• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Sip Bite Go logo

  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Smoker Recipes
    • Air Fryer Recipes
    • Homemade Pizza
    • Sous Vide Recipes
    • Trader Joe’s Recipes
    • Steak Recipes
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Keto Friendly
  • Smoker Recipes
  • Air Fryer
  • Sous Vide
    • All Sous Vide Recipes
    • The Home Chef’s Sous Vide Cookbook
    • Buttery Sous Vide Lobster Tail Recipe
    • Sous Vide Frozen Steak
    • Sous Vide T Bone Steak
    • Sous Vide Chicken Wings
    • Sous Vide Egg Bites
  • Cookbooks
  • More
    • Entertaining
    • Kitchen Remodel
    • Travel
    • Blogging Chat
  • About
    • About Jenna
    • Start here
    • Work With Me
    • Contact
    • Get Updates
  • Podcast
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Find A Recipe
  • Smoker Recipes
  • Main Dish Recipes
  • Pizza Recipes
  • Holiday Dishes
  • Air Fryer Recipes
  • Sous Vide
  • Salad Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Slow Cooking Recipes » Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders Dinner (Slow Cooked OR Baked)

    Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders Dinner (Slow Cooked OR Baked)

    Published: Jul 25, 2021 by Jenna Passaro · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Pin69
    Tweet
    Share
    Share
    69 Shares
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
    Collage with text overlay of Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders Slow Cooker Dinner.

    Want an easy game day or weeknight dinner idea with meatballs? My Hawaiian roll meatball sliders are perfect for serving a group on a busy day. Slow cook or bake the homemade beef meatballs. Then serve them with toasted slider-sized mini Hawaiian buns. Let’s cook!

    Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders Dinner Slow Cooked or Baked

    Wait til you try this Italian style family dinner. It’s super easy to make in the oven or slow cooked.

    Table of Contents

    • Here’s why everyone loves it…
    • Ingredients for this recipe
    • ​​How to shape meatballs for sliders
    • How to slow cook Hawaiian roll meatball sliders
    • How to make baked meatball sliders in oven
    • How to toast Hawaiian buns in air fryer
    • How to toast Hawaiian buns in the oven
    • How to assemble Hawaiian roll meatball sliders
    • FAQs for making an easy meatball dinner
    • Side dish ideas
    • Are you a foodie, too?
    • Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders Slow Cooked Dinner Idea Recipe | Sip Bite Go

    Here’s why everyone loves it…

    • It’s a great slow cooker meal for busy nights.
    • You’ll see tips for baking meatball sliders in oven for faster meatballs, too.
    • Leftovers are delicious the next day with homemade pasta.
    • Make easy meatball sliders for party appetizers, game day main dishes, and Sunday dinners.
    • Tips on how to toast Hawaiian buns in the air fryer or oven.
    serving party platter Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders for sunday dinner idea

    Ingredients for this recipe

    Here’s what you need to make the slow cooker Hawaiian roll meatball sandwiches.

    ​​Ingredients for homemade meatball sliders

    You can also substitute frozen meatballs instead of making them from scratch.

    • Ground beef (80/20 ratio preferred) – 2 pounds of ground beef makes about 25 meatballs
    • Yellow onion
    • Breadcrumbs
    • Garlic
    • Salt + pepper
    • 1 tbsp basil, fresh chopped
    • 2 tbsp olive oil (for searing meatballs before slow cooking)
    Infographic with list of ingredients for slider meatballs.

    Ingredients for simple crockpot sauce

    You can also substitute ​​store bought marinara sauce instead of making this sauce.

    • 16 oz diced tomatoes (canned)
    • ½ onion, yellow (diced)
    • 1 garlic clove, (minced)
    • ½ tbsp salt
    • 1 tbsp olive oil
    • ½ cup basil, fresh diced

    For serving meatball sliders

    • 2 packages Hawaiian buns
    • 2 tbsp butter, melted
    • 2 cup marinara sauce, warmed
    • 1 cup parmesan cheese grated or (substitute shredded provolone or ​​mozzarella cheese)

    ​​How to shape meatballs for sliders

    1. Add ground beef to a large bowl with the diced onion, minced garlic, breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper. Mix all ingredients by hand, flipping them in the bowl and squishing them together, until combined.
    2. Make each meatball with about ¼ cup ground beef. I use a large serving spoon to eyeball the amount of meatball ingredients so they are all consistent in size. Roll the meat around in the palms of your hands while gently pressing together until they form a circle shape. Two pounds of ground beef makes about 25 meatballs.

    How to slow cook Hawaiian roll meatball sliders

    Now I’ll share the step by step directions for the recipe in the video for meatball sliders with ground beef.

    Infographic demonstrating searing meatballs and adding meatballs for sliders to crockpot with tomato sauce.
    1. Turn a large burner on the stove to medium-high heat and add a very large frying pan on top (or fry meatballs in batches if using a smaller pan). Add olive to the frying pan. When the oil is hot and a slight smoke starts to appear, add in the meatballs carefully – the oil may splatter.
    2. Sear meatballs, rotating frequently with tongs, until all sides of the meatballs are seared and brown in color. The insides will not be fully cooked which is fine. During this time, add all simple crockpot sauce ingredients to the slow cooker and stir to combine.
    3. Once meatballs are seared, add meatballs to the slow cooker. Set your slow cooker to cook for desired time (the meatballs in the photos cooked for 6 hours) until done.
    Slow cooked Meatball Sliders for a crowd in a serving bowl.
    “So yummy meatball sliders” – my toddler

    How to make baked meatball sliders in oven

    1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Add raw meatballs to a large baking dish or parchment paper lined rimmed baking sheet without searing them first.
    2. Bake meatballs for sliders, turning them every 10 minutes, for 20-30 minutes until brown on the outside and fully cooked inside. The internal temperature for fully cooked meatballs is 165°F which you can measure with a meat thermometer.

    How to toast Hawaiian buns in air fryer

    You don’t need melted butter. Just pop them in the air fryer (it doesn’t matter which side is up) and toast them for 3-5 minutes at 400°F until golden brown to your liking.

    See how an air fryer works

    How to toast Hawaiian buns in the oven

    Preheat oven to 350 – 400°F. Toast Hawaiian buns in the oven with the inside of the rolls facing up, with a spread of melted butter on them for 5-10 minutes, until golden brown to your liking.

    Easy slow cooker dinner Hawaiian Roll Meatball Slider on a plate with salad.

    How to assemble Hawaiian roll meatball sliders

    Add one meatball on top of the bottom half of the Hawaiian bun. Add a spoonful of marinara sauce on top. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese or add provolone or mozzarella cheese. Top with the other half of the roll and secure with a toothpick if desired.

    Party platter Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders in a bowl.

    FAQs for making an easy meatball dinner

    How do you meal prep meatball sliders for dinner?

    You can buy frozen store bought meatballs, my Trader Joe’s must haves list includes them. Or you can make homemade meatballs sliders from scratch with the recipe here on Sip Bite Go the day ahead. You can sear them the day ahead, too. So all you have to do is add seared meatballs to the crock pot the day of making them with the tomato sauce.

    Can you use store bought ​​marinara sauce?

    Yes, instead of the sauce using canned tomatoes, you can use your favorite marinara sauce.

    What’s a meatball slider side dish to serve with them?

    Pair this meatball sliders recipe with a seasonal salad like this summer peach salad or strawberry salad. Or winter sous vide beet salad.

    What Italian side dish goes with meatball sliders?

    Make a potato side dish for these meatballs like my easy boiled mini potatoes shown in the recipe video. They take about 20 minutes to make. You boil them until fork tender in a large pot of water on high heat. Coat them with olive oil and Italian seasonings then broil them to crisp up, or cook air fried mini potatoes on 400°F until golden brown to your liking (about 10 minutes).

    Where do you get Hawaiian buns for sliders?

    I got mine from a local Portland, Oregon bread maker but you can find Hawaiian rolls in most major grocery stores. I like the hint of sweetness with the meatballs. You can either spread them with regular butter, as the recipe suggests or add a garlic butter with herbs to the bread to toast it in the oven with even more flavor.

    What cheese goes on meatball sliders?

    When serving them Italian-style use a sprinkle of parmesan cheese, provolone or ​​mozzarella cheese slices on top.

    Side dish ideas

    • Air fryer chicken wings
    • Potato recipes
    • Stuffed shells
    • Sautéed onions and peppers
    • White sauce
    • Baked chicken wings
    • Sautéed mushrooms
    • Spinach pesto pasta
    • Make ahead Mexican salad
    • Best Caprese salad
    • Creamy pesto pasta salad
    • Roasted cherry tomatoes
    • Focaccia bread
    • Sausage stuffing
    • See all side dishes

    Are you a foodie, too?

    You’ll love these meatball sub sliders made in the crock pot for busy nights. The Hawaiian roll meatball in pasta sauce pairing is so unexpectedly tasty.

    Even though these are considered “mini meatball sliders”, you can use any full size meatball recipe for the inside. If you want to make keto friendly meatballs, see this recipe for cauliflower rice meatballs.

    For a tangy spin, try these Hawaiian BBQ pineapple meatballs. Those sweet and sour meatballs and Hawaiian rolls are a great combination, too.

    Before you go, connect with me on Instagram @sipbitego to see my new tasty slider recipes and other delicious home cooking ideas. I always share previews before the recipes go live on the site. For more deliciousness, subscribe to the Sip Bite Go channel on YouTube.

    To find more delicious recipes to try on your culinary journey, scroll through the Sip Bite Go recipe collection.

    Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders Dinner Slow Cooked or Baked

    Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders Slow Cooked Dinner Idea Recipe | Sip Bite Go

    Want an easy game day or weeknight dinner idea with meatballs? My Hawaiian roll meatball sliders are perfect for serving a group on a busy day. Slow cook or bake the homemade beef meatballs. Then serve them with toasted slider-sized mini Hawaiian buns. Let’s cook!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer, Main Dish
    Cuisine: Italian
    Prep Time: 25 minutes
    Cook Time: 6 hours
    Finish Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 6 hours 30 minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 499kcal
    Author: Jenna Passaro

    Ingredients

    Ingredients for homemade meatball sliders (substitute frozen store bought meatballs)

    • 2 lb ground beef 80/20 ratio preferred
    • 1 medium yellow onion diced
    • 1 cup breadcrumbs
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 ½ tbsp salt
    • 1 tsp black pepper
    • 1 tbsp basil fresh chopped
    • 2 tbsp olive oil for searing meatballs before slow cooking

    Ingredients for simple crockpot sauce (substitute store bought marinara sauce)

    • 16 oz tomatoes diced, canned
    • ½ yellow onion diced
    • 1 garlic clove minced
    • ½ tbsp salt
    • 1 tbsp olive oil
    • ½ cup basil fresh diced

    For serving meatball sliders

    • 2 packages Hawaiian buns
    • 2 tbsp butter melted
    • 2 cup marinara sauce warmed
    • 1 cup parmesan cheese grated or substitute shredded provolone or mozzarella cheese

    Instructions

    How to shape meatballs for sliders

    • Add ground beef to a large bowl with the diced onion, minced garlic, breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper. Mix all ingredients by hand, flipping them in the bowl and squishing them together, until combined.
    • Make each meatball with about ¼ cup ground beef. I use a large serving spoon to eyeball the amount of meatball ingredients so they are all consistent in size. Roll the meat around in the palms of your hands while gently pressing together until they form a circle shape. Two pounds of ground beef makes about 25 meatballs.

    How to slow cook Hawaiian roll meatball sliders

    • Turn a large burner on the stove to medium-high heat and add a very large frying pan on top (or fry meatballs in batches if using a smaller pan). Add olive to the frying pan. When the oil is hot and a slight smoke starts to appear, add in the meatballs carefully – the oil may splatter.
    • Sear meatballs, rotating frequently with tongs, until all sides of the meatballs are seared and brown in color. The insides will not be fully cooked which is fine. During this time, add all simple crockpot sauce ingredients to the slow cooker and stir to combine.
    • Once meatballs are seared, add meatballs to the slow cooker. Set your slow cooker to cook for desired time (the meatballs in the photos cooked for 6 hours) until done.

    How to make baked meatball sliders in oven

    • To do this, preheat the oven to 400°F. Add raw meatballs to a large baking dish or parchment paper lined rimmed baking sheet without searing them first.
    • Bake meatballs for sliders, turning them every 10 minutes, for 20-30 minutes until brown on the outside and fully cooked inside. The internal temperature for fully cooked meatballs is 165°F which you can measure with a meat thermometer.

    How to toast Hawaiian buns in air fryer

    • You don’t need melted butter. Just pop them in the air fryer (it doesn’t matter which side is up) and toast them for 3-5 minutes at 400°F until golden brown to your liking.

    How to toast Hawaiian buns in the oven

    • Preheat oven to 350 – 400°F. Toast Hawaiian buns in the oven with the inside of the rolls facing up, with a spread of melted butter on them for 5-10 minutes, until golden brown to your liking.

    How to assemble Hawaiian roll meatball sliders

    • Add one meatball on top of the bottom half of the Hawaiian bun. Add a spoonful of marinara sauce on top. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese or add provolone or mozzarella cheese. Top with the other half of the roll and secure with a toothpick if desired.

    Video

    Notes

    If you don’t make slow cooked meatballs and sauce, and instead bake meatballs for the sliders, you can toss them in warm pasta sauce before adding them to the buns.
     
    See the recipe: https://sipbitego.com/hawaiian-roll-meatball-sliders
    See the recipe video for hawiian bun meatball sliders.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 499kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 97mg | Sodium: 2470mg | Potassium: 726mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1017IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 220mg | Iron: 4mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @SipBiteGo or tag #sipbitego!
    « How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Wings
    Crispy Baked Chicken Wings (With Sauce + Dry Rub) »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    jenna passaro food blogger from Portland Oregon

    Hey, I’m Jenna Passaro.

    I develop easy recipes that can transform your kitchen into a restaurant – and you into a true home chef.

      

    Where to start?

    Learn the secrets to smoking tasty Traeger recipes and making pizza at home. And cook amazing tri tip steak dinners.

    Or, fall in love with something new to cook with your air fryer, pellet smoker, BBQ grill, sous vide cooker, and more…

    You’ll notice, I kind of geek out over new cooking trends and tools!

    Instagram me @sipbitego & chef hubs @handmodelpatrick

    My story. Growing up, I didn’t learn to cook.

    (I was actually banned from cooking for years)

    And then in my 20’s I didn’t have to cook because my job as an event planner involved a lot of travel and it was easier to eat out. At the time, I was 100% positive that restaurant food would always taste better than cooking at home, and there was nothing I could do about it.

    Until I fell in love with a chef. He would come over and cook me delicious meals right in my own kitchen. My mind was blown.

    Since then, I’ve been on a mission to figure out easy ways to make restaurant style food at home and share it here on Sip Bite Go.

    Love to eat out and travel? I can totally relate. See my guide on where to eat in Portland, OR.

    jenna passaro the home chef's sous vide cookbook

    Never in a million years did I imagine I’d ditch the 9-5 lifestyle in my late 20’s, move across the country on a whim, start a new life, start a food blog, and write a book.

    But here I am!

    See my book on Amazon: The Home Chef’s Sous Vide Cookbook.

     

       

    Game Day Food

    Teriyaki Steak Marinade

    Easy Teriyaki Steak Marinade

    Grilled Sirloin Steak Recipe

    Easy Grilled Sirloin Steak on Weber Gas Grills

    Chicken Wing Recipe with dip

    9 EASY Chicken Wings Appetizers

    How To Cook Tri Tip In Oven Recipe

    How To Cook Tri Tip In Oven Perfectly

    Grill + Smoker

    Best Burger Recipes List for Grill Smoker Sous Vide

    Best Burger Recipes For Game Day

    Smoked Porchetta Box from Traeger Provisions

    Traeger Provisions Review of Smoked Porchetta Box With Video

    Community Favs

    How To Cook Tri Tip In Oven Recipe

    How To Cook Tri Tip In Oven Perfectly

    easy potato side dishes for steak dinners

    15+ Easy Potato Side Dish Recipes For Steak

    Air Fryer

    Air Fryer Turkey Legs Disney Copycat Recipe

    How To Air Fry Turkey Legs

    Air Fryer Brats Recipe

    Air Fryer Beer Brats (aka Bratwurst)

    Pizza Cravings

    Cheeseburger Recipe With Mustard And Pickles

    Cheeseburger Pizza Recipe With Mustard And Pickles

    Fig And Prosciutto Gourmet Pizza Recipe

    Dried Fig And Prosciutto Flatbread Pizza

    Holiday Dishes

    Turkey Legs In Oven Sip Bite Go

    Easy Baked Turkey Legs In Oven Recipe

    Spoon of gravy with a Turkey Gravy Packet lemon garlic and herb

    How To Make Turkey Gravy From Packet Taste Better

    Footer

    • Sip Bite Go
    • Recipe Index
    • Sous-Vide Recipes
       
    Sip Bite Go As Seen On
    • Work with Sip Bite Go
    • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Get Updates
    • Accesibility Info

    COPYRIGHT © 2021 SIP BITE GO