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Comforting Italian Meatball Sub Sliders

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These Italian meatball sub sliders feature juicy, Italian-seasoned meatballs nestled in soft, buttery slider buns topped with gooey melted mozzarella cheese. Perfect for quick, comforting meals or casual gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound (450g) ground beef (85% lean)
  • 1 cup (100g) Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup (25g) grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Olive oil, for cooking
  • 2 cups (480ml) marinara sauce
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 12 slider buns (soft, buttery rolls, e.g., King’s Hawaiian style)
  • 12 slices (about 8 oz / 225g) mozzarella cheese
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted

Instructions

  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, Italian seasoned breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, chopped parsley, minced garlic, egg, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined.
  2. Shape the mixture into 12 even-sized meatballs, about 1.5 inches (4 cm) in diameter.
  3. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Brown the meatballs on all sides for about 5 minutes, turning occasionally, but do not cook through.
  4. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) while browning the meatballs.
  5. Slice slider buns horizontally, keeping halves connected if possible. Place bottom halves in a greased or parchment-lined baking dish.
  6. Spoon marinara sauce evenly over the bottom buns, reserving about 1/2 cup for serving.
  7. Nestle one browned meatball on each bun.
  8. Place a slice of mozzarella cheese over each meatball, then cover with the top halves of the slider buns.
  9. Brush the tops of the buns with melted butter.
  10. Bake sliders in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly and buns are lightly toasted.
  11. Remove from oven and spoon reserved marinara sauce over sliders or serve on the side for dipping.
  12. Let sliders rest for a couple of minutes before serving.

Notes

[‘Do not overmix meatball mixture to keep meatballs tender.’, ‘Browning meatballs before baking adds flavor and helps them hold shape.’, ‘Use fresh mozzarella slices for best melt and gooey texture.’, ‘Brush buns with melted butter for a golden, buttery finish.’, ‘Bake just until cheese melts and buns toast to avoid drying out sliders.’, ‘Meatballs and sauce can be prepared a day ahead to save time.’, ‘For gluten-free, substitute slider buns and breadcrumbs with gluten-free versions or almond flour.’, ‘For dairy-free, use vegan cheese substitutes that melt well.’]

Nutrition

Keywords: Italian meatball sliders, meatball sub sliders, easy sliders recipe, comfort food, homemade meatballs, gooey cheese sliders

Find it online: https://blairrecipes.com/comforting-italian-meatball-sub-sliders-recipe-easy-homemade-gooey-cheese/