5 from 1 review

Pizza Sliders (Pepperoni and Sausage)

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Overhead view of freshly baked pizza sliders being pulled apart, showing gooey melted cheese stretching between the rolls. The golden tops are brushed with garlic butter and sprinkled with Italian herbs and parsley, with bowls of marinara sauce nearby for dipping.

My Pizza Sliders combine all the flavors of a crave-worthy pizza and pack them into a convenient, bite-sized slider.

Whether you make them for game day, parties, an easy dinner solution, or potlucks, they will surely be a hit with everyone.

These irresistible pizza sliders are stacked with ground Italian sausage, pepperoni, gooey mozzarella and provolone cheese, and pizza sauce, all sandwiched between golden, buttery, soft slider buns.

I know these will satisfy your pizza cravings and will be a recipe you come back to time and time again!

Close-up view of cheesy pepperoni and sausage pizza sliders, showing melted mozzarella pulling apart as the rolls are served. The golden tops are sprinkled with herbs and red pepper flakes.

Looking for more delicious appetizers like these Pepperoni and Sausage Pizza Sliders? Check out my Sheet Pan Nachos, Mini Brie Bites, Cheesy Pull Apart Garlic Bread, and Baked Bean and Cheese Taquitos for more of my faves!

A hand pulls apart a cheesy pizza slider, showing gooey melted mozzarella stretching between the rolls. The sliders are golden brown with pepperoni and sausage layers visible inside.

Ingredient Notes

(For the full recipe, scroll down to the recipe card below)

Overhead view of ingredients for making pizza sliders arranged neatly on a countertop. Includes a package of ground Italian sausage, a jar of marinara sauce, a plate of sliced pepperoni, a pack of Hawaiian rolls, slices of mozzarella and provolone cheese, a small bowl of grated Parmesan cheese, melted butter, and small dishes containing garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Each ingredient is labeled with text for clarity.
  • Hawaiian Rolls: These sweet and fluffy rolls provide the perfect slider base. I usually use King’s Hawaiian, but any 12-count dinner roll works well.
  • Cheese: I’ve found using the sliced cheese works well, but you can certainly shred your own cheese. I would place 1 cup on bottom, 1 cup on top layer. This helps “lock in” the sausage!
  • Pizza sauce: feel free to use your favorite jarred marinara, jarred pizza sauce, or homemade is of course a great option too. I love the Rao’s pizza sauce, it comes in about a 12 oz. jar and it’s perfect for this recipe!
  • Sausage: Choose a mild or hot ground Italian sausage. I like to make these sliders hearty and use the whole pound, but feel free to use less if you prefer.
  • Pepperoni: use your favorite pepperoni. Mini or regular size!
  • Butter & seasonings: melted butter, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder/garlic salt gets brushed/poured onto the rolls before you bake them.
  • Garnishes: fresh parsley, marinara sauce, hot honey (I love Mike’s hot honey!)
Side view of pizza sliders with one piece pulled away, revealing gooey melted cheese and savory sausage filling. The rolls are golden and glistening with garlic butter and honey.

Step by Step Directions

(For the full recipe, scroll down to the recipe card below)

Close-up of honey being drizzled over hot pizza sliders with melted cheese stretching between the rolls. The tops are golden brown and sprinkled with crushed red pepper and herbs.

Expert Tips & Variations

  • Veggies: If you want to add in veggies like bell peppers, onions, or mushrooms, sauté them beforehand to release their moisture.
  • Make Ahead: You can assemble the sliders a few hours before baking. Simply cover and refrigerate them until you’re ready to bake. This is so helpful on those busy party days! Note: since the rolls are cold and going into the oven to bake, the bake time might be slightly longer.
  • Cheese: If you aren’t using sliced cheese and plan to use shredded, be sure to shred your own cheese to enhance the melt and texture compared to pre-shredded options.
  • Layer Ingredients Evenly: When assembling the sliders, distribute the ingredients evenly. Each bite should have a balanced mix of gooey cheese, sausage, and pepperoni.
  • Serve Fresh: these Pizza Sliders are best enjoyed fresh and hot. Try to assemble and serve them as close to your guests’ arrival as possible to maintain their quality.
Side view of pizza sliders filled with melted mozzarella, pepperoni, and sausage. The tops are brushed with honey and garlic butter, and a honey dipper rests nearby on the parchment paper.

Storage

  • Fridge: As mentioned, these sliders are best served fresh and hot on the day of. However, if you do have leftovers, they will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days. Keep in mind that the longer they sit, the soggier they become.
  • Freezer: Once cooled, wrap each slider individually in plastic wrap and then place in a resealable freezer bag or airtight container. Frozen pizza sliders can last for up to 2 months. Be sure to label them with the date so you can keep track of their storage time. Reheat in the air fryer or toaster oven until warm.
Close-up of pizza sliders being drizzled with honey from a wooden honey dipper. The rolls are golden, seasoned with herbs, and filled with melted cheese, sausage, and pepperoni.

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Overhead view of freshly baked pizza sliders being pulled apart, showing gooey melted cheese stretching between the rolls. The golden tops are brushed with garlic butter and sprinkled with Italian herbs and parsley, with bowls of marinara sauce nearby for dipping.
5 from 1 review

Pepperoni and Sausage Pizza Sliders

Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Servings: 12 sliders
Get ready to enjoy all of the irresistible flavors of pizza in these easy-to-make 30-minute Pizza Sliders! They're packed with plenty of cheesy goodness, marinara, sausage, and pepperoni on soft and buttery slider buns. You'll love them; they are perfect for game day or a party appetizer!

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. mild, ground Italian sausage
  • 1 oz. Parmesan cheese
  • 12 count package King's Hawaiian Rolls
  • 12 oz. jar pizza sauce
  • 6-9 slices mozzarella cheese* (or shredded from a block)
  • 28 slices pepperoni (You can chop the pepperoni if desired)
  • 6-9 slices provolone cheese (not smoked flavor. Can use shredded if preffered)

For the butter mixture

  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter (melted)
  • 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
  • 1/4 tsp. garlic powder (or garlic salt if you like salty!)
  • pinch chili flakes (optional)

Garnish

  • fresh parsley, hot honey, marinara sauce

Last step! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions 

  • Prepare the oven & pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or a baking sheet with nonstick spray or spread with a little softened butter, the butter helps make the bottom of the rolls nice and crisp (and not soggy!) Set aside. 
  • Cook the sausage: Cook in a skillet over medium heat, breaking up the sausage as it cooks. This will take ~5-7 minutes. Once cooked, drain on paper towels to get rid of excess grease. You could probably break the meat up smaller than I've shown in my photos 😆
    1 lb. mild, ground Italian sausage
    Side-by-side images showing raw ground Italian sausage in a skillet on the left and browned sausage cooked through on the right. A wooden spatula rests in the pan, with marinara sauce and Parmesan cheese bowls nearby.
  • Mix: Add the sausage to a bowl and stir in ¼ cup of the pizza sauce and about 1 oz. grated parmesan cheese. Making the sausage a little saucy makes it a little easier to layer/stick onto the sliders. Set aside. 
    1 oz. Parmesan cheese
    Two photos showing cooked Italian sausage in a bowl. On the left, grated Parmesan and marinara sauce are added to the sausage; on the right, everything is mixed together into a flavorful filling.
  • Cut the rolls: Without separating the rolls, cut them in half horizontally with a serrated knife. Place the bottom half of the rolls in the prepared dish or baking sheet.
    12 count package King's Hawaiian Rolls
    Overhead view of a loaf of Hawaiian rolls sliced in half horizontally with a serrated knife on parchment paper, ready to be assembled for pizza sliders.
  • Start layering: Layer the remaining ingredients in this order: a layer of pizza sauce (no more than 1/2 cup because too much sauce will make them soggy) and mozzarella cheese.
    12 oz. jar pizza sauce, 6-9 slices mozzarella cheese*
    Two-step photo showing assembly of pizza sliders. On the left, the bottom half of the rolls is spread with marinara sauce; on the right, topped with overlapping slices of mozzarella cheese.
  • Continue to layer: Pepperoni and then sausage.
    28 slices pepperoni
    Two images showing layered ingredients for pizza sliders. The left shows a layer of pepperoni slices over the mozzarella, and the right adds cooked sausage mixture on top of the pepperoni.
  • Finish layering: Provolone cheese and the top rolls. Try to place everything in an even layer, and don't let the cheese hang off the sides of the rolls too much or the cheese might ooze out when melted.
    6-9 slices provolone cheese
    Two photos showing the final layers before baking. The left shows provolone cheese slices covering the sausage mixture, and the right shows the top half of the Hawaiian rolls placed back on top.
  • Prep the butter: Combine the melted butter and seasonings.
    1/4 cup unsalted butter, 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning, 1/4 tsp. garlic powder, pinch chili flakes
    Close-up of hands mixing melted butter with Italian seasoning and garlic powder in a small bowl using a pastry brush, next to the assembled unbaked sliders.
  • Top the rolls: Brush/pour the butter mixture on top of the rolls.
    Two photos showing the tops of the rolls being brushed with garlic butter. The left shows a hand brushing on the mixture, and the right shows the fully coated rolls ready to bake.
  • Bake: Cover with foil and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes Start Timer; uncover and bake a few minutes longer until the tops are golden and pizza sliders look melty. Garnish with fresh parsley. Serve straight away with warmed marinara and hot honey for drizzling. Dig in! Grab a napkin because they can get messy 😏
    fresh parsley, hot honey, marinara sauce
    Two images showing the finished pizza sliders. On the left, the baked sliders are golden brown and sprinkled with Italian herbs; on the right, a hand pulls apart a cheesy slider with melted mozzarella stretching between the rolls.

Notes

  • Mozzarella: Feel free to use shredded mozzarella if you prefer!
  • Storage: These sliders are best served fresh and hot on the day of. However, if you do have leftovers, they will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days. Keep in mind that the longer they sit, the soggier they become.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1slider, Calories: 284kcal (14%), Carbohydrates: 3g (1%), Protein: 13g (26%), Fat: 24g (37%), Saturated Fat: 11g (69%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 9g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 63mg (21%), Sodium: 714mg (31%), Potassium: 224mg (6%), Fiber: 1g (4%), Sugar: 1g (1%), Vitamin A: 442IU (9%), Vitamin C: 3mg (4%), Calcium: 187mg (19%), Iron: 1mg (6%)

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is automatically calculated. It should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Kroll’s Korner can’t make any guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

This recipe was originally posted in August 2024. It was updated with new photos in November 2025.

📸 Photography by Creating Kaitlin

Krolls Korner

Krolls Korner

Welcome to my tiny “korner” on the Internet! I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who loves cookies as much as kale. (OK, maybe I like cookies a little bit more but shh, don’t tell anyone). I am so glad you’re here! Follow along for hassle free, realistic and approachable recipes.

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Janice

This was a hit with my family, will definitely make it again!

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