Easy Baked Meatball Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls

In just 35 minutes, make the best Meatball Sliders with Hawaiian Rolls using homemade or frozen meatballs. These Meatball Sliders are perfect for game day, a potluck, or an easy weeknight dinner!

For your next game day, fall feast, backyard bash, or weekend hosting night, easily make these saucy and cheesy meatball sliders with Hawaiian sweet rolls. 

I enjoy giving precise details in my recipe posts to lead my readers through any questions. If you’re just here for the printable recipe, use the Jump to Recipe to head straight there!

We love sliders! Try my popular Philly Cheesesteak Sliders, Hammy Sammies, or these tender Roast Beef Sliders. 

Simple Ingredients 

Hawaiian Buns | I like Hawaiian rolls, but you can use your favorite dinner rolls. Savory or sweet Hawaiian rolls are delicious! 

Meatballs | Make the recipe easy using frozen, cooked, thawed cocktail meatballs. Use Italian, beef, chicken, or turkey – or make homemade. See my brand favorites in the FAQs below.

Sauce | I like to make fresh marinara sauce, but your favorite sauce from the grocery store works, too! My favorite is Rao’s!

Cheese | Shredded mozzarella cheese evenly distributes and melts perfectly! However, slicesof mozzarella cheese will also do the trick. 

Butter and Worcestershire sauce | Combine melted butter and Worcestershire sauce as the base of the buttery roll topping.

Seasoning | Add Italian seasoning and garlic powder to the delicious butter mixture to top off the Italian flavors of the recipe.

How to Make Meatball Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls

Set a timer because you won’t believe how fast this recipe is. Start by preheating the oven to 350° F (175° C) and preparing a 9×13-inch baking dish with spray oil or parchment paper lined baking sheet.

Next, use a serrated knife to slice the pack of Hawaiian rolls in half, with the bottom half of the rolls slightly thicker than the top half — this helps avoid soggy buns!

Place the slab of bottom buns in the baking dish or on a sheet pan and set a meatball on each. 

Then, top the meatballs with the tasty sauce and sprinkle over the shredded mozzarella or cover the meatballs with a slice of cheese.

Replace the tops of the rolls and move on to making the buttery topping. (psst… this is the best part.)

Mix the melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder in a small bowl, then brush the buttery mix on top of the slider buns, and don’t forget to get the sides of the buns! If desired, sprinkle the tops with a little grated parmesan cheese. 

Finally, cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake it in the oven for about 15-20 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for 7 to 10 more minutes until the cheese is ooey gooey, melted and the sliders are golden brown. 

Serve the sliders while they’re hot and fresh from the oven!

Need more easy recipes for game day appetizers? Check out my delicious Pigs in a Blanket recipe, fan-favorite White Queso Cheese Dip with toasty tortilla chips, or Easy Oven-Baked Turkey and Cheese Sliders!

Variations & Substitutions for Pull-Apart Meatball Sliders

Homemade Pasta Sauce: Swap the jarred marinara for my homemade pasta sauce. If you didn’t know, there is a slight difference between marinara sauce and pasta sauce. Learn more about it here!

Change the Rolls: This recipe works best with pull-apart rolls, but you can make it with any kind you prefer! Also, hotdog, hamburger, or slider buns will work if you tuck them close together in the baking dish or pan.

Homemade Meatballs: The sliders recipe is also a hit when made with homemade meatballs! Just be sure they are fully cooked before assembling the sandwiches.

Change the Cheese: We also loved combining stretchy mozzarella and provolone when testing these sliders. Use your favorite!

Gluten-Free Meatball Sliders 

Since I have so many friends and family who are gluten-free, buy some yummy gluten-free slider rolls to sub in and make sure your meatballs are gluten-free or if making your own, make without bread crumbs or use gluten-free panko or breadcrumbs. Watch your sauce and shred your own cheese from the block! 

Can I Make Keto Meatball Sliders? 

Making low-carb or keto meatball sliders is easy, you can use Keto Slider rolls (I hear that Aldi’s are the best, if you live near one!) or make some Magic Protein buns or keep the buns off.

Try and make your own keto low-carb meatballs; how about these stuffed with mozzarella (yum!). Be sure to purchase a low-carb marinara and shred your cheese. 

Storage Tips

Refrigerate – Store leftover meatball sliders completely cooled in an airtight container for up to three days in the fridge.

How to Reheat Meatball Sliders

To reheat leftover sliders, preheat the oven to 350° F (175° C) and place leftover sliders in a baking dish covered with foil and bake for 5-10 minutes until they are warmed through, removing the foil for the last 3-5 minutes. You can also wrap each slider in foil and set them in a crockpot on warm or low to easily heat them.

Make-Ahead Sliders

Assemble the sliders, then add the garlic butter to the tops of the rolls just before baking for the best results. To avoid soggy sliders, I suggest to add some cheese to the bottom of the buns, then meatballs, sauce and more cheese on top, to help protect the buns from the sauce.

Can you Freeze Meatball Sliders?

Yes! Meatball sliders are freezer-friendly. Cool baked sliders completely and transfer to a freezer-safe container or Ziplock baggie, freeze for 3-6 months. For best results, wrap the cooled sliders individually in plastic wrap and then place in a container or Ziploc bag. 

To reheat, thaw the sliders in the fridge overnight and bake covered with foil for 5-10 minutes on 350°F (175° C). Remove the foil and bake for another 3 minutes or until warmed all through.

Reheat From Frozen: Cover with foil (removing any plastic wrap) and place in a baking dish and bake for 15-20 minutes then remove the foil and bake an additional 3 minutes or until warmed through.

Best Side Dishes for Meatball Hawaiian Roll Sliders

This meatball sliders recipe is excellent with all kinds of sides. When served with a classic pasta salad, like this Italian Pasta Salad,  Bacon Balsamic Macaroni Salad , and this hearty Italian Chopped Salad with Zesty Italian Dressing!

Best Desserts to Serve with Hawaiian Rolls Meatball Sliders

Keep the Italian flavors going by ending the meal with classic Italian Tiramisu – much easier than you imagine – Yum! Or try this deliciously creamy and rich Italian Lemon Ricotta Cake with my Lemon Gelato!

More Easy Dinner Recipes

• Easy Creamy Bow Tie Pasta Recipe (Farfalle Pasta)
• Best Philly Cheesesteak Casserole Recipe (Low-Carb)
• Easy Penne alla Vodka with Sausage (30 Minutes)

Great Game Day Recipes

• Cowboy Crack Dip (oh so good, serve hot or cold!)
• Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip
• Korean Chicken
• Creamy White Queso

Favorite Sliders

We love sliders, not only are they fun and shareable, but they are easy too! Try all of my favorites!

You will love these popular Philly Cheesesteak Sliders, our Cheeseburger Sliders, these Roast Beef Sliders, our famous Hammy Sammies and don’t forget these Breakfast Sliders.

I hope you loved this Easy Meatball Sliders Recipe — if you did, would you share your creation on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest? And be sure to comment below!