Mighty Meatball Sliders

Name: Mighty Meatball Sliders
Prep time: P0Y0M0DT0H20M0.000S
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT0H20M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT0H40M0.000S
Yield: 12 sliders
Ingredients: 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 1 clove garlic, minced, plus 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced; 1 onion, chopped; Two 28-ounce cans peeled tomatoes; 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 onion, chopped; 1/2 cup milk, plus more if needed; 1/4 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs; 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs; 1 cup ground beef; 1 cup ground pork; 1 cup ground turkey; 4 links Italian sausage (about 8 ounces), casings removed; 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley; 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil; 2 eggs, beaten; Salt and freshly ground black pepper; 12 slider rolls, or other small rolls; 12 thin slices provolone

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Level: Easy
Total: 40 min

Prep: 20 min
Cook: 20 min

Yield: 12 sliders

Level: Easy
Total: 40 min

Prep: 20 min
Cook: 20 min

Yield: 12 sliders

Ingredients

Sauce:

4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 clove garlic, minced, plus 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

1 onion, chopped

Two 28-ounce cans peeled tomatoes

Meatballs:

4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 onion, chopped

1/2 cup milk, plus more if needed

1/4 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs

1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs

1 cup ground beef

1 cup ground pork

1 cup ground turkey

4 links Italian sausage (about 8 ounces), casings removed

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil

2 eggs, beaten

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

To serve:

12 slider rolls, or other small rolls

12 thin slices provolone

Directions

For the sauce: Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet set over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and onions and saute until the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove the mixture from the heat and let cool. Transfer the mixture to a blender and add the tomato puree. Blend until smooth.
Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium pot set over medium heat. Add the sliced garlic and cook until the garlic is golden brown, about 30 seconds. Remove the garlic with a slotted spoon, leaving the oil in the pot. Carefully pour the tomato sauce into the pot, reduce the heat to medium-low and let simmer while you prepare the meatballs.
For the meatballs: In same skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat and add the garlic and onions. Saute 5 minutes, and then remove from the heat to cool.
In a bowl, combine the milk and breadcrumbs and stir until the crumbs look like wet sand. Add a little more milk if it looks too dry.
In a large bowl, combine the ground meats, sausage, parsley, basil, eggs, some salt and pepper, the cooked onion-garlic mixture and the breadcrumbs. Stir with your hands until just mixed, and then form 24 small meatballs. Place the meatballs on a baking sheet or plate.
Reheat the large skillet over medium-high heat and add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. When the oil is hot, add half the meatballs and cook until browned on all sides, turning a few times during cooking, about 5 minutes. Repeat with the remaining meatballs. Transfer all the meatballs to the simmering tomato sauce and cook for a few minutes, until cooked through.
To serve, place 2 meatballs on each slider roll and spoon some sauce on top. Top the meatballs with a slice of cheese and serve. You may have leftover sauce.
This recipe was created by a contestant during a cooking competition. The Food Network Kitchens have not tested it for home use, therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.