rolls . Pure heaven!
Whether I’m serving them up for game day or making them as an easy weeknight dinner, these meatball sliders always steal the show. They’re baked to perfection, simple to throw together, and bursting with flavor in every bite.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 12 meatballs any kind, thawed, or homemade
- ▢ 1 package Hawaiian Rolls 12-count
- ▢ 12 slices Provolone cheese
- ▢ 24 oz. marinara or spaghetti sauce or homemade
- ▢ ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
- ▢ ⅛ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- ▢ 2 medium garlic cloves minced
- ▢ ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ▢ ⅛ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- ▢ 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
- ▢ fresh basil chopped
Video
Instructions
- Spray a 9×13 inch baking sheet or dish with nonstick spray.
- Slice the rolls in half horizontally and place the bottom halves in the baking sheet pan. 1 package Hawaiian Rolls
- Place 6 slices of cheese evenly over the roll bottom—the slices will overlap a little. 12 slices Provolone cheese
- Top the cheese with 12 meatballs (one per roll). 12 meatballs
- Top each meatball with 1 teaspoon of sauce. 24 oz. marinara or spaghetti sauce
- Add the remaining 6 slices of cheese over the meatballs.
- Place the tops of the buns on top.
- In a small bowl, whisk together melted butter, black pepper, garlic, Italian seasoning and crushed red pepper. Brush the garlic butter over the rolls. ¼ cup unsalted butter, ⅛ tsp freshly ground black pepper, 2 medium garlic cloves, ½ tsp Italian seasoning, ⅛ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- Tightly cover the sliders with sprayed aluminum foil and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes.
- Remove the foil, sprinkle with grated Parmesan and bake an additional 10-15 minutes. 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
- Remove from the oven and garnish with chopped fresh basil. Serve with a side of sauce, if desired. Enjoy! fresh basil
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Baked Meatball Sliders Step by Step
Prepare a baking sheet: Spray a 9×13-inch baking sheet or dish with nonstick spray.
Prepare the rolls: Slice one package of Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally and place the bottom halves in the baking sheet pan.
Place 6 slices of cheese over the bottom rolls.
Layer with one meatball per roll.
Spoon 1 tsp of marinara sauce over each meatball.
Top with the remaining cheese slices.
Cover with the tops of the buns.
Prepare the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together ¼ cup unsalted butter, ⅛ tsp freshly ground black pepper, 2 medium garlic cloves, ½ tsp Italian seasoning, and ⅛ tsp crushed red pepper flakes. Brush over the tops of the rolls.
Bake the sliders: Cover the sliders with sprayed aluminum foil and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes.
Remove the foil and sprinkle with grated Parmesan and bake an additional 10-15 minutes.
Garnish and serve: Remove from the oven and garnish with chopped fresh basil. Serve with a side of sauce, if desired. Enjoy!
How to Store
These sliders are great for parties because you can prep, cover with foil, and place them in the fridge for a few hours.
Store uneaten sliders in the fridge for 3-4 days, reheat in the oven.
Though you can freeze the sliders, it’s probably best to freeze the components separately and then assemble them once they’ve defrosted in the fridge overnight. Store the components no longer than 2 months.
Serving Suggestions
These gorgeous mini burgers are great as appetizers, but they also make for a quick dinner option. I like to serve them with an easy cucumber salad and either a batch of loaded mashed potato casserole or baked sweet potato fries .
more baked slider recipes
Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage Sliders (with Guinness Mustard!)
Breakfast Sliders
Healthy Chicken Salad Sliders
Hawaiian Ham and Cheese Sliders
Meatball Sliders Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 meatballs any kind, thawed, or homemade
- 1 package Hawaiian Rolls 12-count
- 12 slices Provolone cheese
- 24 oz. marinara or spaghetti sauce or homemade
- ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
- ⅛ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 2 medium garlic cloves minced
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ⅛ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
- fresh basil chopped
Instructions
- Spray a 9x13 inch baking sheet or dish with nonstick spray.
- Slice the rolls in half horizontally and place the bottom halves in the baking sheet pan. 1 package Hawaiian Rolls
- Place 6 slices of cheese evenly over the roll bottom—the slices will overlap a little. 12 slices Provolone cheese
- Top the cheese with 12 meatballs (one per roll). 12 meatballs
- Top each meatball with 1 teaspoon of sauce. 24 oz. marinara or spaghetti sauce
- Add the remaining 6 slices of cheese over the meatballs.
- Place the tops of the buns on top.
- In a small bowl, whisk together melted butter, black pepper, garlic, Italian seasoning and crushed red pepper. Brush the garlic butter over the rolls. ¼ cup unsalted butter, ⅛ tsp freshly ground black pepper, 2 medium garlic cloves, ½ tsp Italian seasoning, ⅛ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- Tightly cover the sliders with sprayed aluminum foil and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes.
- Remove the foil, sprinkle with grated Parmesan and bake an additional 10-15 minutes. 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
- Remove from the oven and garnish with chopped fresh basil. Serve with a side of sauce, if desired. Enjoy! fresh basil
Video
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
