Cheesy Meatball Sliders

Name: Cheesy Meatball Sliders
Prep time: 60 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h 30 min
Yield: 12 servings.
Ingredients: 2 pounds lean ground beef (90% lean); 1 cup Italian-style bread crumbs; 3 tablespoons prepared pesto; 1 large egg, lightly beaten; 1 jar (24 ounces) pasta sauce; 1 package (18 ounces) Hawaiian sweet rolls; 12 slices part-skim mozzarella cheese; 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano; 1/4 cup melted butter; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 3 garlic cloves, minced; 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning; 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes; 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese; 1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese or shredded Italian cheese blend; Minced fresh basil

These meatball sliders are a fun way to serve up meatballs at your party without using a slow cooker. The mini Hawaiian rolls have a hint of sweetness to balance out all the wonderful Italian seasonings. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Ingredients

2 pounds lean ground beef (90% lean)
1 cup Italian-style bread crumbs
3 tablespoons prepared pesto
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 jar (24 ounces) pasta sauce
1 package (18 ounces) Hawaiian sweet rolls
12 slices part-skim mozzarella cheese
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 cup melted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese or shredded Italian cheese blend
Minced fresh basil

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Combine ground beef, bread crumbs, pesto and egg; mix lightly. Shape into 12 meatballs; place on a greased rack in a 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake until browned and a thermometer reads 160°, about 35 minutes. Toss meatballs with sauce; set aside.
Meanwhile, without separating rolls, cut horizontally in half; arrange bottom halves in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Place half of cheese slices over roll bottoms; sprinkle with oregano. Add meatballs and sauce. Top with remaining cheese slices and bun tops.
Combine butter, olive oil, garlic, Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes; brush over buns. Bake, covered 20 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle with Parmesan and shredded mozzarella.
Bake uncovered until cheese is melted, 10-15 minutes longer. Sprinkle with basil before serving.