Pizza Sliders Recipe brings gooey mozzarella, zippy marinara, and buttery garlic tops on soft Hawaiian rolls for a melty, pull-apart snack that tastes like a pizzeria party. It suits weeknights, game day, or a quick crowd-pleaser, and you can get it on the table in about 25 minutes. I crank these out when my kids bring friends over and the pan vanishes before I sit down.
Why Pizza Sliders Recipe Is Worth It
Pizza Sliders Recipe delivers big pizza flavor with minimal effort. You build everything in one pan, then slice and serve without juggling multiple pizzas or toppings.
These sliders also handle picky eaters with ease. You can set up half pepperoni and half veggie, then everyone wins, including you.
Ingredients You Need
- 1 package Hawaiian sweet rolls, 12 count (King’s Hawaiian or similar)
- 1 to 1.5 cups shredded low-moisture mozzarella (pre-shredded works fine)
- 24 to 30 slices pepperoni (regular or turkey; blot for less grease)
- 1 cup pizza sauce or marinara (Rao’s, Delallo, or any good jarred sauce)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced, or 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
- Pinch red pepper flakes, optional
- Fresh basil or parsley, chopped, optional
- Fine sea salt and black pepper, to taste
Optional add-ins and swaps:
- 1/2 cup cooked crumbled Italian sausage or bacon bits
- 1/4 cup diced bell pepper or red onion
- 1/4 cup sliced black olives or mushrooms
- Use provolone or a mozzarella-provolone blend if you like extra stretch
- Gluten-free dinner rolls for a gluten-free spin
- Dairy-free mozzarella and olive oil in place of butter for dairy-free
Equipment:
- 9×13 baking dish or sheet pan
- Serrated knife
- Small bowl and pastry brush or spoon
- Foil
- Cutting board and measuring cups
Quick Tips & substitutions
- Keep the rolls connected and slice them horizontally as one slab for easy assembly.
- Warm thick pizza sauce slightly so it spreads without tearing the rolls.
- Blot pepperoni with a paper towel to reduce grease and soggy bottoms.
- Mix butter with a little olive oil for golden tops that don’t dry out.
- Cover with foil for the first bake to melt cheese, then uncover to brown.
- Use deli-sliced mozzarella for tidy layers if you want clean edges.
- Assemble up to 8 hours ahead, cover, and refrigerate, then bake right before serving.
- Go veggie with peppers, onions, olives, and mushrooms, or swap in cooked chicken for a lighter meat option.
- Try hot honey or crushed red pepper if you like a little kick.
- No Italian seasoning on hand? Use a mix of dried oregano and basil.
How to Make Pizza Sliders
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
- Heat the oven to 375°F and grease a 9×13 baking dish or line a sheet pan with parchment.
- Use a serrated knife to slice the rolls horizontally, keeping the top and bottom slabs intact.
- Place the bottom slab in the pan. Spread pizza sauce in an even layer from edge to edge.
- Sprinkle half the mozzarella over the sauce, then add pepperoni and any add-ins in an even layer.
- Top with the remaining mozzarella. Set the top slab of rolls over the cheese.
- Stir melted butter, olive oil, garlic, Italian seasoning, Parmesan, red pepper flakes, and a pinch of salt and pepper in a small bowl.
- Brush the garlic butter mixture over the tops of the rolls. Go all the way to the edges for even browning.
- Cover the pan tightly with foil and bake for 10 minutes to melt the cheese.
- Remove the foil and bake 4 to 6 more minutes, until the tops look golden and the cheese bubbles at the edges.
- Rest 3 minutes, sprinkle with chopped basil, then slice into 12 sliders and serve hot.
Simple Variations
- Margherita: Use extra sauce, fresh mozzarella slices, and basil with a drizzle of olive oil.
- Meat lover: Add cooked crumbled sausage and a few chopped bacon bits with pepperoni.
- Supreme: Load peppers, onions, olives, mushrooms, and pepperoni for a classic combo.
- BBQ chicken: Swap the sauce for BBQ sauce, add cooked shredded chicken, and top with red onion and cilantro.
- Buffalo chicken: Toss cooked chicken with buffalo sauce and use ranch for dipping.
- Veggie pesto: Spread pesto instead of sauce and layer tomatoes, spinach, and mozzarella.
Ways to Serve Pizza Sliders
- Serve with Caesar or chopped Italian salad.
- Offer dips: warm marinara, ranch, garlic butter, or hot honey.
- Pair with tomato soup or minestrone for a cozy meal.
- Add a side of roasted broccoli or a quick antipasto platter.
Storage
Let leftovers cool, then pack them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven or air fryer until hot and crisp, about 6 to 10 minutes. Freeze tightly wrapped sliders for up to 2 months, then reheat from frozen at 350°F until hot. If the tops brown too fast during reheating, cover loosely with foil and finish warming through.
Pizza Sliders Recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Slice slider buns in half and place the bottom halves in a baking dish.
- Spread pizza sauce evenly on each bottom bun.
- Layer with shredded mozzarella cheese and pepperoni slices.
- Place the top halves of the buns on the sliders.
- Mix melted butter and Italian seasoning, then brush over the tops of the sliders.
- Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes until cheese is melted.
- Remove foil and bake an additional 2-3 minutes for a golden top.
- Serve warm and enjoy.