These Italian Sliders are quick, easy, and a crowd favorite! Hawaiian rolls are coated in a buttery spread, then piled with meats, melty cheeses, and a crispy grinder salad!
Why you’ll love these
- Football Favorite. Having people over for football Saturday? You NEED to make these. They’re consistently a crowd favorite thanks to the mix of Italian deli meats, cheeses, and fresh, crisp, tangy grinder salad.
- Easy. I’m always a fan of sliders, because of how quick and easy they are to make. Simply layer your choice of bread with meats and cheese, bake until golden, then pile on the toppings!
Ingredient notes
There are three main components to these Italian sliders: the butter sauce, the sandwich, and the grinder salad!
Butter Sauce
- Butter – unsalted or salted butter will work. Use olive oil in a pinch.
- Parmesan – finely grated parmesan from the green can in the pasta aisle is perfect here.
- Spices: Parsley, Basil, Garlic powder, Salt, and Pepper – dried spices keep this recipe quick and easy, but fresh herbs may be used as well. Use 1/2 tablespoon chopped fresh for every 1/2 teaspoon dried called for. Throw in some red pepper flakes for a kick of heat.
Sliders
- Bread – I love using Hawaiian rolls, because they’re sweet fluffy and easy to serve. Any slider bun will work though. For something more traditional, try Italian rolls, ciabatta, or focaccia. Whatever you use, you’ll need about 12 oz of bread.
- Cheese: Colby Jack Cheese and Provolone – use whatever combination of cheeses you like on your Italian sub! Pepper-jack, monterey jack, cheddar, mozzarella, swiss, gouda, fontina, gruyere, etc.
- Meats: Genoa Salami, Pepperoni, and Turkey – traditional meats for an Italian sub are salami, capicola, and mortadella, but I like having something a little less “greasy” which is why I include the turkey and pepperoni is a little more budget friendly than capicola. Other popular meats are prosciutto and ham.
Grinder Salad
- Lettuce – buy a bag of pre-shredded iceberg lettuce to keep prep quick and easy! Feel free to shred your own or use another lettuce, but I like how crispy iceberg lettuce is.
- Onion – thinly red onion is going to be the best onion to use, because it’s more mild than yellow or white. Shallots might be a good substitute in a pinch.
- Pepperoncini Peppers – these add such a nice tang and subtle heat, so I really don’t recommend omitting these. Use banana peppers, if preferred.
- Mayo – any mayo that you enjoy the flavor of is fine: regular, light, olive oil mayo, avocado oil mayo, etc.
- Vinegar – red wine vinegar is going to be the best flavor for the grinder salad, but white wine vinegar or even apple cider vinegar would be an ok substitute.
- Spices: Salt and Italian Seasoning – throw in a pinch of red pepper flakes or black pepper for a bit of spice. Garlic powder would also be a great addition.
Pro tip
Love sliders? Check out all our other slider recipes!
How to make
Butter Sauce
- Whisk together melted butter, parmesan, parsley, basil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a medium sized bowl, then set aside.
Sliders
- Slice the group of 12 rolls in half horizontally so that you have one “slab” of tops and one “slab” of bottoms.
- Place the bottom “slab” into a greased 9×13 inch baking dish, then top with the cheeses and meats.
- Place top rolls on, spoon butter mixture evenly over the rolls, then bake, covered, at 350 degrees F until the meat is hot and the cheese has melted.
Grinder Salad
- Whisk together mayo, vinegar, salt, and Italian seasoning in a medium sized bowl, then stir in pepperoncini peppers, red onion, and lettuce.
- Remove top rolls from the baked sandwiches, layer on the grinder salad, replace the top rolls, serve, and enjoy!
Are italian sliders served hot or cold?
These sliders were intended to be eaten warm; the contrast of the hot sandwich with the cold salad is absolutely delicious! However, if you prefer cold sandwiches, feel free to serve these cold!
Pro tip
If serving cold, I’d probably omit the butter sauce, so it doesn’t coagulate in the fridge.
What to serve with italian sliders
Keep it simple and serve these sliders next to a some slice pickles and potato chips! I also love pairing them with other sliders if I’m hosting a larger gathering. If you’re looking for something more homemade, try:
- Air Fryer Frozen French Fries
- Fruit Salad
- Potato Salad
- Italian Pasta Salad
- Air Fryer Pickles
- BBQ Baked Beans
- Crockpot Funeral Potatoes
Can sliders be prepared ahead of time?
- Butter Sauce – I don’t recommend making this ahead of time, to avoid an unpleasant butter texture. Plus, it’s so quick and easy, it’s not really necessary.
- Sliders – Yes! Make and assemble (bread, meat, and cheese) up to 2 days before serving.
- Grinder Salad – make the dressing (mayo, vinegar, salt, and pepper) and store in an airtight container up to 2 days before serving. Store the peppers, onion, and lettuce in another airtight container up to 2 days before serving. Toss to combine immediately before serving.
How to store
When topped with the grinder salad, these sandwiches are best served immediately. If you want to save leftovers, I’d recommend storing the sandwiches and salad in two separate airtight containers in the fridge for up to 2 days.
To serve again, reheat the sandwiches in the oven (covered) or microwave until warm, then top with the chilled salad.
How to freeze
- Skip the butter sauce.
- Assemble the rolls, cheese, and meats as directed in the original recipe in a freezer safe dish.
- Cover with tin foil and store in the freezer for up to 6 months.
- Thaw in the fridge overnight, make the butter sauce and grinder salad, then assemble and bake as directed in the original recipe.
Pro tip
I don’t recommend freezing leftover baked sandwiches.
– Jennifer
Italian Sliders
These Italian Sliders are quick, easy, and a crowd favorite! Hawaiian rolls are coated in a buttery spread, then piled with meats, melty cheeses, and a crispy grinder salad!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 12 sliders
Equipment for this recipe
(equipment shown are affiliate links)
Ingredients
Butter Sauce
- ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 tablespoon finely grated parmesan
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Italian Sliders
- 1 (12 oz) package hawaiian rolls
- 6 slices Colby Jack cheese
- 6 slices provolone cheese
- 1 pound mixed Italian meats I used 8 oz turkey, and 4 oz each: genoa salami and pepperoni
Grinder Salad
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup sliced pepperoncini peppers
- ⅓ cup thinly sliced red onion
- 1 (8 oz) bag shredded lettuce
Instructions
Butter Sauce
- Place melted butter, parmesan, parsley, basil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper into a medium sized bowl.
- Whisk until well combined, then set aside.
Italian Sliders
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Slice the group of 12 rolls in half horizontally so that you have one “slab” of tops and one “slab” of bottoms. (Do not pull the rolls apart.)
- Place the bottom “slab” into the prepared baking dish, then top with Colby Jack and provolone cheeses.
- Layer on all the meats, place top rolls on, then spoon butter mixture evenly over the rolls.
- Bake, covered, for 45 minutes or until the meat is hot and the cheese has melted.
- Carefully remove the top rolls, layer on the grinder salad*, replace the top rolls, cut into individual sandwiches, serve, and enjoy!
Grinder Salad
- While the sliders are baking, whisk together mayo, vinegar, Italian seasoning, and salt in a medium sized bowl.
- Stir in pepperoncini peppers, onion, and lettuce until fully coated, then set aside.
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STORING
Room Temp:N/A
Refrigerator:2 Days
Freezer:6 Months
Reheat:Thaw, if frozen, then bake until warm
*Storage times may vary based on temperature and conditions
Notes
*If you want leftovers, serve the grinder salad on the side and let each person top their own individual sandwich with the desired amount of grinder salad. Store leftover sandwiches and salad separately.
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Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Italian Sliders
Amount Per Serving (1 slider)
Calories 349 Calories from Fat 207
% Daily Value*
Fat 23g35%
Saturated Fat 11g69%
Trans Fat 1g
Cholesterol 68mg23%
Sodium 1053mg46%
Potassium 215mg6%
Carbohydrates 19g6%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 16g32%
Vitamin A 461IU9%
Vitamin C 4mg5%
Calcium 188mg19%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
*Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on products used.
Keywords: baked sliders, grinder salad, italian sandwiches
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