Hot Honey Pepperoni Pizza Sliders (Printable Version)
Pepperoni and mozzarella sliders baked golden with a sweet-hot honey butter glaze. Perfect party food ready in 35 minutes.
# What You Need:
→ Breads & Bases
01 - 12 slider buns or Hawaiian rolls, unsliced
→ Cheeses
02 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
03 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Meats
04 - 36 slices pepperoni
→ Sauces & Condiments
05 - 1 cup pizza sauce
06 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
07 - 1 tablespoon honey
08 - 1 teaspoon hot sauce (such as sriracha or hot chili oil)
→ Seasonings
09 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
10 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
11 - Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
→ Toppings (optional)
12 - Fresh basil leaves, chopped
# How To Make:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
02 - Using a serrated bread knife, slice the slider buns horizontally in one piece, keeping the rolls attached. Place the bottom slab into the prepared baking dish.
03 - Spread the pizza sauce evenly across the bottom buns. Sprinkle half of the shredded mozzarella over the sauce layer.
04 - Arrange the pepperoni slices in a single, even layer over the mozzarella. Top with the remaining shredded mozzarella.
05 - Place the top slab of buns over the layered filling, pressing down gently to secure.
06 - In a small mixing bowl, combine the melted butter, honey, hot sauce, garlic powder, and dried Italian herbs. Brush the mixture generously over the tops and sides of the buns using a pastry brush.
07 - Sprinkle the grated Parmesan evenly over the glazed tops. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes if desired for extra heat.
08 - Cover the dish loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for 5 more minutes, until the cheese is fully melted and the bun tops are golden brown.
09 - Allow the sliders to cool for 3 to 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped fresh basil if desired. Slice along the bun seams and serve warm.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- That sweet hot honey butter brushed on top creates this caramelized crust that people genuinely lose their minds over.
- Everything assembles in one pan with zero fussy technique so you can make them while half distracted by a living room full of hungry guests.
02 -
- Cutting the rolls while still connected as a group is not optional because individual buns will slide apart and leave you with a chaotic cheese puddle instead of neat sliders.
- The foil tent during the first bake traps steam so the buns soften without drying out and the final uncovered minutes create that irresistible crunch on top.
03 -
- Let the honey butter glaze cool for just a minute before brushing so the butter does not soak straight through and make the tops soggy instead of crispy.
- Doubling the recipe is effortless if you have two baking dishes because these vanish so fast that a single batch is almost never enough.