Monster Meatball Sliders

Monster sliders: There’s nothing scary about mini meatball sandwiches with cheesy monster teeth, warm tomato sauce, and black olive eyeballs. Instead, these silly sliders are tasty, fun to make, and a fang-tastic addition to any Halloween meal.

Monster meatball sliders are perfect for a family dinner, as a party appetizer, or as a fun lunch for the kiddos. And, they’re so easy to make, even the kids can help out. Just follow these simple steps and you’ll have a batch of adorable monster sliders in no time! 

Why you’ll love these Monster Meatball Sliders

• Easy. It’s just like making a meatball sub with a couple extra steps.
• Fun. Let your kids experiment with different shapes and cheeses for the teeth or eyes.
• Delicious. What’s not to love about meatballs, cheese, and pasta sauce?
• Versatile. We use meatballs here, but you can do the same thing with burgers, chicken patties, chicken salad, or bbq sandwiches.

Step-by-Step Directions:

To make things even easier for you, I created a simple photo guide below. For all measurements and a more detailed guide, check out the recipe card at the bottom of this page.

Step 1 – Cut sliced cheese into triangles for the monster teeth. Set aside.

Step 2 – Heat the meatballs and spaghetti sauce in a deep frying pan until warmed through, about 10 minutes. 

Step 3 – Insert a slice of black olive onto the end of a toothpick. Repeat with remaining olive slices.

Step 4- Spoon 1-3 meatballs onto a bottom slider bun (quantity will depend on the size of your meatballs).

Step 5 – Place cheese triangles on top for the teeth. Add the top bun.

Step 6 – Stick two skewered olives into the top bun to create the monster eyes. 

Essential Tips:

Don’t skip these tips – read them before cooking to avoid any potential mistakes.

• If you use standard-size frozen meatballs you can typically get about 3 meatballs per slider. If you use jumbo meatballs, you may only get one meatball per slider. This is all about making a judgment call for portions. 
• Don’t heat the meatballs too long. You’ll want to make sure everything is warmed through without burning.
• If you’re getting kids involved, make sure to keep an eye on safety with the hot sauce, hot stovetop and toothpicks.

Adaptations and Variations:

• Add a leaf of green lettuce (the frillier the better) on top of the cheese to add to the texture and silliness. 
• Looking for a meat free alternative? These can also be made with vegan meatballs and vegan cheese.
• Got picky eaters? Substitute the meatballs with chicken patties instead. It will still look like a monster with the cheese teeth and olive eyes. You can even make a variety of chicken and meatball options for a party. 

Serving the Monster Meatball Sliders at a Party?

Don’t forget to add some cute Halloween printables to label your punch and make your party look spectacular! I have a ton of options and more in my printables shop. There will be something for every occasion. 

Make it a DIY Monster Meatball Bar

If you’re making them for a party, prep everything in advance, including the monster eyes, and cheese triangles. Arrange everything nicely on a tray and then heat the meatballs and sauce in a slow cooker so everyone can make their own.

(This is also a great way to keep picky kids from complaining about the olives, too.)

FAQs:

My kids hate olives. What can I use instead?

You could use anything you like. Some good alternatives include grape tomatoes, round slices of hard cheese, string cheese cut into slices, and pickles.

Can I use provolone instead of mozzarella?

Yes, absolutely you can. As long as you are able to cut out the triangle shape so that the cheese looks like teeth then you are good to go. It has more flavor than Mozarella with nutty and salty undertones. 

How many should I serve for a family dinner?

This all depends on your appetites but if you wanted to serve this up as a family diner you could make one for a child and perhaps two for the grown-ups. Add some clementine pumpkins, and a side salad, and you have a pretty decent meal.

Can I use homemade meatballs instead?

Absolutely! Using frozen Italian meatballs saves time, but if you can, make your own instead. This could be a great cooking exercise to do with the kids. It can get a little messy, but it is a lot of fun. Make sure they are fully cooked either on the skillet or in the oven before adding them to the spaghetti sauce. 

Want to avoid spending hours on end preparing food for your party? Click here to download 10 Fast and Easy Party Recipes that don’t take more than 20 minutes of your time to prepare.

Storage Tips

If you don’t eat all of your sliders, you can store them to an airtight container for up to 2 days.

However, it’s best if you can store the meatballs separately and then just assemble the monster sliders when you are ready to eat them.

If you liked my Monster meatball Sliders recipe, you’re going to love my Easy Mummy Dogs recipe. It is another cute and creative Halloween main course that’s perfect for kids Halloween parties. Or you can check out all my Halloween ideas here.

---