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Italian Meatball Sliders

These make a fun little dinner and they are full of flavor. I jazzed up a store bought sauce, but you can make a homemade sauce if you’d like. Make a side of pasta to use for the extra sauce. The kids loved these! They thought it was a cool hamburger with lots of ketchup. Enjoy!

Italian Meatball Sliders

3-4 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 lb lean ground beef
½ Cup finely chopped white onion
¼ Cup packed thinly sliced fresh basil leaves
2 Tablespoons finely chopped sun dried tomatoes, oil packed, drained
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ Cup Italian Seasoned Bread Crumbs (or you can make your own fresh crumbs)
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
1 Tablespoon Tabasco hot sauce
1 egg
2 Tablespoons milk

Sauce
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
¼ Cup finely chopped white onion
¼ Cup finely chopped red or green bell pepper
2 Cloves garlic, minced
1 jar of your favorite Pasta Sauce, I used Classico
¼ Cup thinly sliced fresh basil leaves

12 fresh basil leaves
½ Cup fresh grated parmesan cheese

1. Place olive oil into 9×13 inch baking dish and swirl to coat bottom surface. Combine all meatball ingredients in a large bowl until well combined. Take about ¼ Cup handful of meat mixture and roll into ball. Align all into baking sheet.
2. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until cooked through. Half way through bake time, use fork to flip meatballs.
3. Place olive oil into a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Saute onion and bell pepper until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, sauce and basil leaves. Reduce heat to low and simmer until serving.
4. Brush insides of rolls with extra virgin olive oil and broil for 1-2 minutes or until golden brown.
5. Place a basil leaf onto bottom roll, a meatball, a spoonful of marinara sauce and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Close with top roll. Enjoy!

Makes about 12 little sliders

Italian Meatball Sliders

These homemade Italian meatball sliders make a fun dinner for kids, or an easy appetizer for entertaining! Easy and saucy, mini meatball sandwiches!
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American, Italian
Servings: 12 sliders
Calories: 167kcal
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Ingredients

For the Meatballs:

  • 3-4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 1/2 cup white onion finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves thinly sliced, packed
  • 2 tbsp sun dried tomatoes drained and finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 cup Italian Seasoned Bread Crumbs

    (or make your own)


  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1 tbsp

    Tabasco hot sauce


  • 1 egg
  • 2 tbsp milk

For the Sauce:

  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup white onion finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup red or green bell pepper finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 jar pasta sauce (your favorite pasta sauce, I used Classico)
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves thinly sliced

For Serving:

  • 12 fresh basil leaves
  • 1/2 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

  • Place olive oil into 9×13 inch baking dish and swirl to coat bottom surface.
  • Combine all meatball ingredients in a large bowl until well combined. Take about ¼ Cup handful of meat mixture and roll into ball. Align all into baking sheet.
  • Bake for 25-30 minutes or until cooked through. Half way through bake time, use fork to flip meatballs.
  • Place olive oil into a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Saute onion and bell pepper until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, sauce and basil leaves. Reduce heat to low and simmer until serving.
  • Brush insides of rolls with extra virgin olive oil and broil for 1-2 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Place a basil leaf onto bottom roll, a meatball, a spoonful of marinara sauce and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Close with top roll. 

Nutrition

Calories: 167kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 658mg | Potassium: 395mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 393IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 82mg | Iron: 2mg
Keywords: easy appetizer ideas, party food