Easy Meatball Sliders with Marinara and Mozzarella
Easy Meatball Sliders with Marinara and Mozzarella are an Italian-American slider recipe featuring simple preparation, melty cheese, and family-friendly flavor in every bite. Fresh prepared meatballs are browned in a skillet, simmered in marinara sauce, topped with mozzarella, and baked until bubbly before being served on toasted brioche or Hawaiian slider rolls.
Servings: 12 sliders
Calories: 353kcal
Equipment
- 12-inch cast iron skillet or other oven-safe skillet
- Tongs
- Pastry brush
- Instant-read thermometer
Ingredients
For the Meatballs
- 1 ½ pounds (12 count) fresh prepared Italian meatballs
- 2 ½ cups marinara sauce (store-bought or homemade, prepared)
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese sliced
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- Pinch of Italian seasoning
- Parmesan cheese (optional)
For the Slider Rolls
- 12 brioche slider rolls or King's Hawaiian rolls, or dinner rolls
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Working in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding, brown the meatballs on all sides, about 6 to 8 minutes total. The meatballs do not need to be fully cooked at this stage.
- Transfer the browned meatballs to a plate. Carefully drain any excess grease from the skillet, leaving behind any browned bits for flavor.
- Return the meatballs to the skillet and pour the marinara sauce over the top. Stir gently to coat.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and gently simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the meatballs are fully cooked and reach an internal temperature of 160°F.
- Arrange the sliced fresh mozzarella evenly over the meatballs and marinara sauce. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the mozzarella is melted, soft, and beginning to bubble around the edges. For additional color, broil for 1 to 2 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- While the meatballs are in the oven, place the slider rolls cut-side up on a sheet pan. Combine the melted butter and garlic powder in a small bowl and brush the mixture over the cut sides of the rolls. Bake for 3 to 5 minutes, or until lightly toasted.
- Remove the skillet from the oven and add parmesan if desired. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning and fresh parsley. Serve the toasted slider rolls alongside the skillet. Spoon a meatball with sauce and melted mozzarella onto each roll just before serving.
Video
Notes
Cooking Notes:
Brown the meatballs before adding the marinara sauce to develop flavor and create a better texture. If the skillet becomes greasy after browning, carefully drain off the excess before adding the sauce. Simmer the meatballs until fully cooked before topping with cheese and baking.
Tips for Best Results:
- Brown the meatballs in batches if needed so they develop a crust instead of steaming.
- Simmer the meatballs gently in the marinara sauce until they reach 160°F internally.
- Drain excess grease from the skillet before adding the marinara to keep the sauce rich rather than oily.
- Toast the slider rolls separately so they stay sturdy and don't become soggy from the sauce.
Nutrition
Calories: 353kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 618mg | Potassium: 384mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 467IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 188mg | Iron: 3mg
