These hot Italian sliders are a flavor explosion in every single bite!
The combination of pepperoni, ham, salami, melty cheese, and pepperoncini is absolutely irresistible.
It’s like a classic Italian sub was shrunk into an adorable handheld package of yumminess.
I’m telling you, I can’t stop making these. They’re a cinch to throw together but taste like you spent hours in the kitchen. I won’t tell if you won’t!
Why You’ll Love These Italian Sliders
Here’s why you’ll want to put these sliders on repeat:
- Packed with Flavor: These sliders may be small, but they have a huge amount of flavor. Between the zesty sauce, peppers, three meats, and cheese, it’d be impossible not to.
- Totally Customizable: As with most slider recipes, you can tweak them to suit your tastes. Don’t like ham and salami? Use turkey instead. Or leave off the meat entirely.
- Perfect for Any Occasion: You can whip these up for an everyday dinner or a special occasion.
Ingredients
You need the following ingredients to make these easy sliders:
- Hawaiian rolls – You can buy actual slider buns, but I prefer Hawaiian rolls. They feature a nice amount of natural sweetness.
- Mayo = Many sliders use a combination of sauces. These need only mayo. It has a tangy zestiness that really livens them up.
- Meats – I use a combination of thinly sliced deli ham, salami, and pepperoni. Together, they provide a wallop of meaty Italian flavor.
- Provolone cheese – I like freshly sliced provolone from Publix’s Deli.
- Pepperoncini – If you can’t find them, pickled banana peppers will work just as well.
- Melted butter – I typically use salted butter because I always have it. Unsalted is okay, too.
- Seasonings – For extra flavor, I use Italian seasoning and garlic powder. Mix them with the melted butter to create the glaze for the topping.
- Parmesan – For sprinkling over the top.
For the optional lettuce salad, you also need:
- Shredded lettuce
- Olive oil
- Red wine vinegar
- Italian seasoning
- Garlic powder
- Salt & pepper
How to Make Italian Sliders
Follow these steps to put them together:
1. Prepare. Grease a baking dish and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Measure out all ingredients and have them ready to go.
Slice the slider buns in half horizontally. Don’t separate them from one another.
2. Assemble the sliders. Place the bottom halves of the buns in the baking dish. Then, add a layer of mayo. Top that with the three meats, provolone cheese, and peppers.
Return the top buns.
3. Add the butter sauce & Parmesan. Use a small bowl to combine the melted butter and a teaspoon each of Italian seasoning and garlic powder. Whisk well.
Then, brush the mixture over the tops of the buns. Sprinkle Parmesan on top of the butter sauce.
4. Bake. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake for another 5 minutes or until the tops are golden brown.
5. (Optional) Make the lettuce salad. While the sliders are baking, mix together all the ingredients for the lettuce salad. Toss well to combine.
6. Finish the sliders. Remove the sliders from the oven. Let them cool for just a few minutes. Then, cut them into individual portions and serve, adding the lettuce salad on top if desired.
Tips for the Best Sliders
Remember these tips when making sliders:
- Don’t separate the rolls!. Slice them in half horizontally to make a top and bottom bun. But DO NOT separate them from one another. Keeping them together makes them easier to assemble and bake.
- Choose your knife wisely. Once the sliders are ready, they’re thick, messy, and hard to cut. Using a clean, dry, serrated knife will help simplify the process.
- Go easy on the mayo. If you add too much, the sliders will be soggy on the bottom.
- Keep things nice and even. Try to use the same number of slices of meat and cheese on each slider. Having them assembled evenly means they will also cook more evenly.
Recipe Variations
These variations make them even more delicious!
- Up the ante on the Italian. Add pesto sauce and/or marinara with the mayo.
- Switch up the buns. I don’t like their taste as much as Hawaiian rolls, but slider buns are thicker and sturdier. They’ll give you more stable sliders overall.
- Go vegetarian. Simply replace the meats with roasted veggies. Eggplant works well. So do zucchini and peppers.
- Pile on the toppings. Pickles and sliced onions are two of my favorites.
- Go pepper crazy. Pepperoncini peppers aren’t all that taste good on these sliders. You can also add banana peppers, jalapenos, or even sauteed bell peppers!
How to Store Leftovers
You can easily make these Italian sliders ahead of time.
Simply assemble them in their baking dish and refrigerate them up to 24 hours in advance. Bake them immediately before serving them.
As for leftovers, you have a few options there, too:
- To Store: Separate the sliders into individual servings (1-3 sliders). Place them in an air-tight container and refrigerate them for up to 4 days.
- To Freeze: Freezing the sliders is pretty similar. Separate them into individual servings and place them in air-tight, freezer-safe containers. Then, freeze them for up to 1 month.
- To Reheat: Let frozen sliders thaw in the fridge overnight. Then, reheat them in the air fryer or oven at 350 degrees. The air fryer will need just a few minutes. The oven might take up to 10.
What to Serve with Italian Sliders
Serve these easy Italian sliders with anything that pairs well with sandwiches. I recommend:
More Sliders Your Family Will Love
Cuban Sliders
Turkey and Cheese Sliders
BBQ Chicken Sliders
Big Mac Sliders
French Dip Sliders
Hot Italian Sliders
12
servings15
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minutesThese hot Italian sliders transform your favorite sub into bite-sized wonders! The combo of ham, salami, pepperoni, and cheese can’t be topped.
Ingredients
- For the Sliders
12 Hawaiian rolls
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 pound deli ham, thinly sliced
12 slices salami
12 slices pepperoni
12 slices provolone cheese
1/2 cup pepperoncini or pickled banana peppers, sliced
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- For the (Optional) Lettuce Salad
8 ounces shredded lettuce
olive oil, to taste
red wine vinegar, to taste
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon garlic powder
salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a baking dish with oil or butter.
- Slice the slider buns in half horizontally, keeping them attached if possible. (Leaving them attached will make it easier to assemble them.) Place the bottom halves in the prepared baking dish.
- Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on the bottom half of the buns.
- Layer the ham, salami, pepperoni, and provolone cheese evenly over the mayonnaise. Top with the pepperoncini peppers.
- Place the top halves of the slider buns on top.
- Combine the butter, 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, and 1 teaspoon of garlic powder in a small bowl. Brush the mixture over the sliders, coating them well.
- Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese over the tops of the buns.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake for an additional 5 minutes. (Or until the tops are golden brown and the cheese has melted.)
- While the sliders bake, make the optional salad topping. Add the shredded lettuce to a bowl. Pour over the olive oil and red wine vinegar to taste. Season with the remaining Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Toss to combine.
- Remove the sliders from the oven and let them cool slightly. Then, cut into individual servings, remove the tops, add the lettuce salad if using, and place the tops back on. Enjoy!
