Italian Sliders (Sausage and Pepper!) + Video
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Italian Sliders are a welcome break from the typical ham and cheese combo. Loaded with Italian sausage, red and green peppers, onions, and gooey mozzarella, there’s plenty to feed the whole family! Have dinner on the table in under an hour with this easy Italian sliders recipe.
Italian Sliders
Party sliders are the ultimate comfort food for game day, get-togethers, or just a good hearty meal.
You can put them together with very little effort and get them on the table quickly.
And if you’re feeding a crowd, simply double or triple the ingredients and bake several pans at once!
Recipe Video
To see us make Italian sausage sliders from start to finish, watch the video in this post!
Looking for more easy slider recipes? Continue your Italian streak with chicken parmesan bites or try this delicious combination of sausage and coleslaw.
There’s even a breakfast version with eggs and cheese! It’s a grab-and-go option for busy mornings or an easy way to feed overnight guests.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Hawaiian Rolls – My top choice for these Italian sliders! Use the 12-count package or increase the rest of the ingredients a bit if you prefer to use the 24-count.
- Ground Sausage – This simply saves time. You can use links if you prefer, but it takes extra time to remove the casings.
Choose your favorite from mild, hot, or sweet! - Onion & Peppers – A classic Italian combo, opt for a yellow or white onion plus your choice of bell peppers.
I like to use one green and one red for this Italian sliders recipe. - Marinara – Grab your favorite jar from the store or make my homemade recipe — it only takes 5 minutes!
- Cheese – Since these are Italian sausage sliders, you know it’s going to be mozzarella! It melts down so smooth and creamy, plus it helps hold everything together.
- Butter Sauce – This is a simple mixture of melted butter (just use your microwave), Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.
Brush it on top of the sausage sliders to add flavor and help the tops of the buns brown in the oven.
Tips and Tricks to Make Perfect Sausage Sliders
- Have everything prepped and ready.
Melt the butter and slice the buns while the meat and veggies are cooking. That way, you can quickly assemble and get the pan in the oven.
- Don’t skimp on cheese!
You need a layer on each side of the filling to hold everything together. Nothing worse than a slider falling apart when you take a bite!
- Keep individual rolls attached.
This prevents the tops from sliding around in the oven. It’s much easier to cut up the mini sandwiches after they’ve cooked, or you can let guests tear each one off by hand.
- Tip for easy cleanup:
Line your pan with foil or parchment paper before assembling the Italian sliders.
When they’re cooked, you can lift them straight out of the pan before slicing and minimize messes!
Prep Ahead
- Slice Hawaiian rolls down the center
- Chop the onion and bell peppers
- Shred the cheese
- Make marinara, if preparing from scratch
Kitchen Tools You Will Need
- Skillet – This is my go-to pan that I’ve had for over a decade! It heats evenly and cleans up beautifully with a little baking soda so it still looks brand new.
- Baking Dish – One of my absolute favorites! Any large casserole dish is perfect for this Italian sliders recipe.
- Serrated Bread Knife cuts through the rolls easily without tearing.
- Cheese Grater – As much as I love buying bagged shreds because it’s easier, freshly grated cheese melts down so much smoother and tastes better too.
- Basting Brush – I like this one over the silicone ones.
Serving Suggestions
Italian sausage sliders are enough for a meal on their own, but you can always throw together a salad or add a handful of crispy chips.
If you’re feeding a crowd, prep a big bowl of antipasto pasta salad earlier in the day and add it to the table when it’s time to eat!
Italian Sliders Recipe FAQ
I love using Hawaiian sweet rolls since they’re connected and easier to work with. That said, any slab of rolls or slider buns will work well.
If you use individual buns for sausage sliders, be sure they fit nice and snug in the pan or the filling might melt out the sides in the oven.
Technically yes, but Italian sliders on Hawaiian rolls are really best when served right after baking — especially for parties!
If you need to get ahead, prep the veggies and cheese up to a day in advance and store them in separate containers in the fridge.
And don’t forget to make the marinara if you’re using my homemade recipe instead of a jar from the store!
It’s possible that you didn’t layer the ingredients in the correct order. Be sure to start with the shredded cheese, then the sausage and peppers, which creates a barrier between the red sauce and the buns.
You can also toast the bottom layer of buns before assembling Italian sliders on Hawaiian rolls! This prevents any moisture from soaking into the rolls so they come out perfectly crisp.
Storing and Reheating Italian Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls
Transfer any remaining mini sandwiches to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Heat them in the oven or air fryer until warmed through — either method will get them toastier than the microwave.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Italian Sliders (Sausage and Pepper!) + Video
Ingredients
- 12 slider buns, split (we love Hawaiian)
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage, hot, mild or sweet
- 1 green pepper, diced
- 1 red pepper, diced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- On stove saute together your Italian sausage, peppers and onions until no longer pink and vegetables are tender, remove from heat, drain and set aside.
- Place the bottom half of your sliders in your baking pan and sprinkle with one cup of cheese.
- Top with your sausage and pepper mixture.
- Spread your marinara over the top and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Place top of your buns over your cheese.
- In small bowl mix together your melted butter, Italian seasoning and garlic powder.
- Spread over the top of slider buns, reserving just a little bit to brush on after they are done baking.
- Bake, uncovered, 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and heated through.
Video
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published January 2018, updated and republished February 2024
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I am going to try this tonight. I am 1/2 Polish and 1/2 Italian. My husband is German. So, needless to say, we eat a lot of sausage. I'm always looking for new sausage recipes!
Awesome! Enjoy and let us know how it goes!
How long do you bake them?
30 minutes
30 minutes
How long do you bake them?
All of the instructions are above. Bake, uncovered, 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and heated through. Enjoy!
hubby enjoyed them!!!!! He is going for a 3rd one 🙂
These sliders were quite tasty. I added diced cremini mushrooms while sauteeing the peppers & onions then added the marinara to the peppers & onions. I had potato rolls on hand instead of Hawaiian rolls. Thanks for the recipe.
Do you spread some of the butter mixture over the buns while they are baking? And then add the remainder after they are done.
It says mix melted butter after you bake, then it says add remaining butter after you bake? Doesn't make sense
I wasn’t even planning on cooking today when I came across this recipe, but it looked too good not to try. It was so easy to make.
Just made this today – Fabulous! I added the cup of sauce into the sausage, pepper mixture. Followed the rest of the recipe as written. I recommend making this!