Hawaiian Roll Meatball Subs

There I was, scrolling through TikTok, minding my business, when BAM—I saw these Hawaiian roll meatball subs, and I knew my life had changed. Soft, buttery rolls packed with juicy meatballs, smothered in sauce, covered in melty mozzarella—basically, the ultimate game day snack that had me running straight to my kitchen.

Ingredients:

Meatballs, because obviously, the star of the show needs to be juicy and flavorful. Pasta sauce, because what’s a meatball sub without that saucy goodness? Shredded mozzarella cheese, because cheese makes everything better. Hawaiian rolls, because they’re soft, slightly sweet, and hold everything together like a dream. Parsley, for a little fancy garnish moment. Melted butter and garlic, because we’re not just making any sliders—we’re making buttery, garlicky perfection.

How to Make It:

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Take your Hawaiian rolls and carve out little pockets in the center—don’t go too deep, just enough to nestle those meatballs in. Stir your garlic into the melted butter, then brush it all over those rolls like you’re giving them a spa treatment. Pop a meatball into each roll, pour over some pasta sauce, and cover with a generous handful of shredded mozzarella. Sprinkle on some parsley for a pop of color, then bake for 12 minutes until everything is bubbly and golden.

FAQs

Can I use frozen meatballs? Absolutely! Just make sure they’re fully cooked before assembling.
Can I make these ahead of time? Yes! Assemble everything, but wait to bake them until you’re ready to serve.
What if I don’t have Hawaiian rolls? Any soft dinner rolls will work, but the slightly sweet taste of Hawaiian rolls really makes these next-level.

I will never forget the day I saw these beauties pop up on my FYP and immediately hit “save.” I knew I had to try them, and let me tell you—best decision ever. My whole family went wild over them, and now they’re a staple in our game-day lineup. They’re easy, cheesy, and packed with flavor, which makes them the MVP of any party.

Common Issues and How To Manage Them

People run into a few common hiccups when making Hawaiian roll meatball subs at home, but don’t worry—I got you covered!

One issue is soggy rolls. If you go too heavy on the sauce or don’t bake them long enough, the rolls can get a little too soft and fall apart. The trick is to use just enough sauce to coat the meatballs but not drown them. Also, a quick toast of the rolls before assembling can help keep things sturdy.

Another problem? Cheese that doesn’t melt evenly. This can happen if your oven isn’t preheated properly or you don’t bake the sliders long enough. If you want that gooey, stretchy cheese situation, make sure the subs are in the oven long enough to get everything melty and delicious. You can even broil them for the last minute or two for that golden brown top.

Some folks also struggle with fitting the meatballs into the rolls. If your meatballs are too big, they won’t sit nicely inside the carved-out rolls. A quick fix is to gently press down on the meatballs to flatten them slightly or use smaller-sized ones.

Lastly, the butter and garlic topping sometimes gets uneven coverage. If you just brush it on the tops, you might miss out on that buttery goodness soaking into the sides. The best way to fix this is to brush all around the rolls and even let them sit for a minute before baking so they absorb the flavor.

Master these little tricks, and you’ll be making meatball sliders like a pro!

These sliders are fun to make at home because they’re simple, quick, and feel like a little hack to a full-sized sub. Plus, they’re bite-sized, which means you can eat like three and totally justify it. Whether it’s football Sunday, movie night, or just a regular Tuesday when you’re craving something delicious, these meatball sliders hit every time.

Here are some more delicious slider recipes to try: