Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders with Pineapple Jalapeno Glaze is the ultimate party food. Made with soft and sweet Hawaiian rolls and frozen meatballs, they finished off with a sweet and spicy glaze that makes them out-of-this-world delicious.
Jump to:
- What makes this recipe irresistible
- What you’ll need: ingredients
- Step-by-step instructions
- Watch and learn: recipe video
- Essential tools for this recipe
- Frequently asked questions (FAQ’s)
- Deb’s tips to make great sliders
- How to store leftovers
- Repurpose your leftovers
- More recipes you’ll love
- Perfect pairings: what to serve
- Meatballs Sliders with Pineapple Jalapeno Glaze
What makes this recipe irresistible
One of my favorite things about this slider recipe is that it uses frozen meatballs and premade rolls, so it's a great time saver in the kitchen. No matter if you are making them for an easy dinner or for your next game-day party appetizer, this recipe will give sweet and tangy sliders without a lot of fuss.
What you’ll need: ingredients
Please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for the exact measurements.
- Hawaiian rolls - I love the sweet flavor that the Hawaiian rolls add, however you can use the Buttery rolls that are more savory instead.
- Frozen meatballs - Beef meatballs are our favorite, but you can swap them out and use turkey meatballs or even spam slices for this easy appetizer.
- mozzarella cheese - Mozzarella cheese is a must when it comes to meatballs, in my opinion, but cheddar, colby jack, or even pepper jack would also work.
- jalapeño jelly, though you can also use apricot jam, cranberry jalapeño jam even maramalde. (And it doesn't need to be homemade either).
- parsley flakes or dried Italian seasoning
Step-by-step instructions
This is an overview; for detailed instructions, scroll down to the bottom!
#1 Combine jelly, bbq sauce & crushed pineapple.
#2 Next add the parsley & garlic powder to the butter.
#3 Hollow out the rolls, fill with the bbq sauce.
#4 Fill each roll with a meatball.
#5 Brush with butter mixture and top with remaining sauce.
#6 Top with shredded cheese and bake until toasty!
Watch and learn: recipe video
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Essential tools for this recipe
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- 9x13 baking dish
- parchment paper
- small saucepan
- sharp knife
- small bowl
- aluminum foil
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Frequently asked questions (FAQ’s)
I always like to use frozen, fully cooked beef homestyle meatballs. You can use any kind you want, or make your own homemade meatballs if you prefer! Just make sure that you cook them first!
I really don't recommend that you make these ahead of time, as the rolls will get soggy. If you want to do a little prep work, you can make the butter mixture, make the sauce, and hollow out the rolls so that you can just assemble and bake them when you are ready to serve them.
Deb’s tips to make great sliders
For extra crispiness, lightly toast the hollowed-out rolls before adding the filling.
- Don’t overfill the rolls; this prevents the sauce from spilling out during baking.
- Use freshly freshly shredded cheese for a creamier, more evenly melted topping.
How to store leftovers
Refrigerate - Store the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Freezer - Wrap the individual portions tightly in plastic wrap and store them in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
Reheat - The best way to reheat these meatball sliders is in the oven at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. You can also reheat them in the air fryer at 350 degrees for 3-5 minutes.
Repurpose your leftovers
Leftover meatballs can be used in so many different ways; we love to take the leftover meatballs and sauce and place them in the slow cooker to cook until warm, and then enjoy them over a bed of white rice for a different meal.
More recipes you’ll love
Dan and I love sliders; they are always one of our go-to appetizers. Not only do they come in a variety of flavors and forms, but there is nothing cuter than a mini burger if you ask me.
Some of our favorite slider recipes are Ground Turkey Sliders, Sloppy Joe Sliders with Hawaiian Rolls, and Asian Turkey Sliders.
Perfect pairings: what to serve
Meatball sliders make a great meal all on their own. However, these are a few of my favorite recipes to pair with this meal when I want to take it up a notch.
Meatball sliders are the ultimate crowd-pleaser, whether you're hosting a game-day party, a family gathering, or simply enjoying a cozy weeknight dinner!
No matter what occasion you are making these sliders for, I can't wait to hear your thoughts! So, don't forget to come back and let me know how they turned out for you.
Meatballs Sliders with Pineapple Jalapeno Glaze
Ingredients
- 12 Hawaiian rolls
- 12 frozen meatballs thawed
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup crushed pineapple drained
- ¼ cup jalapeño jelly
- ¼ cup barbecue sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon parsley flakes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° degrees. Line a 9x13 casserole dish with parchment paper or lightly spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a small saucepan, combine the crushed pineapple, jalapeño jelly, and barbecue sauce. Heat on medium until the mixture is smooth and slightly thickened, about 3-5 minutes. Set aside.
- Hollow out the roll using a small knife. Cut a hollow in the center of each Hawaiian roll, being careful not to go through the bottom. Set the rolls in the prepared baking dish.
- Combine the melted butter, garlic powder, and parsley flakes. Brush the butter mixture generously over the tops of the rolls.
- Next, spoon a small amount of the glaze into each hollowed roll. Place a meatball into each hollow and top with another spoonful of the glaze. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella over the meatballs.
- Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and bake an additional 10-15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the tops are golden brown.
- Remove from the oven, and allow to cool slightly. Serve warm and enjoy!
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