Air Fryer Italian Sliders: Italian meats, cheeses, and pickled peppers are sandwiched between sweet rolls, topped with garlic butter, then cooked in the air fryer. Marinara for dipping (optional but recommended)!
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Air Fryer Italian Sliders
If we’re going to a party or gathering, or hosting a last minute get together at our house, chances are I’m making these Air Fryer Italian Sliders!
Simply because this appetizer has limited ingredients, is super quick and easy to pull together, and is so flavorful and delicious. Everyone always loves them, and I always get a “š²” type of reaction, so that’s saying something!
The Ingredients
To make the Air Fryer Italian Sliders, you’ll need:
- King’s Hawaiian Original Sweet Rolls
- Mozzarella Cheese
- Provolone Cheese
- Italian Meats (Such as Pepperoni, Salami, and Ham)
- Banana Peppers
- Salted Butter
- Fresh Parsley
- Garlic Cloves
- Salt, Black Pepper, Italian Seasoning, Red Pepper Flakes
Optional Additions/Substitutions
You can certainly substitute the meat and cheese choices to fit your taste buds! Here’s some ideas:
Meat – Prosciutto, Mortadella, Capicola, Pancetta, Soppressata, etc.
Cheese – Smoked Ricotta, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Gorgonzola, etc.
Veggies – Giardiniera (Italian Pickled Vegetables), Black Olives, Roasted Red Peppers, etc.
How to Make Air Fryer Italian Sliders
First, slice the rolls in half with a serrated knife.
Place the bottom half in your air fryer basket. Then, place a layer of cheese, and a layer of each of the meats.
Top with the final layer of cheese. Scatter the banana peppers then place the other layer of buns on top.
How to Make Garlic Butter
Garlic butter is my weakness. There I admitted it. It’s just the flavor that makes me do the happiest dance around the kitchen. Fresh garlic, parsley, butter? Yes please.
The smell immediately takes me back to my teenage years, working my first ever job at a pizza restaurant in my hometown in New York. I loved that job so much! I remember hating waking up for the morning shift, but it wasn’t terrible since I got to eat (sneak) the freshly made breadsticks and garlic knots from the brick oven. š
If you’re a huge garlic butter fan like me, you’d love my Roasted Tomato Basil and Red Pepper Soup with Cheesy Garlic Bread recipe.
Start by melting the butter over low heat. When it’s close to being fully melted, add in the minced parsley, grated garlic, and seasonings. Stir and cook on low for a couple of minutes, just until the flavors are infused together. Brush the garlic butter evenly over the Italian sliders!
How to Cook the Air Fryer Italian Sliders
Set your air fryer to a low temperature (around 325Ā° F or 163Ā° C). Bake in the air fryer for eight to ten minutes. Everyone’s air fryer is different, so just keep an eye on them to ensure the cheese is melting, and the top buns are not getting too dark. They should be a nice golden-brown color!
I’ve baked air fryer sliders too, but why turn the big old oven on if you have an air fryer? It’s especially helpful in the summer when it’s too hot outside to even think about heating the house even more with the hot oven. š„µ
I love dipping these Air Fryer Italian Sliders in Mezzetta marinara sauce. This is not an ad, I’m just a huge fan of the flavor of that marinara. It’s heavenly, and the only one I will buy. I even stopped making my own because, what’s the point? I will never live up to Mezzetta. šš
And there you have it! The easiest appetizer ever. I hope you and your friends/family/fellow party goers enjoy the deliciously balanced flavors in these Air Fry Italian Sliders!
As always, I’d love to hear from you all! About your experience with this dish, any alterations you may have made and loved (or didn’t love), or just life and cooking in general. Please leave a review/comment/question below, reach out via email (jenna@heavenlyspiced.com), and/or stay connected with me on social media, which I have linked below!
MORE APPETIZER INSPIRATION:
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Air Fryer Italian Sliders.
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
Description
Air Fryer Italian Sliders: Italian meats, cheeses, and pickled peppers are sandwiched between sweet rolls, topped with garlic butter, then cooked in the air fryer. Marinara for dipping (optional but recommended)!
Ingredients
- 12-count King’s Hawaiian Original Sweet Rolls
- 1 cup shredded or 4-6 deli slices mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded or 4-6 deli slices provolone cheese
- 9 slices (just under .25 pounds) salami
- 9 slices (just under .25 pounds) pepperoni
- 3 slices (just under .25 pounds) ham
- handful of banana peppers
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced
- 3–4 garlic cloves, grated or minced
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
OPTIONAL:
- marinara sauce, for dipping
Instructions
- SLICE AND LAYER THE SLIDERS. First, slice the rolls in half with a serrated knife. Place the bottom half in your air fryer basket. Then, place a layer of cheese, and a layer of each of the meats. Top with the final layer of cheese. Scatter the banana peppers then place the other layer of buns on top.
- MAKE THE GARLIC BUTTER TOPPING. In a small pan, begin melting the butter over low heat. When it’s almost fully melted, add in the minced parsley, grated garlic, and seasonings. Stir and cook on low for a couple of minutes, just until the flavors are infused. Brush the garlic butter evenly over the Italian sliders. You can reserve a tiny bit of the butter to brush over the air fryer Italian sliders right before you serve them, to get that glossy buttery look.
- MAKE THE GARLIC BUTTER TOPPING. In a small pan, begin melting the butter over low heat. When it’s almost fully melted, add in the minced parsley, grated garlic, and seasonings. Stir and cook on low for a couple of minutes, just until the flavors are infused. Brush the garlic butter evenly over the Italian sliders. You can reserve a tiny bit of the butter to brush over the air fryer Italian sliders right before you serve them, to get that glossy buttery look.
- COOK THE AIR FRYER ITALIAN SLIDERS. Set your air fryer to a low temperature (around 325Ā° F or 163Ā° C). Bake in the air fryer for eight to ten minutes. Everyone’s air fryer is different, so just keep an eye on them to ensure the cheese is melting, and the top buns are not getting too dark. They should be a nice golden-brown color! Serve with marinara if desired and enjoy!
Notes
- You may want to place a piece of foil over the sliders if you notice the tops are getting too browned.
- If you buy a quarter pound of each of the meats from the deli, you may have a little bit leftover of each (if you do one layer of each as I did). You can always add the extra meat to the sliders or use the leftovers for a sandwich!
- See the section in the post above “Optional Additions/Substitutions” for a list of different Italian meats, cheeses, and veggies.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizers, 30 Minutes or Less
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Air Fryer Sliders, Sliders in Air Fryer, Air Fryer Ham and Cheese Sliders, Sliders Air Fryer, Ham and Cheese Sliders in Air Fryer, Italian Sliders, Italian Sliders Recipe
These have so much flavor! I love that there isnāt too much meat, to me it is overwhelming when thereās too many layers. Jenna found the perfect balance of meats, cheeses, and peppers āØ the buttery sauce tops it all off, these sliders are my new favorite!!!
★★★★★
Iām happy to hear you found the sliders balanced, Megan! And Iām so glad you loved them!!! š
I love this one <3
★★★★★
Iām so glad to hear that, Kishorelin! Thanks for stopping by.
There is nothing like a Sweet Hawaiian roll sandwich. Your Italian sliders are nothing short of delicious goodness; I don’t even need the dipping sauce. Can’t wait to try your air fryer version.
★★★★★
I totally agree, sweet roll sandwiches are the best! I hope you love the recipe, Kevin.
These look amazing!! Definitely going to make these!
Thank you so much, Deanna! I hope you love the recipe. š
OMG these look amazing. I might make them tomorrow for the Superbowl!
★★★★★
That would be amazing, Christina! I hope you love them. š
These look sooo good! Added to my weekend snacking list!
Iām glad they look so good to you, Colette! I hope you enjoy the sliders. š
My husband and I tried this and it was a big hit! I made them for dinner for the both of us and we got 2 meals out of the recipe. My husband said it was a keeper!
★★★★★
Hi Cori! Iām so glad to hear you and your husband loved the recipe! š