These Hot Italian Sub Sliders are the ultimate crowd-pleaser, warm, cheesy, and packed with all your favorite deli flavors in one easy bite. Perfect for game day, parties, or an easy weeknight dinner. They bake up golden and buttery in just 30 minutes and are great served with your favorite marinara for dipping.
These Hot Italian Sub Sliders have been one of the most popular recipes on the blog for years, and for good reason. They're easy to make, absolutely packed with flavor, and always a hit with a crowd. Whether you're looking for a game day appetizer, an easy party sandwich, or something to serve when you're entertaining, you really can't go wrong with these.
Made with soft Hawaiian rolls piled high with Italian deli meats, melted provolone cheese, pepperoncini, and hot cherry peppers, these baked Italian sliders have all the flavors of a classic Italian sub in a warm, cheesy, pull-apart sandwich. A generous brushing of garlic and herb butter over the tops makes them even better.
You can easily adjust the heat to suit your preferences, and they're just as delicious served on their own as they are with a side of warm marinara sauce for dipping. They're one of those recipes I come back to again and again, especially when I need something that's guaranteed to disappear from the table. Hope you enjoy!
Jump to:
More tailgating recipes you will love.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Hawaiian rolls: King's Hawaiian rolls are my favorite for these sliders. You can also use regular slider buns or sturdy dinner rolls.
- Deli ham: I like using Black Forest ham, but any good-quality deli ham will work. Smoked or honey ham are great alternatives.
- Salami: Italian dry salami adds a delicious savory flavor. You can substitute Genoa salami, mortadella, or another Italian cured meat.
- Sliced pepperoni: Use your favorite deli-style pepperoni. For a little extra heat, try spicy pepperoni.
- Sliced provolone: Provolone melts beautifully and has a mild, slightly tangy flavor. Mozzarella, Havarti, or mild white cheddar are good substitutes.
- Hot cherry peppers: These add a tangy, spicy kick that balances the richness of the meats and cheese. If you can't find them, use extra pepperoncini, pickled jalapeños, or another pickled pepper.
- Pepperoncini: These tangy pickled peppers add a little acidity and heat. Choose mild or hot pepperoncini depending on your preference.
- Butter: Salted butter adds richness and helps the tops of the rolls bake up beautifully golden. Unsalted butter works too; just add a pinch of salt.
- Italian seasoning: A blend of dried Italian herbs adds flavor to the buttery topping. You can also use a combination of dried oregano, basil, and thyme.
- Fresh garlic: Freshly minced garlic gives the butter topping the best flavor. Garlic powder works in a pinch, but I recommend fresh garlic whenever possible.
- Marinara sauce (optional): Warm marinara sauce is perfect for dipping these Italian sliders. I personally love Raos, but use your favorite store-bought sauce or homemade marinara.
Equipment
- Baking sheet or other rectangular pan
- Small bowl and pastry brush: I love this silicone pastry brush set from Amazon.
Step-by-Step Photos
Recipe FAQs
These sliders definitely have kick from the hot cherry peppers and pepperoncini but I wouldn't call it overly spicy. If you prefer a more mild dish then you can substitute the pepperoncini for mild banana peppers and the cherry peppers for roasted red peppers.
If you want more of a kick then add extra peppers or include a few sliced habaneros or other chiles.
Absolutely! This is a great recipe to make for a crowd because it is so easy to double. If available, Kings makes 18 packs and even 24 packs of their Hawaiian rolls to make it extra simple.
Yes! You can assemble the sliders up to the point of adding the butter mixture, then cover them tightly with foil and refrigerate until you're ready to bake. When it's time to cook, brush on the seasoned butter. Then cover again with foil, and bake as directed. You may need to add an extra 5-10 minutes if they're espeically cold from the fridge.
Yes. After baking, let them cool completely, then wrap tightly in foil and freeze. When ready to eat, reheat in the oven (still wrapped) at 350°F until warm all the way through.
The oven or air fryer are your best bets for keeping the bread crisp and the cheese melty. Reheat in a 350 F oven for about 10 minutes (covered with foil if you don't want them to brown more) or pop them in the air fryer at 325-350 F for 3-5 minutes until warmed through.
More recipes to check out.
Made these Hot Italian Sub Sliders? Let me know what you think in the comments!
Recipe
Hot Italian Sub Sliders
Equipment
- Baking pan
- pastry brush
- Small mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 12 pack rolls, halved lengthwise I recommend Kings Hawaiian rolls
- 6 oz package of ham, thinly sliced
- 5 oz package of salami, thinly sliced
- 5 oz package of pepperoni, thinly sliced
- 9 slices provolone cheese
- â…“ cup pepperoncini, sliced
- â…“ cup pickled hot cherry peppers, sliced
- ¼ cup salted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed I recommend fresh over jarred.
To Serve (optional)
- 1 cup marinara sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Lay the bottom half of the rolls on a baking sheet or pan. Layer on slices of ham, then top with salami, a layer of pepperoni and a layer of provolone. Then layer on sliced hot cherry peppers and sliced peperoncini. Replace the top bun and set aside. In a small bowl combine melted butter with Italian seasoning and crushed garlic. Mix to combine. Then brush the seasoned butter mixture over the top of the sliders, being sure to coat all the nooks and crannies.
- Cover the sliders with foil then bake at 350 degrees F for about 30 minutes until golden brown. Remove from the oven then slice and enjoy! *I recommend serving with a side of your favorite marinara sauce for dipping.*
Mary
This was a big hit with the whole family and that doesn't happen often! Definitely making this regularly.
jamjarkitchen
Yay! So glad y'all enjoyed! 🙂
Barbara
Loved this, I had to modify slightly, I didn't have ham, but used a good quality Italian beef, thinly sliced, it was excellent. Thank you for sharing this!
Patricia Taylor
Can I skip putting them in the oven? Just serve cold?
jamjarkitchen
Hi Patricia - You could serve them cold but it would change the end result pretty significantly. If you do decide to to it I would recommend leaving off the butter topping as that really does need to bake. And they might seem a bit dry without the butter and melted cheese so maybe dress some lettuce and place that on top of the meat or add a spread like mayo for moisture. Hope this helps!
Darlene
Just found this recipe…I am making it for a Women’s Retreat at my church…I will be doubling the recipe though. Thank you soooooo much for posting this amazing sounding recipe!
Lisa
Question, since you're overlapping the meat do you have to cut the sandwiches instead of pulling them apart? Looks yummy!
jamjarkitchen
Hi there! Yes, I typically use a large knife to cut and then serve. Hope you enjoy!
Amanda
Awesome and easy recipe! Definitely a crowd pleaser.
Ruth
This is so smart! I see people making ham and cheese sandwiches with the Hawaiian rolls but this was an amazing take! We love making Italian subs in our house but they always take so long. This was a great way to make a ton at once! We had a bunch left over I ended up giving 2 to our carpet cleaning guy that came over the next day after our family party! He said it was the best lunch break he's ever had on the job, ha!
Kris
Do you use all of the sauce?
jamjarkitchen
Hi Kris - Do you mean the butter mixture? If so, yes, you use it all! Hope you enjoy!
Linda
My only mistake was not making more. I made 2 dozen. Didn’t have enough for my grandsons lunch the next day. I used mozzarella instead and left out the cherry pepper. Will definitely do again.
Hanna
For anyone reading this, please make it! It was so quick to put together and everyone loved it. For how quick it was, the amount of flavor was incredible! Not too spicy and so pretty to serve. Definitely will be making again!
Mary Beth
I just made these tonight and we were so impressed! Definitely adding this to the rotation. It will be so good with soups this fall and winter too!!
Jeanne L
My bottom buns were burnt black! Followed the recipe to the letter.
jamjarkitchen
Hi Jeanne - Sorry about the burnt buns! I'm not entirely sure why as I and many others have made this recipe a ton of times. Do you have a fan oven perhaps? Sometimes those can get much hotter than a conventional convection oven. Let me know what you think.
Carolyn
Made these made a Calabrian chilie aoli to go on it as well so goodn
jamjarkitchen
Sounds delicious!
Jamie
First time making these(just for the fam) and they were delish! Will make these again next time we host a party!
Cindy
These little sliders are a huge hit and so easy to make.
jamjarkitchen
So glad you liked them!
Laurette Sharpe
Do you think these could be heated on a barbecue at the beach instead of the oven?
jamjarkitchen
I think it would work with a charcoal closed lid BBQ no problem. My only concern would be it burning a bit on the bottom but you can check for that and adjust the heat accordingly. Please let me know if you try it and how it comes out. 🙂
Christy
Would these freeze well? My husband is going on a hunting trip and wants to bring something for lunch. I was thinking of making them, covering in foil and freezing for a few days. He could then thaw and bake (they'll have an oven where they're going).
jamjarkitchen
Hi Christy - I haven't frozen them myself but I don't see why it wouldn't work. You could even individual portion them to make it easier.I recommend thawing in the fridge overnight and reheating at 325 for 20-30 minutes. Hope this helps!
Amy
I’m trying these for our work snack day, I only have banana peppers! Do you think they’ll be too spicy or not flavourful enough? I’m not familiar with the other type and my neighbourhood grocer didnt have them!
jamjarkitchen
Hi Amy - Yes, banana peppers should work for this recipe. You can get some that are mild to pretty spicy so be sure to look out for how hot you want the sliders to be. Hope you enjoy!
Jen
Amazing! My new favorite easy night food for sure. So simple yet has such a great depth of flavor. I was very skeptical because I do not like salami, but the combination of everything together was wonderful! This will definitely go into a permanent rotation at our house! I served them with mozzarella cheese, sticks, and marinara…yummy ! Thanks for the recipe!
jamjarkitchen
Hi Jen- So glad you liked them!
Cynthia Perry
I’m trying these for my Galentines party tomorrow. Can I make ahead and bake them with the sauce the next day?
jamjarkitchen
Absolutely!
Deja
Do we need to grease pan before?
jamjarkitchen
Hi Deja - I typically do not but it wouldn't hurt if you did. Hope you enjoy!
Amy
These have become known to my friends and family as THE sliders. I have made them for parties, births, deaths, and I have made them a million times for teenagers at our lake house. I have probably shared this recipe 10 times. Thank you for a real crowd pleasing recipe!!
jamjarkitchen
Hi Amy - Awww that makes my day! So glad that these sliders have become a part of you people's table. 🙂
Kelly Kitabchi
Had these that a friend brought to work! Delish!!!!
Planning to make for July 4th party. Can you make these gluten free? Thought of doing half and half.
jamjarkitchen
Hi there! You absolutely can. Just pick up some certified gluten-free slider buns and make a batch with those. I've done similar swaps before and they work great. Making half regular and half gluten-free sounds like a perfect option for a party!
Alexa Moser
I followed the time and temperature, and the bottoms were extremely burnt. Cook for less time!!!
jamjarkitchen
I'm so sorry to hear that! This recipe has been made by hundreds of readers with great results, so I'd love to help troubleshoot what may have happened.
A couple of questions: What kind of slider buns did you use? I typically use King's Hawaiian rolls, and different brands can bake a bit differently. Also, did you cover the sliders with foil as directed?
Oven temperatures can vary quite a bit as well, so if your oven runs hot that could certainly contribute to the bottoms browning too quickly. I'd be happy to help figure it out!
Elizabeth
These are so very good!! I’ve been making them for a few years and they’re one of our favorite meals in the rotation. So easy, always taste fantastic, and are great the next day. Sometimes I sub hot Capocollo for the salami which is good, but the recipe as written is so flavorful and delicious!
jamjarkitchen
Hi Elizabeth - I’m so happy to hear they’ve become a regular in your rotation! Love the hot capocollo swap too. Thanks so much for sharing!
Amy Dong
I just made these, and they were absolutely incredible. Thanks for sharing such an easy and tasty recipe!
Nora
These sliders were such a hit. The garlicky butter soaked into the rolls beautifully, and the pepperoncini gave the deli meats and provolone just the right kick. Perfect party food.
jamjarkitchen
So glad you enjoyed the recipe! This is one of our favs!
Justine
I work at an assisted living and make this for my residents and they love it! Thank you <3
jamjarkitchen
Hi Justine - Thank you so much for sharing that! I'm glad y'all enjoyed the recipe!
Erin
These sliders look super delicious and they look super satisfying to make! Thank you for sharing this recipe.
jamjarkitchen
Hi Erin - Thank you so much! They’re definitely a fun one to make, and always a hit around here.