Italian sliders are the ultimate party food—warm, cheesy, and packed with bold Italian flavor! These mini sandwiches are perfect for Super Bowl parties, tailgating, picnics, or any time you need a fun and filling snack for a crowd. Stacked with savory meats, melty cheese, and flavorful marinara sauce, they’re a guaranteed hit. This easy recipe makes a big batch, so there’s plenty to go around!
If you’re looking for the best Italian sub sliders for game day or potlucks, then this recipe is for you! These slider sandwiches are made with soft, fluffy Hawaiian rolls and filled with classic Italian ingredients like pepperoni, salami, provolone, and marinara.
This Italian sliders recipe is also super flexible—use your favorite Italian meats and sauces, or even add extras like sautéed onion, roasted red peppers, or a handful of shredded lettuce for crunch after baking. It’s a fantastic way to feed a hungry group with minimal effort and maximum flavor. And if you’re a fan of freezer-friendly cooking, using frozen dough rolls makes this recipe even easier.
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Why We Love These Italian Sub Sliders
- They’re hot, cheesy, and meaty.
What more could you ask for in a slider? Each one is layered with San Marzano marinara sauce, ham, pepperoni, salami, and melted provolone. - They’re easy to make with frozen bread dough.
Let the rolls thaw and rise, then just fill, bake, and serve—no mixing or kneading required! - They’re perfect for sharing.
Perfect for game night, potlucks, or parties, these sliders can feed a multitude and never fail to be my guests’ favorite.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Frozen Parker House Roll Dough: There are several brands of frozen bread dough that you can use. Two of the most popular are Sister Shubert and Bridgford Foods.
- Pizza sauce: If you don’t have any on hand, thick marinara sauce works well.
- Deli meats and cheese: For Italian sliders, cured salami and pepperoni are our go-to choices. We use Provolone, mainly because Mozzarella is difficult to find in slices. Use whatever meats and cheeses you like.
Recipe Variations
- Meat lovers: Add ham, mortadella, or prosciutto for more variety. Replace the sauce with Italian dressing or add Dijon mustard.
- Veggie twist: Add sautéed spinach, red peppers, basil, or mushrooms for an Italian veggie slider.
- Spicy version: Swap the marinara for spicy arrabbiata sauce or add crushed red pepper flakes and pickled red onions.
- Cheese it up: Mix mozzarella or fontina with the provolone for extra gooey sliders.
- Add a crunch: Top these Italian sandwich sliders with toasted breadcrumbs or brush with garlic melted butter or olive oil before baking.
Equipment Used in this Recipe
- Baking dish
- Non-stick cooking spray
- Small bowl – for the egg wash
How to Make Italian Sliders Recipe
- Prep the rolls: Spray a low-sided baking dish with non-stick spray. Arrange frozen rolls in a single layer and let them thaw overnight in the fridge or on the counter for a few hours. Once thawed, let them rise until doubled in size.
- Bake JUST until golden.
Bake the rolls for 12-14 minutes, or until they are a light golden brown color. Let them cool, then cut them in half horizontally. Then, it’s time to start building the mini sandwiches.
- Create small circles of meat and cheese.
Keep in mind, you’ll be baking the sandwiches. So, to avoid a huge melty mess of cheese in the bottom of the dish, you’ll want to make the slices about the same size as the slider buns. - Assemble the sliders
Slice rolls in half horizontally and return the bottoms to the baking dish.
🎯 TFN Pro Tip
Use a 3-inch biscuit cutter or mason jar ring to cut the Provolone cheese to size.
- Be generous with the fillings!
For each of the Italian sub sliders, plan on using 3 slices each of pepperoni and salami. This will give your sandwiches plenty of flavors, and a good meat-to-bread ratio.
- Use a little sauce for “bun glue”
Add another tablespoon of pizza sauce to the inside top of each bun before you place it on top of the meat. The sauce adds extra flavor and helps prevent the tops from sliding off.
- Apply egg wash to the top of the sliders before baking.
Brushing the tops with egg gives them a glossy golden brown color.
Cover the baking dish with foil, then bake at 350º Fahrenheit for 15 to 20 minutes, until the cheese melts. - Enjoy these slider sandwiches warm, fresh from the oven!
Serving Suggestions
Whether you’re making them for an Italian potluck or for Super Bowl sliders, plan on two mini sandwiches per adult. Kids and/or anyone with a smaller appetite will likely eat just one.
These are a big crowd-pleaser, so if your party will have more than 12 guests, definitely make extra!
You may also add slices of mozzarella cheese or parmesan cheese to this slider. Serve it with lasagna or other pasta dishes and some caprese salad, seafood dip with shrimp, kale salad, or vegetarian side dishes with spinach, eggplant, or mushrooms. These Italian appetizers are easy to make with simple ingredients, so you can customize this slider with other fillings.
Need Serving Suggestions?
Italian sliders recipe are fabulous with potluck sides like baked beans or cannellini beans salad.
We also suggest serving party foods like tot nachos recipe (Loaded Tater Tots) and peppers jalapeno stuffed.
Recipe FAQs
Sliders were originally small burgers, but now the term slider refers to any type of mini sandwich.
Yes, you can prepare the Italian sandwiches the day before. Follow all of the instructions up until you brush the egg wash on top of the rolls.
Cover the rolls with plastic wrap and store them in the fridge overnight. Then, continue with the recipe the next day.
If you have any leftovers, wrap them in foil or an airtight container and refrigerate. Italian sliders will keep for up to 3 days in the fridge.
You can also freeze the baked sandwiches. Place them in a freezer-safe bag or container and they’ll keep for up to 2 months.
When you’re ready to eat them, thaw them in the fridge overnight. Then, reheat them in the oven or microwave using the instructions below.
Microwave: To keep the buns nice and soft, wrap each slider in a damp paper towel before microwaving. Reheat on high for 30-60 seconds, or until they are warm through the center and the cheese is melted again.
Oven: Cover the sliders in aluminum foil and bake directly on the oven rack at 375°F. for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through.
More Easy Sandwich Recipes To Love…
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Italian Sliders
Equipment
- non-stick cooking spray
- 9×13 baking dish
- small bowl
Ingredients
- 24 ounces frozen parker house rolls dough (package of 24)
- 1 cup pizza sauce or thick marinara sauce
- 12 ounces provolone cheese slices cut into 3-inch rounds *See Notes
- 10 ounces pepperoni slices or turkey pepperoni
- 10 ounces Italian salami slices
- 1 egg beaten
- 1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning
- flaky sea salt optional
Instructions
- Generously spray a low-sided baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Arrange frozen rolls in a single layer, and let thaw (covered) in the fridge overnight, or on countertop for a few hours. Let them rise at room temperature until they have doubled in size.
- Preheat oven to 375º F.
- Bake the rolls for 12-14 minutes, until lightly golden on top. Remove from the oven and let them cool slightly so they are easier to handle. Cut rolls in half horizontally. Arrange the bottoms of the rolls back in a single layer in the baking dish.
- Spread a tablespoon of pizza sauce over the inside bottom of each of the rolls. Cover sauce with a round slice of provolone cheese, then Italian meat(s). For each of the mini sandwiches, I used three slices of pepperoni, turkey pepperoni, and salami.
- Add a tablespoon of pizza sauce to the inside tops of the rolls, then place a top onto each of the prepared roll bottoms. Brush egg wash on the tops of the rolls. Sprinkle each top with dried Italian seasoning and flake salt, if desired.
- Reduce oven heat to 350°F.Cover baking dish of Italian sliders with foil and bake at 350º for 15-20 minutes, or until cheese melts. Serve warm.
Notes
- Meat lovers: Add ham, mortadella, or prosciutto for more variety. Replace the sauce with Italian dressing or add Dijon mustard.
- Veggie twist: Add sautéed spinach, red peppers, basil, or mushrooms for an Italian veggie slider.
- Spicy version: Swap the marinara for spicy arrabbiata sauce or add crushed red pepper flakes and pickled red onions.
- Cheese it up: Mix mozzarella or fontina with the provolone for extra gooey sliders.
- Add a crunch: Top these Italian sandwich sliders with toasted breadcrumbs or brush with garlic melted butter or olive oil before baking.
- To cut the cheese into circles, we use a 3-inch biscuit cutter or mason jar ring.
- Italian Meats – Feel free to use any combination of deli meat slices that you enjoy.
- To keep the sliders warm, place a rack in the bottom of a slow cooker or electric roaster. If you don’t have a rack, crumple a sheet of aluminum foil into the bottom. Add 1/2″ inch of hot water in the bottom of the pan. The purpose is to elevate the sliders above the water. The water keeps the sliders from drying out.
- Use a 3-inch biscuit cutter or mason jar ring to cut the Provolone cheese to size.
- If you have any leftovers, wrap them in foil or an airtight container and refrigerate. Italian sliders will keep for up to 3 days in the fridge.
- You can also freeze the baked sandwiches. Place them in a freezer-safe bag or container and they’ll keep for up to 2 months.
- When you’re ready to eat them, thaw them in the fridge overnight. Then, reheat them in the oven or microwave. Reheating using the microwave keeps the buns nice and soft, wrap each slider in a damp paper towel before microwaving. Reheat on high for 30-60 seconds, or until they are warm through the center and the cheese is melted again. When reheating using the oven, cover the sliders in aluminum foil and bake directly on the oven rack at 375°F. for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through.
- To make Sliders ahead of time: You can prepare the Italian sandwiches the day before. Follow all of the instructions up until you brush the egg wash on top of the rolls. Cover the rolls with plastic wrap and store them in the fridge overnight. Then, continue with the recipe the next day.
Nutrition
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sprunki game says
These Italian sliders look absolutely delicious! I can’t wait to try making them for my next gathering. Thanks for sharing such an easy and tasty recipe!
101 Lottery says
These Italian sliders look absolutely delicious! I love the idea of combining those savory flavors in a mini sandwich. Perfect for parties or game day! Can’t wait to try the recipe. Thanks for sharing!
A1 Lottery Game says
These Italian sliders look absolutely delicious! I can’t wait to try making them for my next gathering. The combination of flavors sounds amazing, and I love how simple the recipe looks. Thanks for sharing!