Haunted Meatball Sliders (Print Version)
Mini sandwiches of juicy beef meatballs, zesty sauce, and cheese—perfect for spooky celebrations.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meatballs
01 - 1 pound ground beef
02 - 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
03 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
04 - 1 large egg
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
07 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
08 - 1 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
→ Assembly
10 - 12 slider buns or small dinner rolls
11 - 1 1/2 cups marinara sauce
12 - 12 slices mozzarella cheese
13 - 24 black olive slices
14 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
15 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
16 - 2 tablespoons fresh basil or parsley, chopped
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, egg, garlic, parsley, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Mix gently until just combined.
03 - Form mixture into 12 evenly sized meatballs. Arrange on the prepared baking tray.
04 - Bake in the oven for 15 to 18 minutes, or until meatballs are cooked through and browned.
05 - While meatballs bake, heat marinara sauce in a small saucepan over low heat until hot.
06 - Slice slider buns and place the bottom halves on a separate baking sheet.
07 - Place one meatball on each bun bottom. Spoon warm marinara sauce over each meatball and top with a slice of mozzarella cheese.
08 - Add two black olive slices to each slider to create 'eyeballs' atop the melted cheese.
09 - Arrange bun tops nearby. Brush each with melted butter and sprinkle with garlic powder.
10 - Bake assembled sliders open-faced for 5 to 7 minutes, or until cheese melts and buns are lightly toasted.
11 - Place bun tops on sliders. Garnish with chopped fresh basil or parsley and serve warm.
# Additional Tips::
01 -
- Easy to assemble and perfect for Halloween festivities
- Juicy homemade meatballs with classic Italian flavors
- Kids get a kick out of the goofy olive eyeballs
- Cheesy sliders come together in under an hour making them great for weeknight dinners or casual parties
02 -
- High protein and filling enough to please both kids and adults
- Great for parties since you can prep everything ahead
- Meatballs freeze well make a double batch for future dinners
03 -
- If you want extra tender meatballs try soaking breadcrumbs in a splash of milk before mixing
- Use deli mozzarella because it keeps the cheese gooey and stretchy longer
- I learned to always chill meatballs for five minutes before baking it holds together better and the crust gets extra delicious
- You can lay out all toppings ahead so assembly is super fast when meatballs come out of the oven