Ingredients (~12 servings)
Meatballs
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- 1 1/4 lbs 80/20 ground beef
- 1/3 cup finely chopped sweet onion
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- 1 1/2 Tbsp minced fresh parsley
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 3/4 tsp freshly-cracked black pepper
Assembly
- 1 1/4 cups marinara sauce
- 12 dinner rolls or Hawaiian rolls
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese, roughly torn
- 2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
- 12-24 fresh basil leaves
Garlic Butter
- 1 1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 3/4 tsp minced fresh garlic
- 3/4 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp minced fresh parsley
Make the Meatballs
Preheat your oven to 350F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, stir the breadcrumbs and milk together; let sit for ~5-10 minutes until the breadcrumbs absorb the milk and get soft.
Add the 1 1/4 lbs ground beef, 1/3 cup onion, 2 tsp garlic, 1 1/2 Tbsp parsley, 1 egg, 1/4 cup Parmesan, 1 1/2 tsp salt, and 3/4 tsp pepper to the breadcrumb mixture.
Mix with a rubber spatula until just combined – don’t overwork it or the meatballs get dense.
Use a small scoop or roll into ~1 Tbsp portions with your hands. You should get about 36 small meatballs.
Space them on the sheet pan and bake for ~14-15 minutes until they hit 165F internal.
Assemble the Sliders
Preheat your oven to 350F and grease a 9×13 pan.
Heat the 1 1/4 cups marinara sauce in a pot until hot, then toss the cooked meatballs in the warm sauce.
Cut the 12 rolls in half and line the bottom halves in your prepared pan.
Put 3 meatballs on each bottom roll, then spoon any leftover sauce over them.
Top with the torn mozzarella and 2 Tbsp grated Parmesan, then add 1-2 basil leaves to each slider.
Place the top rolls on and press down lightly.
Add Garlic Butter and Bake
Whisk the 1 1/2 Tbsp melted butter with 3/4 tsp minced garlic, 3/4 tsp garlic powder, and 2 tsp parsley until smooth.
Brush this garlic butter over the tops of all the rolls.
Cover with foil and bake for ~20-25 minutes, then uncover and bake ~5 more minutes until the tops are golden and the cheese is fully melted.
The rolls should be slightly crispy on top but still soft inside when you press them.
Italian Meatball Sliders
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- 1 1/4 lbs 80/20 ground beef
- 1/3 cup finely chopped sweet onion
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- 1 1/2 Tbsp minced fresh parsley
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 3/4 tsp freshly-cracked black pepper
Assembly
- 1 1/4 cups marinara sauce
- 12 dinner rolls or Hawaiian rolls
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese roughly torn
- 2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
- 12-24 fresh basil leaves
Garlic Butter
- 1 1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter melted
- 3/4 tsp minced fresh garlic
- 3/4 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp minced fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
- Mix 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs with 1/4 cup whole milk in a large bowl and let sit 5-10 minutes until soft.
- Add 1 1/4 lbs ground beef, 1/3 cup chopped onion, 2 tsp minced garlic, 1 1/2 Tbsp minced parsley, 1 egg, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan, 1 1/2 tsp salt, and 3/4 tsp pepper to breadcrumb mixture.
- Mix with spatula until just combined without overworking.
- Form into 36 small meatballs using about 1 Tbsp portions each.
- Space on sheet pan and bake 14-15 minutes until 165F internal temperature.
- Grease a 9×13 pan and keep oven at 350F.
- Heat 1 1/4 cups marinara sauce in a pot until hot, then toss cooked meatballs in the sauce.
- Cut 12 rolls in half and place bottom halves in prepared pan.
- Put 3 meatballs on each bottom roll and spoon remaining sauce over them.
- Top with 8 oz torn mozzarella, 2 Tbsp grated Parmesan, and 12-24 basil leaves.
- Place top rolls on and press down lightly.
- Whisk 1 1/2 Tbsp melted butter with 3/4 tsp minced garlic, 3/4 tsp garlic powder, and 2 tsp minced parsley.
- Brush garlic butter over roll tops.
- Cover with foil and bake 20-25 minutes, then uncover and bake 5 more minutes until golden and cheese is melted.
