Description

Okay, so you know those massive Italian subs that are basically impossible to eat without everything falling out? Yeah, we fixed that. Meet Hot Italian Sub Sliders — all the meaty, cheesy, pickled goodness of a classic Italian sub, but in adorable, perfectly portioned packages that won’t leave you wearing half your lunch. These bad boys are baked until the cheese is bubbling and the tops are golden, making them infinitely better than their cold sandwich cousins. Trust me, once you make these for a party, you’ll be “that person” who always gets asked to bring them. And honestly? That’s not a bad reputation to have.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Sliders:

12 Hawaiian sweet rolls or slider buns (don’t even think about separating them)
1/2 lb sliced salami (the good stuff, not that weird round lunch meat)
1/2 lb sliced pepperoni
1/2 lb sliced ham (honey ham if you’re feeling fancy)
8 oz provolone cheese, sliced
1 cup shredded mozzarella (because more cheese is always the answer)
1/2 cup banana peppers, drained and chopped
1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
2 tomatoes, sliced thin
2 cups shredded lettuce

For the Magic Butter Mixture:

1/2 cup butter, melted
3 cloves garlic, minced (or 1 tsp garlic powder if you’re in a rush)
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
1 tbsp poppy seeds (trust the process)

For Serving:

Italian dressing for drizzling (optional but recommended)
More banana peppers because some people are obsessed
Chips (obviously)

Instructions

Step 1: Prep Like a Pro Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grab a 9×13 baking dish and give it a light spray.

Step 2: Slice and Dice Without separating the rolls, slice the entire pack in half horizontally. You want two big slabs — top and bottom. Place the bottom slab in your baking dish.

Step 3: Layer Like Your Life Depends on It Start building your masterpiece: spread half the provolone on the bottom, then layer on the salami, pepperoni, and ham. Don’t be shy — we’re going for “I can barely close this” vibes. Add the mozzarella, banana peppers, red onion, and tomatoes. Top with the remaining provolone and the lettuce. Crown it with the top slab of rolls.

Step 4: The Magic Happens Mix all your butter mixture ingredients in a bowl. Brush this liquid gold all over the tops of the rolls. Get in all the nooks and crannies — this is what makes them irresistible.

Step 5: Bake Until Beautiful Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 5-10 minutes until the tops are golden and the cheese is doing that melty thing we all live for.

Step 6: Serve and Accept Compliments Let them cool for just 2-3 minutes (any longer and you’re a monster), then slice between the rolls to separate. Drizzle with Italian dressing if desired and watch them disappear.

Notes

Serve with kettle chips and dill pickles for the full deli experience
A cold beer or Italian soda pairs perfectly
Set out extra banana peppers and Italian dressing for the customizers
Make a simple side salad if you want to pretend you’re being healthy

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes

Nutrition

Calories: ~385 per serving
Protein: ~18g