Sweet & Spicy Meatball Sliders

When I pull one of these sliders out of the pan, the cheese stretches like crazy. The top of the roll is buttery and golden, soft and fluffy, and inside there’s this juicy meatball drenched in a sticky sweet and spicy BBQ glaze. The sauce drips down the sides and soaks just enough into the bread without making it soggy. Every bite is savory, smoky, sweet, and just a little bit of heat from the sriracha. It smells like game day, backyard cookouts, and comfort food all in one. These are the kind of sliders you grab with one hand and accidentally eat three more without realizing it.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This recipe hits every flavor note. Sweet from the honey, smoky from the BBQ, spicy from the sriracha, cheesy, saucy, and ridiculously soft bread. It’s easy to prep ahead, feeds a crowd, and disappears fast. Plus it feels homemade and elevated, not frozen party food.

Why This Is the Perfect Game Day Food

These sliders check every game day box.

• Handheld, no forks needed
• Easy to make in big batches
• Stays warm in the pan
• Messy in the best way
• Crowd pleasing for kids and adults
• Way cheaper than ordering takeout

Put these on the table and nobody is asking for pizza.

Sweet & Spicy Meatball Sliders

Tender homemade beef meatballs baked until juicy, tossed in a sticky honey BBQ sriracha glaze, then stuffed into soft slider rolls and baked with melty cheese for the ultimate sweet and spicy party snack.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Ingredients

  

Meatballs

• 1 lb ground beef
• ½ cup breadcrumbs
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• ¼ cup chopped parsley
• 1 egg 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper For the Sauce
• ½ cup BBQ sauce
• ¼ cup honey
• 1 tablespoon sriracha adjust to taste
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• ½ cup Cheddar Cheese

Sauce

• ½ cup BBQ sauce
• ¼ cup honey
• 1 tablespoon sriracha adjust to taste
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• ½ cup Meatballs

Instructions

 

Make the Meatball Mixture

• In a large bowl add:
• ground beef
• breadcrumbs
• Parmesan
• parsley
• egg
• garlic powder
• onion powder
• salt and pepper
• Mix gently until combined. Don’t overmix or they’ll get tough.

Form the Meatballs

• Roll into small golf ball size meatballs so they fit inside the slider buns.

Bake the Meatballs

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Place on a parchment lined baking sheet.
• Bake 18 to 20 minutes until cooked through and lightly browned.

Make the Sweet & Spicy Sauce

• In a small saucepan combine:
• BBQ sauce
• honey
• sriracha
• soy sauce
• apple cider vinegar
• Warm over medium heat until smooth and glossy.

Toss the Meatballs

• Add hot meatballs to the sauce and toss until fully coated and sticky.

Assemble the Sliders

• Slice slider rolls in half without separating.
• Place bottom half in baking dish.
• Add one sauced meatball to each roll.
• Add cheese if desired.
• Place tops back on.

Final Bake

• Cover loosely with foil.
• Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes until warm and cheese melts.
• Optional, uncover last few minutes for golden tops.

Serve

• Slice into individual sliders and serve immediately while cheesy and saucy.

Video

Recipe Tips

Bake the sliders covered with foil first, then uncover for the last 3 to 5 minutes. This melts the cheese perfectly without drying out the rolls or overbrowning the tops.

Bonus tip, brush the tops with melted butter before baking for bakery style shine and flavor.

Keyword appetizers recipes, game day foods, meatball sliders, slider recipes, sweet and spicy meatball sliders

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