Meatball Sliders

Mini meatballs, massive flavor! 😋 These sliders are seriously addictive. 🔥🍽️

1. Before You Begin:

Meatball Sliders are the ultimate comfort food, combining juicy meatballs, savory sauce, and soft slider buns into one irresistible bite. Perfect for parties, game days, or a fun family dinner!

2. Required Ingredients:

• 1/2 California bay leaf
• 3 cups coarse fresh bread crumbs (6 slices white sandwich bread)
• 1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 5 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 pound ground pork
• 1 pound ground beef (not lean)
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 1/2 cups grated Parmesan
• 20 small (2-inch) slider buns, split
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 (28-ounce) cans whole tomatoes in juice
• 2 cups vegetable oil
• 2/3 cup whole milk
• 1 medium sweet yellow onion, finely chopped

3. Step-by-Step Instructions:

First, prepare and cook the meatballs until browned and cooked through. Simmer the meatballs in marinara sauce. Assemble the sliders by placing a meatball or two onto each bun and topping with sauce and cheese, if using. Bake briefly to melt the cheese and warm the buns.

Step 1: Puree the tomatoes

Combine the tomatoes and their juice in a blender. Process until completely smooth. Transfer the pureed tomatoes to a separate bowl, ready for the next step.

Step 2: Sauté the onion

Heat the oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion to the hot oil. Sauté, stirring occasionally, until the onion is golden brown and softened, approximately 6 minutes.

Step 3: Add garlic

Add the minced garlic to the pot with the sautéed onions. Continue to sauté, stirring constantly, for about 1 minute. Be careful not to burn the garlic, as this will make it bitter.

Step 4: Simmer the sauce

Add the tomato puree, sugar, bay leaf, and salt to the pot. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 40 to 50 minutes. Discard the bay leaf after simmering.

Step 5: Combine meatball ingredients

In a large bowl, combine the bread crumbs and milk. Let the mixture stand for 10 minutes to soften the bread crumbs. Then add the ground meat, garlic, cheese, eggs, parsley, oregano, marjoram, salt, and pepper. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix.

Step 6: Fry the meatballs

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Form the meat mixture into level 1/4-cup portions, shaping them into meatballs. Fry the meatballs in batches, about 6 at a time, turning occasionally, until well browned and cooked through, about 4 to 6 minutes per batch.

Step 7: Simmer meatballs in sauce

Add the drained, fried meatballs to the simmering tomato sauce. Stir gently to coat the meatballs in the sauce. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the meatballs are heated through, ensuring they absorb the flavorful sauce.

Step 8: Assemble and garnish

Assemble the sliders by placing a meatball and 1 tablespoon of sauce per bun. Garnish each slider with baby greens. Secure the slider with a wooden pick to hold everything together for serving.

4. Serving Suggestions

Serve the meatball sliders warm as an appetizer or main course. They pair well with a side of coleslaw, potato chips, or a simple green salad. A cold beer or soda is a perfect accompaniment.

5. Nutrition

Serving size: 20 servings, Calories: 323kcal, Protein: 16g, Fat: 17g, Carbohydrates: 25g, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 6g, Cholesterol: 55mg, Sodium: 306mg

6. Final Touch:

Meatball Sliders are a crowd-pleasing dish that is easy to make and always a hit. Whether you're hosting a party or just looking for a fun dinner idea, these sliders are sure to satisfy!