Meatball Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls must be one of the easiest dinner ideas yet! There's so much flavor packed into each bite. You've got a layer of meatballs, marinara sauce, and melty provolone cheese inside Hawaiian rolls topped with garlic butter. But wait!
The flavor doesn't stop there! There's one more flavor layer that takes these meatball sliders to the next level...pesto sauce. Yes, there's a layer of pesto sauce brushed on the bottom half of the rolls and toasted that gives them a pop of herby nutty flavor!
These Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders are incredibly versatile—perfect for game day, parties, or a fun family dinner. They make a great appetizer for gatherings, a satisfying main dish, or even an easy meal prep option. Buy an extra package of rolls to make these Hawaiian Roll Breakfast Sliders!
Did you know that you can use these sweet little rolls to make cinnamon rolls? They're the easiest to make and simply delicious! Hawaiian Roll Cinnamon Rolls are a must try!
Table of Contents
Jump to:
- Table of Contents
- Why You'll Love Them
- Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- How to Make Meatball Sliders
- Customize Your Sliders
- What to Serve with Them
- Pro Tips and Recipe Hacks
- Make Ahead Tips
- Storing and Reheating
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Quick and Easy Meals
- Subscribe for a Free Meal Plan
- Leave a Comment
- Follow me on Pinterest!
- Recipe
- Comments
Why You'll Love Them
- Quick dinner - this family-friendly meal takes only 30 minutes from start to finish! And they also make a great appetizer everyone will rave about!
- Super easy to make - using frozen meatballs, jarred marinara sauce, and jarred pesto sauce is a huge time saver!
- Packed with flavor - the combination of toasted pesto rolls, marinara sauce, melty provolone, and meatballs creates layers of bold, savory goodness in every bite.
- No soggy bottom - thanks to toasting the bottom of the rolls with the pesto sauce, it helps to keep the bottom of the rolls from getting soggy.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Here's what you'll need to make these meatball sliders. I've got bonus ingredient information, including substitutions and additions.
Hawaiian rolls - we use King's brand; these little square rolls are soft and sweet. You could swap them out for a less sweet version such as slider rolls, dinner rolls, or Ciabatta rolls.
Meatballs - frozen meatballs at the grocery store are super convenient! I recommend Angus beef meatballs for the best flavor and texture. Of course, you can use your own homemade meatballs. For a lighter version, use turkey or chicken meatballs.
Marinara sauce - jarred marinara sauce is the way to go! Our favorite brand is Rao's. Spaghetti sauce will work, too.
Pesto sauce - brushing the bottom half of the rolls with pesto sauce then broiling them until toasted not only keeps the bottom of the rolls from getting soggy, it also gives the sliders a flavor boost. We love Prego Basil Pesto sauce. Its ingredients are olive oil, Romano cheese, basil, rosemary, and oregano. Delicious!
Provolone cheese - a smooth, Italian cheese with a mild flavor. You could use shredded mozzarella cheese instead.
Butter, parsley, garlic powder - blended together and brushed on top of the rolls before baking. This gives them a butter, savory taste and slight crisp.
More tasty recipes using jarred marinara sauce include Simple Lasagna with Jar Sauce, Shrimp Spaghetti with Jar Marinara, and Easy Chicken Parmesan!
How to Make Meatball Sliders
This recipe is so easy! It's just a matter of layering the ingredients then baking them. A main meal or an appetizer that's ready to eat in 30 minutes.
Customize Your Sliders
- Want Spicy? Add red pepper flakes to the marinara or drizzle with hot honey.
- Like Cheesier? Double up on the provolone or add shredded mozzarella.
- Different Bread? Try mini ciabatta rolls or even a sliced baguette.
What to Serve with Them
If you're making these sliders for dinner, there are several side dish options that are quick and easy and pair well with them!
Pasta. This 20-minute Mac and Cheese is always a hit and is quick to put together. Made with only 4 ingredients.
Vegetables. Grilled Corn on the Cob is perfect for a summer cookout and goes great with sliders. For a spicy side kick, we love these Spicy Fried Potato Slices!
Salad. A salad is a lighter side dish to serve with sliders. Crunchy Ramen Noodle Salad or a simple green salad are perfect companions.
Appetizer. While those sliders are in the oven, serve a scrumptious appetizer, like this Cottage Cheese Ranch Dip. It's thick and creamy and perfect for dipping veggies and those spicy fried potato slices!
Pro Tips and Recipe Hacks
Do not separate each roll, rather use a sharp serrated knife to slice the entire bundle of rolls in half horizontally. Try to make sure both halves are the same size.
Don't skip the pesto sauce and broiling! To prevent soggy sliders, this step works and also provides extra flavor!
Make it extra crispy. After baking, remove the foil and broil for 1-2 minutes to crisp up the tops.
Easier serving. Let the sliders sit for 5 minutes before cutting so the cheese sets and doesn’t slide off.
Best meatballs for sliders? Homemade is always great, but if using store-bought, opt for Italian-style or Angus beef meatballs for extra flavor.
Make Ahead Tips
You can slice the rolls and cook the meatballs in the marinara sauce ahead of time until you're ready to assemble the sliders. Put the rolls back into the bag to keep them fresh. Keep the meatballs stored in the refrigerator until your're ready to use them. You can do this 1 day in advance.
I don't recommend preparing the entire slider recipe in advance. Because of the marinara sauce, the bottom half could get a little soggy if it sits too long.
Storing and Reheating
Store any leftover sliders tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat them either in the microwave or in the oven. The oven method will crisp them up a bit. Wrap them in foil and bake at 350°F for about 10 minutes to keep them from drying out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Alfredo sauce, BBQ sauce, or a garlic butter sauce would be delicious.
Press them slightly into the marinara before adding the cheese to help them stay put.
You can, but broiling the bottom rolls with pesto first helps prevent sogginess and adds extra flavor.
Yes! A casserole dish works well and helps keep everything warm longer.
More Quick and Easy Meals
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Recipe
Easy Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders
Ingredients
- 12 cooked meatballs (tested with frozen Rosina Angus Beef Meatballs)
- 2 cups marinara sauce (tested with Rao’s Marinara Sauce) save the rest for dipping
- 12 King's Hawaiian rolls
- ½ cup pesto sauce (tested with Prego Basil Pesto)
- 6 slices provolone cheese (cut in half to cover evenly)
- 2 tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
Instructions
- Prepare the Meatballs: Place the frozen meatballs and the marinara sauce in a medium size pot, stir and put the lid on. Simmer gently until they're fully heated (about 15 minutes). While the meatballs are warming, prepare the rolls.
- Slice the Rolls: Do not separate each roll, rather use a sharp serrated knife to slice the entire bundle of rolls in half horizontally. Try to make sure the bottom half isn't too thin.
- Broil the Bottom Rolls with Pesto: Preheat your broiler to high. Place the bottom half of the Hawaiian rolls on a baking sheet, cut side up, and brush each roll generously with the pesto sauce. Place the baking sheet on the center oven rack. Broil for 1 minute, watching closely to prevent burning, until the pesto is fragrant and slightly crisp. Turn off the broiler and heat the oven to 375F.
- Assemble the Sliders: Place a meatball on top of each toasted roll, spooning a little marinara sauce over each meatball.
- Add slices of provolone cheese over the meatballs.
- Place the top half of the rolls on top of the meatballs.
- Mix the melted butter with the garlic powder and parsley. Brush the tops and sides of the rolls with all of the butter mixture.
- Bake the Sliders: Bake for 8-9 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the tops are golden.
- Serve and Garnish: Serve warm with remaining marinara sauce on the side for dipping!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy to my readers. I'm not a nutritionist and I don't guarantee the accuracy of this data. The data may differ according to the brands I used versus the brands you use. To calculate the data yourself using your brands, try using an online nutrition calculator or app.
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