Hawaiian Bread Meatball Sliders
Soft sweet rolls, saucy meatballs, and melty cheese make up these Hawaiian Bread Meatball Sliders to make an easy baked comfort-food dinner or party appetizer. Prepped in 5 minutes and packed with cheesy flavor, they’re perfect for game days, busy weeknights, or feeding a hungry crowd.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- ⏲️Ready In: 5 Minutes Prep and 45 Minutes Cooking
- 👪Serves: 12
- 🍽 Calories: 145 kcals
- 📋Main Ingredients: Meatballs, butter, marinara sauce, cheese, and Hawaiian rolls.
- 📖 Dietary Notes: Nut-free
- ⭐ Why You’ll Love It: These baked meatball slider sandwiches are cheesy, crowd-pleasing, and easy enough for both busy dinners and game day gatherings.
SUMMARIZE & SAVE THIS CONTENT ON
These easy Hawaiian bread meatball sliders are one of those easy appetizer recipes that work for just about everything, from quick family dinners to game day spreads, similar to my layered BLT dip. The soft rolls soak up just enough marinara sauce to stay flavorful without getting soggy, while the melted mozzarella gives them that classic cheesy comfort-food feel.
Another reason these cheesy meatball sliders stay on repeat in our kitchen is how easy they are to prep ahead using frozen meatballs and pantry staples (check out the foods to buy in bulk to save money). Brushing the rolls with garlic butter before baking helps the tops turn golden and flavorful while keeping the inside soft and tender. They also reheat surprisingly well, which makes them perfect for leftovers, parties, or easy comfort-food meals.
Jump to:
- A Quick Look At The Recipe
- Why The Recipe Works💭
- Items and Substitutions
- Flavors To Try
- How To Make Hawaiian Bread Meatball Sliders
- Helpful Hints
- Ways To Enjoy Them
- Hawaiian Bread Meatball Sliders FAQs
- More Easy Appetizers
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- Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders Recipe
Why The Recipe Works💭
Easy prep: Using frozen meatballs keeps this recipe quick, easy, and perfect for busy nights or parties.
Texture: Baking the sliders together helps the cheese melt evenly while keeping the sandwiches warm and easy to serve for crowds.
Items and Substitutions
- Meatballs: Homemade, store-bought, or frozen all work. Even low carb Swedish meatballs can be used.
- Spaghetti or Marinara Sauce: Use whatever you have on hand, but know that a milder flavor (four cheese, herbs, etc.) tastes better.
- Mozzarella Cheese: Feel free to play around with the cheese for new tastes. Provolone, cheddar, or pepper jack cheese are great alternatives.
- Kings Hawaiian Rolls: Though any roll will work, Hawaiian rolls tend to be fluffier with a slightly sweet flavor that everyone loves.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Flavors To Try
Here’s a few ideas on how to make the game day meatball sliders taste like new each time.
- Spicy: Add sliced jalapeños or a sprinkle of crushed red pepper for some heat.
- Cheesy BBQ: Use BBQ sauce instead of marinara for a smoky twist.
- Herby: Mix chopped fresh herbs like basil or oregano into the butter.
- Bulk them up: Add caramelized onions or sautéed mushrooms inside the sliders for extra texture.
- Proteins: Use turkey or veggie meatballs to make it lighter or vegetarian-friendly.
How To Make Hawaiian Bread Meatball Sliders
Step 1: Start by mixing together the melted butter and garlic salt, and set aside.
Step 2: Cut a hole in each of the sliders. and pull out any remaining bread before brushing the garlic butter onto the insides.
Step 3: Place a meatball, top each meatball with sauce, and a slice of mozzarella cheese.
Step 4: Bake in a preheated 350° oven for 15-20 minutes until the cheese has melted.
Note
Make sure to hollow out enough bread from each slider to fully fit the meatball without tearing the roll, so the sliders hold together well while baking.
Helpful Hints
Pro tip: Fresh Roll Brush
One top tip for making Hawaiian roll meatball sliders is to use fresh, soft Hawaiian rolls and brush them generously with the butter and garlic salt mixture to ensure they stay moist and flavorful after baking.
- Use fully cooked meatballs to save time and prevent undercooking.
- Use a sharp knife to carefully hollow out the rolls without tearing.
- For extra crispiness, broil the sliders for 1-2 minutes at the end—watch closely!
- Garnish with fresh parsley or basil for added color and freshness.
- Storing: Place leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Arrange the sliders on a baking sheet and warm them in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the sliders are heated through. Do not microwave them as it’ll make them soggy.
Ways To Enjoy Them
These cheesy baked meatball sliders pair well with everything from cozy comfort-food dinners to easy party spreads.
- Serve them with fries, onion rings, or a fresh green salad for an easy family-style dinner everyone will love.
- Pair the meatball sliders with Hawaiian bread with hearty comfort-food recipes like this high-protein eggplant lasagna for a filling crowd-friendly meal.
- Balance the rich cheesy sliders with lighter sides like this strawberry spinach salad with lemon dressing for an easy lunch or dinner spread.
Hawaiian Bread Meatball Sliders FAQs
If you tried this Hawaiian Rolls Meatball Sliders Recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes!
Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 Meatballs
- 2 tbsp butter melted
- 1 tbsp garlic salt
- ½ C Spaghetti or Marinara Sauce
- Mozzarella Cheese divided into 12 slices
- 12 Kings Hawaiian Rolls
- Parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Start by mixing together the melted butter and garlic salt, set aside.
- Next, cut a hole into each of the sliders. Pull out any remaining bread so that the meatball can fit.
- Brush the melted butter into the inside and the tops of each slider.
- Place a meatball, top each meatball with sauce and a slice of mozzarella cheese.
- Bake in a preheated 350° oven for 15-20 minutes until the cheese has melted.
Notes
- If using frozen meatballs, you’ll want to heat them up and cook before placing into the slider.
- After cooking, you can broil it for 2-3 minutes.
- Don’t overfill the sliders to avoid spilling sauce during baking which makes them soggy. Basically, using just enough sauce keeps the sliders flavorful without making the rolls too soft.
- Let the sliders rest for a few minutes after baking to let the cheese set.
Nutrition
I love how soft the sliders come out with the gooey cheese on top, it’s the perfect bite each time.