Name: Mozzarella Stuffed Meatball Sliders
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (shredded); 1/4 cup plain bread crumbs; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 1 teaspoon fresh parsley; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon pepper; 1 egg (beaten); 1.25 pound Italian seasoned ground turkey ((see note)); 10 sticks string cheese; 1/4 cup olive oil; 2 cups marinara sauce; 30 slider rolls; 15 slices mozzarella cheese (cut into quarters); 2 tablespoons butter (melted); Italian seasoning (for garnish); Garlic powder (for garnish)

Jump to Recipe

Cheesy and delicious Mozzarella Stuffed Meatball Sliders are perfect for entertaining a crowd on game day or during the busy holiday season.

Warm and toasty Mozzarella Stuffed Meatball Sliders are perfectly portioned versions of the classic meatball sandwich– only stuffed with more cheese! Everyone will go wild for these perfectly seasoned turkey meatballs stuffed with melty mozzarella cheese and served in a saucy, cheesy slider bun.

mozzarella stuffed meatball sliders on a board with one cut in half to show filling with recipe name at the bottom

THE STAR OF THE PARTY

These Mozzarella Stuffed Meatball Sliders are seriously perfect for hosting because they’re the perfect-sized bite to satisfy your hunger, but not leave you stuffed like a Thanksgiving turkey! I always make these warm and melty sliders in the fall when football season starts back up and they usually make an appearance at my winter festivities too!

If you want more crowd-pleasing finger foods then you need to try Chicken Parmesan Sliders or Crack Chicken Sliders.

OTHER RECIPES TO SERVE WITH MOZZARELLA MEATBALL SLIDERS

Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Potato Wedges – These easy-to-make potato wedges are perfect for entertaining a crowd.
Grandma’s Potato Salad – Creamy and cool potato salad is a perfect side for this mozzarella meatball slider.
Dill Pickle Dip – This surprisingly tasty dip is always a hit at the snack table!

INGREDIENTS

Meatball Mix-ins: These meatballs are made with Italian seasoned ground turkey mixed with parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, garlic powder, salt and pepper, oregano, parsley, and an egg.

Cheese: You’ll need 1-inch cubes of mozzarella cheese to stuff the meatballs. I like to use string cheese because it’s so easy. Grab ten sticks. They’re about 3 inches long, so you’ll get three pieces per stick for a total of 30 pieces. You’ll also need slices of mozzarella or provolone cheese to finish each meatball slider.

Buns: You can use whichever slider buns you like. Sweet Hawaiian rolls are usually a favorite for sliders, but I find that dinner rolls or regular/butter slider buns pair better with the Italian flavors.

Marinara: Use your favorite marinara sauce to dress these meatballs. It can be homemade or store-bought, whichever you prefer. When I’m in the mood for homemade, I make this 15-minute spaghetti sauce without the ground beef.

HOW TO MAKE MEATBALL SLIDERS

STEP ONE: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Grab a large bowl and add the parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, garlic powder, oregano, parsley, salt, pepper, and the beaten egg and then mix that all together. Then add the Italian seasoned ground turkey to the bowl and mix everything together, but don’t overmix.

italian seasoned ground turkey in a mixing bowl with parmesan, bread crumbs, egg, and seasonings

STEP TWO: To form meatballs, scoop two tablespoons of meat and form it into a ball. Next, push a cube of mozzarella cheese into the center of each meatball and reshape it into a ball, sealing the cheese in the center.

scoops of turkey mixture with a piece of mozzarella pressed into the middle on a plate

STEP THREE: Heat half of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Place half of the meatballs into the skillet and cook the meatballs until they are browned on all sides, turning them as needed. Repeat with the other half of the oil and meatballs and then drain any excess grease. Add all the meatballs back to the skillet and pour in half of the marinara. Then stir to coat the meatballs.

cooked mozzarella stuffed meatball sliders in a large skillet

STEP FOUR: Place the bottom half of the slider buns into a 9×13 baking dish or on a large baking sheet. Spread 1/2 tablespoon of marinara on each bun. Add 1 meatball on each bun and place 2-quarter pieces of mozzarella on top of the meatball. Then place the top of the buns over the meatballs. Brush the buns with melted butter and sprinkle with Italian seasoning and garlic powder.

step by step assembly for mozzarella stuffed meatball sliders in a baking dish

STEP FIVE: Bake the sliders for 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the buns are golden brown. Carefully take them out of the oven and serve warm.

looking down at baked mozzarella stuffed meatball sliders in a dish

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

When making meatballs, be sure not to overwork and overmix the meat mixture. This can cause the turkey to get tough instead of staying tender once cooked.
If you want your sliders to be extra saucy, go for it. You can coat the meatballs in extra marinara sauce once they’re on the buns.

three mozzarella stuffed meatball sliders stacked in a pyramid on a small plate

CAN I MAKE STUFFED MEATBALL SLIDERS AHEAD OF TIME?

Though you definitely don’t want to assemble these sliders in advance, you can make the meatballs ahead of time! Once the meatballs are cooked and cooled, place them into an airtight container and store them in the freezer. When ready to reheat, place the meatballs on a baking sheet in a single layer and cover them with foil. Reheat the meatballs at 300 degrees F until fully heated through.

mozzarella stuffed meatball sliders arranged on a wooden board in front of the baking dish

HOW LONG ARE COOKED MEATBALLS GOOD FOR?

Whether you store leftover meatballs in sauce or not, they will last in the fridge for up to 3 days. If the meatballs are stored in sauce, you can reheat them in the sauce directly on the stovetop. If they were stored without sauce, I recommend reheating them in the oven at 300 degrees F. Spread them into a single layer on a baking sheet and cover them with foil to prevent them from drying out. To make them last longer, you can always freeze your meatballs for up to 2 months.