Pizza Sliders
What if you could enjoy all the delicious flavors of freshly baked pizza without all the hard work? With this easy pizza sliders recipe, you can fill your Hawaiian rolls with classic Italian flavors perfect for pizza night with your family. And since you can make them ahead of time and store the in the freezer, these mini sandwiches are the perfect option for any busy weeknight.
Sliders are becoming my go-to for Game Day, parties, and picky kids. Check out our Ham and Cheese Sliders.
Pizza Sliders Recipe
Ingredients:
- 12 pack buns that are attached (dinner rolls or Hawaiian rolls)
- 2 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided into 1 cup and 1 1/2 cup
- 3/4 cup pizza sauce
- 10-20 slices deli pepperoni (enough to cover the buns)
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Assembly Instructions:
- Spray a 9×13 foil baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Keeping the buns connected, cut the entire loaf in half horizontally to create top and bottom buns. Remove the top set of buns and set them aside.
- Sprinkle 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the bottom buns, then spread the pizza sauce over the top of the cheese.
- Layer the pepperoni slices over the top of the sauce, and sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese over the top of the pepperoni.
- Carefully place the top set of buns on top of the sandwich filling ingredients. Using a pastry brush, brush the melted butter over the top of the buns and sprinkle the grated parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning over the melted butter.
- Cover the pan with foil and place it in the freezer until you’re ready to eat your sliders.
Cooking instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Place the covered pan in the oven to bake for 25 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the buns are toasted.
- Slice the rows to form individual sliders and serve while still warm.
Do Frozen Sliders Need to Be Thawed Before Baking?
The best part about these make-ahead sliders is that there is no need to thaw them before you start baking! All you have to do is pull them out of the freezer and pop them in the oven.
Frozen sliders will take around 60 minutes to fully cook through. If you want to cut down on your cook time, you can allow the sliders to defrost in the refrigerator overnight before baking. Thawed sliders can be cooked at 350 degrees for around 15 minutes.
How Do You Keep Pizza Sliders from Getting Soggy?
There’s nothing worse than biting into a soggy sandwich! Luckily, it’s easy to keep your pizza sliders from getting soggy as they bake.
The reason most pizza sliders end up soggy is because of the sauce. Make sure to use a minimal amount of sauce when topping your sliders. And avoid placing the sauce directly on the bread. Instead, add a layer of cheese on the bottom set of buns, then add the sauce on top. The cheese will help keep the sauce from soaking into the bread, helping the buns stay crispy as they cook.
What Type of Bread is Best for Sliders?
The key to getting delicious sliders is choosing the right bread! And the best bread for sliders is definitely Hawaiian rolls. These soft and tender rolls bake with a crispy crust, making them perfect for sandwiches. And since they come in a handy sheet, they’re quick and easy to prepare.
But if you can’t get Hawaiian rolls, there are other types of bread you can use when making your own sliders at home. Dinner rolls, brioche buns, or mini pretzel buns also make great options for baking your pizza sliders.
Pizza Slider Topping Ideas
What’s a more classic pizza combination than cheese and pepperoni? It’s a delicious way to satisfy any pizza craving. But if you like your pizza with even more toppings, it’s easy to adjust this slider recipe to include your favorite ingredients. Try these pizza topping ideas as you’re preparing your sliders to create a unique sandwich recipe for your family.
- Ham or Canadian bacon
- Crumbled sausage
- Bacon
- Sliced mushrooms
- Onions
- Sliced bell peppers
- Black olives
- Jalapeño slices
- Crushed pineapple
- Red pepper flakes
- Garlic powder or minced garlic
- Shredded parmesan cheese
How Do I Store Pizza Sliders?
These pizza sliders taste so great when they come out of the oven, I’m sure they’ll be gobbled up at dinner! But if you have a few extras left when dinner is over, they should be stored in the refrigerator.
Transfer the leftover sliders to an airtight container and keep them refrigerated for up to four days.
The sandwiches can be eaten cold or warmed up before eating. To reheat the sliders, place them in the oven at 350 degrees until they’re heated through.
What to Serve With Pizza Sliders?
These quick and easy mini sandwiches are a great option for dinner because they’re packed with pizza flavor. But you’re going to need a side dish or two to round out your meal before you serve your sliders. Try these recipe ideas as you’re preparing your meal plan.
- Side salads
- Coleslaw
- Pasta salad
- Roasted vegetables
- Breadsticks
- Marinara sauce for dipping
- 12 pack buns that are attached dinner rolls or Hawaiian rolls
- 2 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided into 1 cup and 1 1/2 cup
- 3/4 cup pizza sauce
- 10-20 slices deli pepperoni enough to cover the buns
- 1/4 cup butter melted
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
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Spray a 9x13 foil baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
-
Keeping the buns connected, cut the entire loaf in half horizontally to create top and bottom buns. Remove the top set of buns and set them aside.
-
Sprinkle 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the bottom buns, then spread the pizza sauce over the top of the cheese.
-
Layer the pepperoni slices over the top of the sauce, and sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese over top of the pepperoni.
-
Carefully place the top set of buns on top of the sandwich filling ingredients. Using a pastry brush, brush the melted butter over the top of the buns and sprinkle the grated parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning over the melted butter.
-
Cover the pan with foil and place it in the freezer.
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Thaw.
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Preheat the oven to 350°.
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Place the covered pan in the oven to bake for 25 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the buns are toasted. If you want to have crispier buns, uncover the buns for the last five minutes.
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Slice the rows to form individual sliders and serve while warm.
