Hot Honey Pepperoni Pizza Sliders (Printable)
Pepperoni, mozzarella, and sweet-hot honey layered on soft slider rolls, baked until golden and melty.
# What You'll Need:
→ Breads & Bases
01 - 12 slider buns or Hawaiian rolls, unsliced
→ Cheeses
02 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
03 - ¼ 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 - ½ teaspoon garlic powder
11 - Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
→ Toppings
12 - Fresh basil leaves, chopped (optional)
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. 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 to create a top and bottom slab, keeping the individual rolls attached to each other. Place the bottom slab into the prepared baking dish.
03 - Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the bottom bun slab. Sprinkle half of the shredded mozzarella (1 cup) over the sauce in an even layer.
04 - Arrange the pepperoni slices in a single layer covering the entire surface of the cheese. Top with the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella.
05 - Set the top slab of buns over the layered filling, pressing down gently to help it adhere.
06 - In a small mixing bowl, combine the melted butter, honey, hot sauce, garlic powder, and dried Italian herbs. Stir until well blended. Generously brush the glaze over the tops of the buns using a pastry brush.
07 - Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the brushed tops. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes if desired for extra heat.
08 - Cover the baking dish loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for 5 more minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and the tops are golden brown.
09 - Remove from the oven and let cool for 3 to 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped fresh basil if desired. Slice along the individual roll seams and serve warm.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- They pull apart like warm little pillows of joy, and watching people grab their first one is genuinely rewarding.
- The honey and hot sauce combo creates this addictive sweet heat that disappears fast at any gathering.
02 -
- If you slice the rolls too early and they dry out, the bottoms will turn brittle in the oven instead of staying soft and pillowy.
- Covering with foil for the first half of baking traps steam and melts the cheese through, while the final uncovered minutes create that irresistible golden crust.
03 -
- Brush the honey butter mixture on while it is still warm so it soaks into the tops instead of pooling and running off the sides.
- Letting the sliders rest for five minutes before slicing keeps the filling from spilling out onto the tray.