Cranberry Chicken Meatball Sliders
These irresistible chicken meatball sliders are the ultimate flavor-packed holiday appetizer. Homemade meatballs paired with tangy Dijon mustard, sweet cranberry sauce, and melted cheddar cheese sit on soft, sweet rolls. A buttery honey glaze melts over the golden tops, adding a warm, festive finish to these comforting sandwiches.
Servings 15 sliders
Calories 339kcal
Ingredients
For the meatballs
- 1 lb ground chicken
- ⅓ cup mascarpone cheese
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 ½ tsp dried Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs
For the sandwiches
- 15 1 oz sweet rolls (such as King's Hawaiian)
- ¾ cup cranberry sauce (homemade or canned)
- 2 tbsp Dijon Mustard
- 6 oz cheddar cheese shredded (about 1 ½ cups)
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter melted
- 1 tbsp whole-grain mustard
- 1 tbsp honey
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Make the meatballs. In a large bowl, combine the chicken, mascarpone, salt, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and breadcrumbs. Mix until well combined.
- On a parchment-lined baking sheet, use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to portion the meat mixture into 15 equal meatballs. Dip two fingers in water and slightly press down on each meatball to form a thick patty shape. Bake in the preheated 375°F oven until they are browned with an internal temperature of 165°F, 12-15 minutes. Remove from the oven and set the meatballs aside.
- Make the sandwiches. Slice the sweet roll buns in half. This can be done with them still attached to each other, or they can be pulled apart and individually sliced. Place the bottom portion of the buns in a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Brush with the Dijon mustard, and then add the cranberry sauce.
- Place a baked meatball on each bun and finish by sprinkling the cheese evenly on top. Place the top of the buns on to create sandwiches.
- Prepare the butter. In a small saucepan, combine the butter, whole-grain mustard, honey, and Worcestershire sauce. Melt and stir over low heat, 2-3 minutes. Remove and drizzle or brush evenly over the prepared sandwiches. Allow the butter to soak in for 10 minutes.
- Bake in the preheated 375°F oven until the cheese is melted and the top of the buns are golden, 10-15 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve.
Notes
Ensure the chicken meatballs are well-mixed. This will make sure that the ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the meatballs and that they cook well.
Flatten the meatballs slightly before they cook. This allows them to sit on the sandwich better and create a better-forming slider. If you dip your fingers in water before patting them down, the meat will not stick to your fingers.
Cut the buns all at once while they are still formed together. This creates two even layers that can easily be placed into the pan, making assembly more straightforward.
Nutrition
Serving: 1slider | Calories: 339kcal
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