Hot Honey Pepperoni Sliders (Printable)
Pepperoni and mozzarella sliders baked with a sweet-hot honey glaze on soft rolls.
# What You Need:
→ Breads & Bases
01 - 12 slider buns or Hawaiian rolls, unsliced
→ Cheeses
02 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
03 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Meats
04 - 36 slices pepperoni
→ Sauces & Condiments
05 - 1 cup pizza sauce
06 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
07 - 1 tablespoon honey
08 - 1 teaspoon hot sauce (such as sriracha or hot chili oil)
→ Seasonings
09 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
10 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
11 - Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
→ Toppings (optional)
12 - Fresh basil leaves, chopped
# How-To:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
02 - Using a serrated bread knife, slice the slider buns horizontally in one piece to create a top and bottom slab, keeping individual rolls attached. Place the bottom slab into the prepared baking dish.
03 - Spread pizza sauce evenly across the bottom buns. Sprinkle half of the shredded mozzarella over the sauce layer.
04 - Arrange pepperoni slices in a single even layer over the mozzarella. Top with the remaining shredded mozzarella.
05 - Place the top slab of buns over the assembled filling, pressing down gently to compress the layers.
06 - In a small mixing bowl, combine melted butter, honey, hot sauce, garlic powder, and dried Italian herbs. Brush the mixture generously and evenly over the tops of the buns using a pastry brush.
07 - Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese and a pinch of red pepper flakes over the brushed bun tops.
08 - Cover the dish loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for 5 additional minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and the tops are golden brown.
09 - Remove from oven and let rest for 2 to 3 minutes. Garnish with fresh chopped basil if desired. Slice along roll seams into individual sliders and serve warm.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The sweet heat combination on those pillowy rolls is the kind of flavor that disappears from a tray before you finish your first drink.
- They require almost zero skill to assemble, yet people treat you like you spent hours in the kitchen.
02 -
- Do not skip the foil tent during the first bake or the tops will brown long before the cheese in the center has a chance to fully melt.
- Letting the sliders rest for five minutes after baking makes them dramatically easier to cut and pull apart without burning your fingers or losing filling everywhere.
03 -
- Line your baking dish with parchment paper, leaving overhang on the sides, so you can lift the entire block of sliders out for cleaner slicing and serving.
- If you want extra kick, double the hot sauce in the glaze and add a thin drizzle of straight honey over the top right when they come out of the oven for a glossy finish.