These Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders turn classic meatball subs into cheesy, bite-sized treats with a touch of hot honey for sweet heat. They make an excellent game-day appetizer and double as a quick, satisfying weeknight dinner.
Soft sweet Hawaiian rolls are filled with mozzarella, easy oven-baked meatballs, and marinara, then brushed with garlic butter and finished with a drizzle of hot honey for contrast. The combination of sweet, savory, and slightly spicy flavors makes these sliders irresistible.
For other great game-day ideas, try recipes like Spicy Italian Sausage Dip, Chicken Alfredo Garlic Bread, Street Corn Smash Burger Tacos, Dill Pickle Dip, Candied Bacon BLT Sliders, or Chuy’s Creamy Jalapeño copycat. These sliders fit right in with any crowd-pleasing spread.
Why You’ll Love Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders
They combine pillowy sweet rolls, juicy meatballs, hot bubbly cheese, and a buttery garlic topping. A final drizzle of hot honey brings everything together with a sweet, warming finish. The meatballs come together quickly and bake in the oven, keeping things tidy. If you’re short on time, store-bought meatballs work, but the homemade version is simple and worth the extra step. These sliders store well in the refrigerator and the meatballs freeze nicely for later use.
Oven Baked Meatballs
These oven-baked meatballs are juicy and flavorful while requiring only a handful of ingredients. Baking avoids stovetop splatter and produces tender meatballs that are tempting to snack on before assembly.
It’s All About the Hot Honey!
Hot honey elevates these sliders by balancing the tang of the tomato sauce with sweetness and a gentle kick. Use a good quality hot honey you enjoy—its sweet-heat profile is key to the recipe and well worth including.
Ingredients You Need & Why
This recipe uses a compact ingredient list while still making flavorful, homemade meatballs. Refer to the recipe card below for exact measurements and full instructions.
Hawaiian rolls – a 12-count package of sweet, pillowy rolls works perfectly.
Ground beef – an 80/20 blend gives the meatballs good juiciness and flavor.
Cheese – mozzarella is used for melting on the sliders while Parmesan is mixed into the meatballs for depth of flavor.
Breadcrumbs – plain Italian breadcrumbs bind the meatballs without adding extra flavors.
Egg – helps the meatballs hold together.
Butter + garlic – melted butter mixed with minced garlic and parsley is brushed on the rolls for a buttery garlic finish.
Marinara – use a good-quality pizza or marinara sauce; the sauce plays an important role in the overall flavor.
Seasonings – salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes round out the seasoning.
Homemade Meatballs on a Baking Sheet
Making these meatballs is straightforward: mix, shape, and bake. The steps are simple and yield about a dozen or so meatballs suitable for stuffing the 12 rolls.
- Combine ground beef with beaten egg, grated Parmesan, minced garlic, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Mix until evenly combined.
- Portion the mixture into roughly 1.5-inch balls using a cookie scoop or spoon, roll them smooth, and arrange on a baking sheet. You should have about 12–14 meatballs.
- Bake at 400°F for 20–25 minutes, until no longer pink in the center. Flip once halfway through to avoid overly browned bottoms. After baking, toss the meatballs lightly in marinara so they stay saucy.
Assemble the Meatball Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls
With the meatballs ready, assemble the sliders as follows:
Use a small knife to cut a 1-inch circle from the center top of each roll and remove the bread. Use the bottom of a shot glass to press into the opening and create space for a meatball.
Mix 4 tablespoons melted butter with 2 teaspoons minced garlic and 2 teaspoons chopped parsley. Brush the mixture on the tops and inside the rolls.
Bake the prepared rolls at 400°F for about 5 minutes, until the tops begin to turn golden.
Spoon a generous pinch of mozzarella into each crevice, press it down, and add a spoonful of marinara. Place one sauced meatball into each roll and press it into the cavity.
Top each meatball with another pinch of mozzarella and return the tray to the oven until the cheese melts. Brush the tops with any remaining garlic butter and finish with a drizzle of hot honey just before serving.
Pairing Ideas
These sliders work well as finger food for parties or as a casual dinner. Great sides include Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad, KFC-style coleslaw, potato salad, creamy mac and cheese, or spicy corn. Choose one or two sides to round out the meal.
Looking for More Easy Appetizers?
Try other simple crowd-pleasers such as queso spinach dip, viral chicken Alfredo garlic bread, baked caramelized onion dip, baked corn dip, steak quesadillas with chipotle crema, or jalapeño popper toasted pinwheels for more appetizer inspiration.
If you make these Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders, I hope you enjoy them. They’re a fast, flavorful option that’s easy to scale for a crowd and stores well for leftovers.
Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders
Ingredients
- 12 count Hawaiian rolls
- 1 cup fresh mozzarella mozzarella pearls or small pieces
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- 4 tablespoons butter melted
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons chopped parsley
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce
- hot honey
Oven-Baked Meatballs
- 1 lb. ground beef 80/20 recommended
- 1/4 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan
- 1 egg beaten
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes optional
Instructions
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Combine ground beef, beaten egg, Parmesan, minced garlic, breadcrumbs, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using). Mix until evenly combined.
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Form the mixture into 1.5-inch balls using a scoop or spoon and place on a baking sheet. This should make about 12–14 meatballs.
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Bake at 400°F for 20–25 minutes, flipping once halfway through. When done, toss the meatballs lightly in marinara to coat.
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Assemble the sliders by cutting a 1-inch circle from the top center of each roll and removing the bread. Use a shot glass bottom to widen the cavity if needed.
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Mix melted butter with minced garlic and chopped parsley. Brush the mixture on the tops and inside the rolls.
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Bake the prepared rolls at 400°F for about 5 minutes until the tops are lightly golden.
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Place a pinch of mozzarella into each crevice, add a spoonful of marinara, then stuff each roll with a meatball. Top with more mozzarella and bake until the cheese melts.
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Brush the tops with additional garlic butter and finish with a drizzle of hot honey before serving.