Meatball Sliders

5 from 7 votes

These incredibly tasty pull-apart Meatball Sliders are like mini meatball subs stuffed into yummy buttery garlic bread! Made with super flavorful juicy homemade meatballs, toasted dinner rolls, and lots of cheese, they are the perfect easy appetizer for any event or gathering!

Prep Time30

Cook Time20

Total Time50

Course: Appetizer, Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: appetizer, game day, snack

Servings:

Calories: 354kcal

Author: Joanna Cismaru

Equipment

COSORI Air Fryer 5.8 Quart

Ingredients

For Garlic Butter

8 tablespoons butter unsalted and melted
2 cloves garlic minced
2 tablespoons parsley chopped
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper ground

For Meatballs

1 pound ground chicken
1 large onion finely chopped
¾ cup breadcrumbs I used Panko
¼ cup Parmesan cheese grated
½ cup parsley chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
2 eggs
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper ground

For Rolls

12 dinner rolls
1 cup marinara sauce I used store bought
2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
1 tablespoon parsley chopped
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preheat the air fryer to 380°F. Preheat your oven to 375°F.
In a small bowl whisk together all the garlic butter ingredients.
Using a sharp knife, cut holes in the top of each dinner roll, big enough to stuff a big meatball in it. Using a pastry brush, generously brush some of the garlic butter inside the rolls. Place the rolls on a baking sheet and transfer to the oven. Bake the rolls for 10 minutes or until they just start to brown and crisp up.
In a large bowl combine all the meatball ingredients together and shape the meat mixture into 12 equal size meatballs.
Spray the air fryer basket with a bit of cooking spray. Place the meatballs into the air fryer basket in a single layer. Spray the meatballs as well with a bit of cooking spray. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes or until the center of the meatball reaches 165°F degrees.
Spoon about 1 tablespoon of marinara sauce into each dinner roll, then place a meatball inside each roll. Spoon another tablespoon or so of marinara sauce over each meatball then sprinkle the mozzarella cheese evenly over the rolls.
Transfer the baking sheet to the oven and bake for 10 minutes until the cheese melts and is bubbly. Garnish the sliders with parsley, and red pepper flakes.
Serve warm.

Notes

These meatball sliders are best enjoyed while fresh but you could store them in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days in an airtight container.
You can also freeze them for up to 3 months. To reheat, you can place them on a baking sheet, straight from the oven and bake them at 350°F (176°C) for about 20 to 30 minutes or until heated through.
These meatballs are also great with ground turkey, beef or pork.

Nutrition