By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 3, 2026

Slow Cooker Mini Meatball Sliders

Serves 12

243 cal · 95 min

Slow Cooker Mini Meatball Sliders

Recipe GLPR4ad6639077231e

4.3(1)
Italian
Main Course
95 min
243 cal
Servings: 12
Slow Cooker
SNAP eligible

Tender Italian sausage meatballs cooked slowly in a warm tomato sauce, served on toasted slider buns. A crowd-pleasing appetizer that's simple to prepare and perfect for entertaining.

Save recipes you love

Create a free Grocery List Plus account to save recipes, rate them, and add every ingredient to your grocery list in one tap.

Ingredients

1 egg, beaten

1/3 cup bread crumbs

1/4 cup whole milk

1/4 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano

1/4 cup minced onion

1 clove garlic, minced

1 lb sweet Italian sausage, casings removed

2 cups spaghetti sauce

Slider rolls for serving

Directions

  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the beaten egg, bread crumbs, milk, grated Parmigiano Reggiano, minced onion, and minced garlic.

  2. Stir the mixture until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.

  3. Add the sausage meat to the bread crumb mixture and gently fold together until combined, being careful not to overmix. Using a cookie scooper or your hands, form approximately 24 meatballs of uniform size, rolling each gently between your palms.

  4. Insert a slow cooker liner into your slow cooker, pressing it snugly against the bottom and sides and folding the rim over the top edge of the slow cooker bowl.

  5. Carefully place the formed meatballs into the lined slow cooker. Cover with the lid and set to low heat (approximately 275°F if your slow cooker has a low setting).

  6. Cook for about 1 hour, or until the pork sausage is cooked through with no pink remaining in the center (internal temperature of 160°F when measured with a meat thermometer).

  7. Pour the spaghetti sauce over the cooked meatballs and stir gently to coat. Replace the lid and continue cooking on low for 10 to 15 minutes, until the sauce is heated through.

  8. Carefully remove the lid and allow steam to escape for a moment. To serve, place one meatball and a light drizzle of sauce inside each slider roll. Allow the slow cooker to cool completely, then remove and discard the liner.

Comments

Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff4.25

The meatballs themselves cook hands-off in the slow cooker, but the 95-minute time omits browning and shaping the raw mixture, which adds 20–25 real minutes; budget two hours total. Parmigiano reggiano and spaghetti sauce are easy finds at any Charlotte chain, and ground sausage is cheaper than beef, keeping cost per slider under $1.50. Slider rolls turn up at Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Kroger, and Walmart, though you may need to check the bakery section or frozen aisle if the fresh shelf is picked over. The dish holds well and reheats gently, making it ideal for a weekend when you can brown ahead or for a potluck, but the soft texture means these do not travel or sit at room temperature as long as firm slider patties would.

Sign in or create a free account to add your review.