Meatball Sliders with a Southern Twist, Easy Delicious Appetizer for your Big Game Party!
Disclosure: This post is written in partnership with Fresh From Florida and Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association. As always, all opinions are my own. I only share with you products and experiences I love to inspire you to get together with family and friends, celebrate life and go #MakeSomedayHappen one delicious bite, sip, and trip at a time! To learn more about my guidelines, check out my disclosure policy. Cheers!
Are you a fan of meatball sliders? You’ll love this recipe with a Southern twist. Rosina Artisan Smoky Maple Bacon Meatballs are tossed in sweet spicy BBQ sauce, topped with melted cheddar cheese, sautéed caramelized onions, and extra crispy bacon (because we all love bacon!) then sandwiched between fluffy buttermilk biscuits. We are taking BBQ Meatball Sliders to the next level!
What To Serve For The Big Game Party
Getting together with friends to watch The Big Game (i.e. The Super Bowl) is always a ton of fun, but deciding what to serve to keep everyone satisfied throughout the game, the half time show and all the commercials (my favorite) can be tricky. Your menu must include dishes that are hearty, flavorful, easy to eat, and more importantly easy to prepare. (No one wants to spend all their time in the kitchen and miss the fun!)
This Southern BBQ Meatball Slider recipe checks off all the above requirements and adds a “foodie” touch to your festivities. Elevated yet rustic Southern dishes continue to be quite popular in top restaurants and I was inspired by one of my favorites in Orlando to create this recipe. Check out my easy to make and easy to devour Southern BBQ Meatball Sliders featuring Rosina Artisan Smoky Maple Bacon Artisan Meatballs.
Travel Inspiration: Southern Restaurants of Orlando, Florida
I always draw inspiration from restaurants and travel to create my easy entertaining recipes. This one is no different. I was inspired to create this Southern BBQ Meatball Slider by the fantastic Southern restaurants found in Orlando, Florida. The ham and cheddar biscuits from Chefs Rhys & Alexia Gawlak at Swine & Sons in Winter Park. All the Southern goodness of the menu at James & Julie Petrakis flagship The Ravenous Pig next door. Chef Greg Richie’s BBQ glazed pork belly biscuits at Soco in Thornton Park are some of the best in the State. If you want to sample elevated Southern food, let these chefs inspire your taste buds like they have mine. Be sure to add them to your list when you visit Orlando, Florida.
Ingredients for an Epic Southern BBQ Meatball Slider
Let’s talk about the ingredients. As always, my recipes include recommendations for substitutions in case you don’t have some of the ingredients or have your own favorites you wish to use. Entertaining should not be stressful so this recipe features high quality ready-made and frozen products to cut your prep time down to a minimum. If you wish to make it from scratch, please do. It will be just as delicious!
(Don’t forget your favorite biscuits)
The Meatballs:
I’m a fan of a good meatball but they can be a pain to make from scratch. For easy entertaining, I prefer the convenience of frozen meatballs. The new Rosina Artisan Meatballs caught my eye. The name “Rosina” is my mom’s nickname so it immediately made me think of homemade meals.
Nostalgia aside, most importantly, they are made with high quality ingredients and no preservatives. Oven baked for a healthier choice, then seared to lock in taste. I learned the Italian family-owned company has been making high quality products for over 55 years. There’s nothing more Italian – and more Southern – than sharing great meals with family and friends.
Now available at Walmart, their new Artisan varieties include bold flavors like Smoky Maple Bacon, Pineapple Chorizo and Tuscan-Style Veal to add flavor to your party! Rosina Artisan Meatballs are for those seeking a little more adventure from their culinary creations – while offering quick, versatile meal ideas that are easy to enjoy any time of day.
I chose the Smoky Maple Bacon Artisan Meatballs for this Southern BBQ Meatball Slider. Made with premium quality pork mixed with applewood smoked bacon and finished with sweet maple to create a sweet and savory flavor combo. They are perfect on their own, but even better in this slider recipe!
Learn more about Rosina and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest for more recipe ideas. Click here to get a coupon!
The Biscuits:
A flaky buttery biscuit is a must! You can always make your own but I’m going for easy and delicious here. I use frozen buttermilk Southern biscuits and brush them with a mixture of melted butter with a dash of Worcestershire sauce and top with a bit of shredded cheddar. You can never have too much cheesy goodness! These sliders can also be made with Hawaiian bread or dinner rolls if you prefer (but they wouldn’t be as Southern).
The BBQ Sauce:
Again, let’s keep things simple. I use a store-bought sweet spicy BBQ sauce and it works perfectly. Buy your favorite but make sure it’s a thick sauce so it coats the meatballs without soaking the biscuits.
The Toppings:
First, top your meatball with a slice of cheese. I love the cheddar and BBQ combination. You can also use Provolone, Smokey Gouda or even Pepper Jack, or a mix of several cheeses. You can’t go wrong with any cheese that has a good melt factor to get that melty gooey goodness!
Next, on top of the cheese comes crispy bacon and caramelized onions! Are you drooling yet? Dice up the bacon before you cook it and you’ll cut your prep time in half. Lastly, cook your sliced sweet onions in the same pan you used for the bacon and you’ll get all that extra flavor.
Add some chives or chopped green onions for a touch of color on top and get ready for some cheers. Garnish with a dill pickle and serve with some kettle chips and coleslaw. It can’t get any more Southern than that!
Are you ready for these scrumptious Southern BBQ Bacon Meatball Sliders?
- 24 cooked meatballs I used Rosina Artisan Smoky Maple Bacon Meatballs
- 12 buttermilk biscuits I used frozen Southern Style biscuits, prepared per package instructions
- 1 1/2 cups sweet spicy BBQ sauce
- 12 small slices of cheddar cheese
- 1 medium sweet onion sliced
- 1/3 lb bacon diced
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- dash of Worcestershire
- 2 green onions chopped
- Shredded cheddar to top biscuits
- Kosher Dill Pickles
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Place frozen meatballs in large saucepan with BBQ sauce, over medium-low heat. Heat with lid covered for about 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add ¼ cup of water if sauce gets too thick. Set aside. (You can also use your slow cooker for even easier prep!)
Cook diced bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy. Drain bacon on paper towels to remove excess grease.
Cook sliced onion in same skillet used for bacon, until caramelized, about 8 minutes.
Place bottom half of biscuits in rectangular baking pan. Place 2 cooked meatballs on top of each biscuit.
Top with slices of cheddar cheese.
Place a small spoonful of bacon and onions on top of cheese and sprinkle green onions.
Melt butter in small bowl. Add a dash or two of Worcestershire sauce to butter and stir. Brush melted butter over the tops of the biscuits and sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese.
Place sliders in preheated oven to heat through and melt the cheese, about 8-10 minutes.
Remove from oven. Spear with toothpick and Kosher Pickle and serve.
- ENJOY!
I hope you’re inspired to celebrate at home and keep your travel dreams alive. #MakeSomedayHappen one delicious bite, sip and trip at a time. If you do make this recipe, please share on social media and tag @goepicurista #GoEpicRecipes. I would love to virtually clink glasses with you.
Cheers!
Go Epicurista
It’s a thrill to hear your feedback and know that I helped inspire you to celebrate and cross fun things off your someday list. Don’t be shy about leaving comments below and sharing this post with your friends.
Oh, and don’t forget to check out RosinaRecipes.com for a variety of easy & delicious recipes. I’m sure you’ll love them as much as I do.
Cheers!
Go Epicurista
Looking for other epic recipes for your game night party? Check out my Gastropub Cab & Blue Burger, Widowmaker Pizza and Kitchen Sink Cookies.
Disclosure: I have been hosted as a media guest for promotional purposes. I am under no obligation to share this post. As always, all opinions are my own. I only share with you products and experiences I love to inspire you to safely get together with family and friends, celebrate life, and go #MakeSomedayHappen one delicious bite, sip, and trip at a time! You can read more about my guidelines in my disclosure policy. Cheers!
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