These easy pizza sliders are loaded with Italian sausage, onions, bell pepper, pepperoni, and mozzarella cheese on Hawaiian slider rolls slathered with garlic butter and sprinkled with Parmesan. They are perfect for movie night and game day.
If your family is anything like mine, sliders are a must, and these pizza sliders are always a huge hit. They are quick and easy to prepare, and the recipe can easily be doubled. I love to serve them with Italian chopped salad, black bean and corn salad, or tomato salad.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
See the complete list of ingredients below on the recipe card.
- Italian sausage: Sweet, hot, or mild Italian sausage
- Bell pepper: I like green bell pepper with pizza, but you can use any colored pepper.
- Mozzarella cheese: Good substitutes are Provel or provolone cheese.
- Pepperoni: You can use pizza-size or deli-size pepperoni.
- Butter: unsalted or salted. It is such a small amount that it will not make much difference.
- Parmesan cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan cheese is worth every penny. It has a better texture, tastes better, and melts better than pre-grated Parmesan. Use a microplane or box grater to grate the cheese.
How To Make Pizza Sliders
This is the summary version; for the complete list of ingredients and instructions, see the recipe card below.
First, brown the Italian sausage in a skillet over medium heat. When it is about halfway browned, add the onion and bell pepper and cook until the sausage browns and the onion and pepper soften. Carefully remove any excess fat.
Slice the Hawaiian buns in half without separating them. Sprinkle the bottom half with one-half of the shredded mozzarella. Layer it with the cooked sausage mixture and the pepperoni.
Add another layer of mozzarella using the remaining cheese and cover with the top buns. Mix the melted butter, garlic powder, Italian seasonings, and Parmesan cheese. Brush over the top of the buns. Cover loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 10 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 10-12 minutes or until the buns are lightly browned and the cheese is melted.
Preparation Tips and Storage
- Make the sausage mixture up to 2 days ahead of time. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat at reduced power in the microwave just until warm. Do not assemble the sliders more than an hour or two before baking to prevent soggy buns.
- Serve with a warm bowl of pizza sauce on the side.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power for short intervals until warm.
Frequently Asked Questions
Serve pizza sauce on the side for dipping, drain any excess grease, and always start with a layer of cheese on the bottom buns.
Yes, they are. If I were serving these for a large party, I would cut the amount of ground sausage in half to ensure everything stayed in the slider and include a spoon in the pizza sauce.
Salads, like a simple garden salad or arugula salad, are great go-tos for pizza sliders. In the fall and winter, soup is a great option. Dipping sauces are a must for slider connoisseurs.
More Finger Food Recipes
Pizza Sliders
Ingredients
- 1 lb Italian sausage
- 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 small green bell pepper, finely diced
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 3 ounces pepperoni
Garlic Butter
- 3 tablespoons butter melted
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cover a medium-sized baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Brown the Italian sausage in a medium-sized skillet over medium heat. When it is halfway browned, add the onion and bell pepper and cook until the sausage browns and the onion and pepper soften. Carefully remove any excess fat.
- Slice the Hawaiian buns in half without separating them. Sprinkle the bottom half with 1 cup of shredded mozzarella. Layer it with the cooked sausage mixture and the pepperoni.
- Sprinkle evenly with the remaining mozzarella cheese and cover with the top buns.
- Mix the melted butter, garlic powder, Italian seasonings, and Parmesan cheese. Brush over the top of the buns.
- Cover loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 10 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 10-12 minutes or until the buns are lightly browned and the cheese is melted.
Notes
- If using fresh okra, add it to the skillet with the onions.
- Though not traditional, you can add a little Cajun or Creole seasoning, smoked paprika, or Old Bay seasoning.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power or on the stovetop over low heat.
Amy
These were fantastic for our family movie night! They would also be good for a cookout or a pool party! So delicious!
Gus
These sliders are dangerously good! The garlic butter on top took them to another level. I’ve already been asked to make them again next weekend!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Gus! We love them too!
Sabrina
Ooh wow, these pizza sliders are dangerously good — like the kind of thing I’d make “for a crowd” and then secretly eat half of myself, that may or may not have happened. I love how easy they are, but still super satisfying with all that gooey cheese and pepperoni.
Beth Pierce
LOL! I understand completely!
Bethany R
These pizza sliders are so delicious and easy to make! Loved the Hawaiian rolls. Can we use regular dinner rolls instead without losing the flavor?
Beth Pierce
Yes you certainly can!
Jocelyn
We love pizza and these pizza sliders are delish. My family loves them! They are perfect for small gatherings.
Angela Campos
These Pizza Sliders turned out amazing! They were easy to prepare and the entire family loved them. I can’t wait to make them again!!
Beth Pierce
I understand completely!
Catalina
These were a huge hit during our game night! So cheesy and satisfying, and they came together super quickly!
Beth Pierce
Awesome! We love them too!
Beth
I love this so much! It’s the perfect mashup of two of my favorite foods. It’s so melty, too. Yum.
Paula
My kids LOVED these pizza sliders! They’re going to be our new go-to sleepover food. So much fun!!!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Paula! I am so glad that they enjoyed them.