These Meatball Sliders with Hawaiian Rolls are an easy, crowd-pleasing recipe that works for an appetizer, game day snack, or a quick and easy weeknight meal. You’ll love how effortlessly they come together!
Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders
They’re made with just seven simple ingredients—soft Hawaiian rolls, frozen meatballs, marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, butter, Parmesan, and Italian seasoning. Everything bakes together until the rolls are golden and the cheese is melty, creating irresistible pull-apart sliders that are perfect for busy nights, family game night, or casual get-togethers.
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Ingredient Photo
Ingredient Notes, Variations, and Substitutions
This is going to be a short list because I’m all about working smarter, not harder. I’m taking some help from the grocery store on this one (and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that!).
We’re rolling with pre-made meatballs, our favorite jar of sauce, soft and slightly sweet Hawaiian rolls, and pre-shredded mozzarella cheese. Look, I get it—not everyone has time to be in the kitchen crafting homemade meatballs like a culinary wizard. Honestly, even if I did have the time… I probably wouldn’t make them from scratch.
All of these ingredients have a store brand at one major grocery store (you know the one) so you can make these without breaking the bank.
Here’s Exactly What You’ll Need
- Meatballs: I go for Italian meatballs because they bring extra flavor to the party without any extra effort. You’ll find them hanging out in the frozen section, just waiting to be heroes.
- Rolls: Yep, we’re building these bad boys on soft Hawaiian rolls. Not a fan? No problem—your favorite dinner roll will do just fine.
- Sauce: We’re team marinara over here, but if pizza sauce is more your thing, go for it. No wrong answers in slider town.
- Cheese: Mozzarella cheese is what I use. And yes, I use the pre-shredded stuff. Sure, it doesn’t melt quite as beautifully as the block variety, but honestly? I’m okay with that. If you’re not, go ahead and shred some like a kitchen rockstar. You can even use mozzarella slices if that’s more your style—no cheese judgment here.
- Butter: I like unsalted real butter, but if you’ve got salted butter or even margarine in your fridge, they’ll work just fine. No need to make a special trip.
- Spices & Seasoning: A little garlic powder and Italian seasoning stirred into melted butter, then brushed over the tops of the rolls? That’s where the magic happens. Trust me, it takes these sliders from good to “where have you been all my life?”
How to Make Pull-Apart Meatball Sliders
Here’s a quick look at the steps (with photos). You’ll find more detailed instructions in the recipe card below.
Warm the meatballs on a plate, covered with a paper towel, in the microwave for 3-4 minutes.
Warm the marinara sauce in a skillet over medium heat, add the meatballs.
Cut the rolls in half, and place two meatballs on each roll, put a spoonful of marinara sauce over them, then sprinkle the cheese over all of them.
Place the roll tops on and then brush with the garlic butter mixture. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 12 minutes, uncover and bake an additional 2-3 minutes.
What Goes with Meatball Sliders – Easy Side Dish Ideas
Meatball sliders make a great busy weeknight dinner or big game meal, and they pair well with all kinds of sides.
Try serving them with quick vegetable sides like green beans, roasted broccoli, or air fryer potato wedges. They’re also delicious with classic make-ahead salads such as creamy potato salad or macaroni salad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! You can assemble them in advance, cover with foil, and refrigerate until you’re ready to bake. Just make sure you either use a fridge-to-oven safe baking dish or let the sliders sit out for about 20–30 minutes before baking to take the chill off—nobody wants to deal with cracked bakeware. Since they’ll be cold, you’ll need to bake them with the foil on for longer—maybe even twice as long. Totally worth the wait.
Pop any leftover sliders into an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 3 days. Just be warned—they might mysteriously disappear before then.
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Meatball Sliders with Hawaiian Rolls Recipe
Ingredients
- 24 frozen mini meatballs
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 package Hawaiian Rolls
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Warm the meatballs on a microwave-safe plate for 3–4 minutes, or until heated through.
- While the meatballs are warming, heat the sauce in a skillet over medium heat. Add the warm meatballs and stir to coat them in the sauce.
- Melt the butter, either in a small saucepan or in the microwave, then stir in the Italian seasoning and garlic powder.
- Cut the rolls in half horizontally (without separating them) and place the bottom buns in a 9" x 13" baking pan.
- Place 2 meatballs on each roll, spoon a teaspoon (or more!) of sauce over each, then add the top buns.
- Brush the tops of the rolls with the seasoned butter mixture, cover the pan tightly with foil. Bake for 11–13 minutes, remove the foil and bake for an additional 2–3 minutes to crisp up the tops slightly.
About Mindy
Mindy has been cooking for over 30 years, starting as a young mother who learned how to create delicious meals on a budget. Today, she shares approachable recipes made with everyday ingredients that are easy, affordable, and family-friendly. Her goal is to show that great food doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive.