Italian Meatball Sliders

Delicious homemade meatballs turned into sliders for that perfect appetizer, snack, or even dinner! Use this recipe for all of your meatball needs! Recipe comes from The Slider Effect, a cookbook all about sliders!

• Ready In: 55 mins
• Yields: 12 Sliders

Ingredients

• 1  lb  ground sirloin
• 1⁄2 lb mild Italian sausage
• 1  large egg, whisked
• 1⁄2 cup  plain breadcrumbs or 1⁄2 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1⁄4 cup  whole milk
• 1  teaspoon  dried Italian seasoning
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1⁄2 cup  grated parmesan cheese
• 1⁄4 cup  chopped fresh Italian parsley
• 1  large  ciabatta or 1  large focaccia bread, cut into squares
• 1  cup  store-bought  marinara sauce
• 3⁄4 cup  shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1⁄4 cup  sliced fresh basil (to garnish) (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil and grease with cooking spray, set aside.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the ground sirloin, sausage, egg, bread crumbs, milk, Italian seasoning, basil, salt, pepper, Parmesan, and parsley until well combined. Divide into 12 even pieces and then roll into balls, slightly larger than a golf ball in size, using your hands. Place on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them out evenly. Bake until golden brown and crispy, about 30 to 35 minutes. Drain the fat and set the meatballs aside.
3. To assemble the sliders, slice the squares of bread in half, and spread each half with marinara sauce. Place one meatball on the bottom halves, and top with a bit more sauce and shredded mozzarella. Bake until the cheese melts, about 3 to 5 minutes. Sandwich together with the tops and skewer with a long toothpick to hold in place.