These Grinder Sliders feature salami, pepperoni, ham, Provolone, and sweet Hawaiian rolls, topped with tangy slaw, lettuce, and banana peppers for a burst of flavor.
Grinder Sliders
Social media is full of fun and different recipes, and one of my favorites is TikTok Spaghetti.
Today, I’m excited to share my take on another viral trend – Grinder Sandwiches. Instead of the classic version, I’ve turned them into sliders, which have always been a hit on my site, from French Dip Sliders to Cuban and Meatball Sliders.
This time, I’ve packed the bold flavors of Grinder sandwiches into bite-sized treats for a fun change.
Grinder Slider Ingredients
- Garlic-herb butter: Use ready-made garlic-herb butter like Kerrygold, or make your own with butter, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
- Provolone: Use ultra-thin slices to keep the flavor balanced.
- Salami, pepperoni, and deli ham: Pick your favorite—sweet, spicy, or smoked—and use thin slices for an even spread.
Tangy Slaw Topping Ingredients
- Iceberg lettuce: Romaine is a good substitute. Pre-shredded iceberg is what I use for ease. Make sure it’s fresh and crisp.
- Banana peppers: If unavailable, Pepperoncinis are a great substitute.
- Red onion: Rinse in cold water to tone down the flavor if it’s too strong.
- Grated Parmesan: Use freshly shredded in this recipe!
Quick Tip
I love adding fresh tomatoes to the sliders right out of the oven! Thinly slice tomatoes and layer them on the Grinder Sliders before adding the tangy slaw.
Tangy Slaw Dressing Ingredients
- Lemon juice and red wine vinegar: Both add tart brightness to the dressing. For extra lemon flavor, add a bit of fresh lemon zest.
- Dijon mustard: If you don’t like Dijon, use 2 tsp of yellow mustard.
- White sugar: Balances the tartness in the dressing.
- Italian seasoning: Make your own mix following this.
- Olive oil: Use good-quality extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor.
- Full-fat mayonnaise: Choose a high-quality mayo, like Best Foods/Hellman’s®.
How To Make Grinder Sliders (Tips)
- Cheese: This recipe uses Provolone, but feel free to try mozzarella or Swiss.
- Control the heat: Add spicy salami or chili flakes to the slaw for a bit of spice.
- Use a bread knife: Slice the Hawaiian rolls with a bread knife for a clean cut without squishing the bread.
- Even layers: Layer ingredients evenly for a balanced, flavorful bite.
- Butter brushing: Brush butter evenly over the rolls, including the sides, for a crispy finish.
What To Serve With Grinder Sliders
Grinder Sliders are flavorful on their own, but here are some great sides to go with them:
- Chips and dip: Serve your favorite chips with salsa or guac.
- Pasta salad: A light Italian pasta salad, goes well with the sliders.
- Pickles: Add a tangy contrast to the sliders with pickles.
- Veggies: A plate of raw veggies with creamy dip (like ranch or blue cheese) adds a fresh crunch.
- Fruit salad: A simple fruit salad is delicious on the side.
- French fries or sweet potato fries: Classic fries or sweet potato fries are a great side for sliders!
Use Leftover Salami In:
- Italian Couscous Salad with mozzarella pearls
- Arugula Salad with a White Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Italian Chopped Salad California Pizza Kitchen® Copycat
- Italian Sliders with roasted red peppers
Grinder Sliders
Grinder Sliders pack bold flavors with layers of salami, pepperoni, ham, and melty Provolone on sweet Hawaiian rolls. Topped with a tangy slaw of crisp lettuce, banana peppers, and zesty dressing, every bite is a flavor bomb!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 sweet Hawaiian rolls
- 12 slices ultra thin provolone cheese divided, see note 1
- 3 ounces deli salami 12 slices
- 3 ounces deli pepperoni 12 slices
- 4 ounces deli ham 6 slices
- 3-1/2 tablespoons garlic-herb butter see note 2
Slaw Topping
- 1 (8-ounce) bag shredded iceberg lettuce
- 1/4 cup diced banana peppers
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 2 roma tomatoes optional, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan optional
Slaw Dressing
- 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard
- 1-1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1-1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 2-1/2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup mayo full-fat, Best Foods/Hellman’s
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning plus salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Generously grease a 9×13-inch pan. With a sharp serrated knife, slice the Hawaiian rolls in half, creating a top and bottom slab. Place the bottom slab of rolls in the prepared pan.
- On the bottom slab, evenly layer 6 slices of cheese, salami, pepperoni, ham, and the remaining 6 slices of cheese. Add the top slab of rolls. Melt butter in the microwave, then slowly pour over the rolls. Use a pastry brush or spatula to evenly spread the mixture over the tops and sides. A little bit of the butter will pool at the bottom of the rolls; this makes the bottoms crispy!
- Cover the sliders with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 3–6 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and the rolls are golden on the top and bottom.
- While the sliders are baking, combine shredded lettuce, onions, banana peppers, and Parmesan (if using) in a large mixing bowl. In a covered jar, combine all the slaw dressing ingredients. Add 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice. Season to taste (I add 1/4 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp pepper). Seal the jar and shake until well combined. Pour the dressing over the slaw and toss until everything is well coated.
- After removing the sliders from the oven, use a very sharp knife to cut them into individual sandwiches. Before eating each one, remove the top of each slider and add a tomato slice and a generous scoop of slaw; then replace the top. (Only add the tomato and slaw to sliders that are about to be eaten.) Enjoy immediately!
Video
Recipe Notes
Note 1: It’s crucial to use ultra-thin slices of provolone cheese to prevent the cheese from dominating the flavors of the sliders and to ensure it melts according to recipe timing.
Note 2: Nothing beats this amazing Kerrygold garlic butter (so delicious and helps cut down on ingredients needed!). If this isn’t accessible to you, a homemade blend of 3-1/2 tablespoons butter mixed with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder and 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning will do the trick as well.
Storage: Store leftover Grinder Sliders in an airtight container in the fridge. Keep the slaw separate to prevent soggy bread. Reheat the sliders in the oven or microwave, then add fresh slaw before serving.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 338kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 52mg | Sodium: 679mg | Potassium: 144mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 380IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 156mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
