These Grinder Sliders offer bold and robust flavors from the savory combination of salami, pepperoni, and ham complemented by the rich and creamy melted Provolone cheese, all nestled within sweet Hawaiian rolls. These sliders are topped with a fresh and tangy slaw, featuring crisp iceberg lettuce, zingy banana peppers, and a sharp, bright dressing, offering a burst of flavors in every bite.
Grinder Sliders
TikTok has proven to be a treasure trove of unique and intriguing recipes, and one of my absolute favorites that I’ve adapted from there is this TikTok Spaghetti. Today, I’m thrilled to share my spin on another viral trend from the platform — Grinder Sandwiches.
Grinder sandwiches have been a massive hit on social media, but rather than sharing just another traditional Grinder recipe, I decided to transform the concept into a format I personally love: sliders!
Slider recipes have consistently been a hit on this site for several years, from these irresistible French Dip Sliders to these delicious Monte Cristo Sliders. And let’s not forget these simple Cuban Sliders or tasty Meatball Sliders! This time, I’ve taken the robust flavors of the viral Grinder sandwiches and compacted them into delightful bite-sized treats, offering a fresh twist on this beloved sandwich.
What Is A Grinder Slider?
A grinder slider is a smaller, bite-sized version of a classic grinder sandwich, which is a term often associated with Italian-American cuisine. Traditional grinders are long sandwiches filled with various meats, cheese, and sometimes topped with lettuce, tomatoes, and other condiments. They’re typically served hot, with the cheese melted.
In the context of this recipe, the Grinder Slider takes these same flavor profiles and ingredients – salami, pepperoni, ham, Provolone cheese – and scales them down into a smaller package using Hawaiian dinner rolls instead of a long sub roll. The addition of the tangy, fresh slaw provides a delicious twist to this miniature version of the classic sandwich.
Grinder Slider Ingredients
- Sweet Hawaiian rolls: These provide a subtly sweet contrast to the savory meats and cheese. Make sure they are fresh and soft for best results.
- Ultra-thin Provolone cheese: This cheese melts nicely, lending a gooey, creamy texture. It’s crucial to use ultra-thin slices of cheese to prevent the cheese from dominating the flavors of the sliders.
- Salami, pepperoni, and deli ham: These cured meats add a savory, salty depth. You can choose a variety based on your preference – sweet, spicy, or smoked. Use thin slices for easy layering and even distribution of flavor.
- Garlic-herb butter: We brush the tops of the rolls with this seasoned butter, adding a garlicky, herby flavor. To simplify the ingredients list, I prefer using a ready-made garlic-herb butter, such as the incredible Kerrygold variety, which keeps the topping effortlessly delicious. However, if this isn’t accessible to you, a homemade blend of 3½ tablespoons butter mixed with ¼ to ½ teaspoon of garlic powder and ½ to 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning will do the trick just as well.
Tangy Slaw Topping Ingredients
- Iceberg lettuce: This crunchy lettuce adds texture to the slaw; romaine lettuce is a great substitute. For convenience, I prefer using pre-shredded iceberg lettuce, but a finely sliced head of lettuce also works perfectly for this recipe. Ensure the lettuce is fresh and crisp.
- Banana peppers: These lend a gentle sweet heat and a tangy note to the slaw. If unavailable, Pepperoncinis make for a great substitute.
- Red onion: Thinly sliced, these add sharpness and crunch. If the raw onion flavor is too strong for you, rinse them in cold water to mellow them down.
- Grated Parmesan: Parm provides a salty, umami flavor to the slaw. Avoid shelf-stable Parmesan– here’s what we use in this recipe!
Quick Tip
We also enjoy adding fresh tomatoes to the sliders right out of the oven! Thinly slice some fresh tomatoes and layer them onto these Grinder Sliders just before you top them with the tangy slaw topping!
Tangy Slaw Dressing Ingredients
- Lemon juice and red wine vinegar: Both contribute a tart brightness to the slaw dressing. If you love lemon flavor, add a touch of fresh lemon zest in.
- Dijon mustard: This adds a smooth, tangy kick to the dressing. If you don’t love Dijon, substitute it with 2 teaspoons of yellow mustard instead.
- White sugar: This ingredient is needed to balance the acidity in the dressing.
- Italian seasoning: This adds a depth of herby flavor. You can make your own blend with dried basil, oregano, rosemary, and thyme.
- Olive oil: Use a good quality extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor.
- Full-fat mayonnaise: This makes the dressing creamy and helps blend all the flavors together. Choose a high-quality one for the best flavor; Best Foods/Hellman’s® is our favorite.
How To Make Grinder Sliders (Tips)
- Cheese: While this recipe calls for Provolone, don’t hesitate to experiment with other cheeses like mozzarella or Swiss if you prefer their flavors.
- Control the heat: If you’d like to add a kick of spice to your sliders, consider using spicy salami or adding some chili flakes to the slaw topping.
- Use a serrated knife: When slicing the Hawaiian rolls, use a sharp serrated knife for a clean cut without squishing the soft bread.
- Even layers: Make sure to layer your ingredients evenly over the entire surface of the rolls. This ensures every bite is flavorful and balanced.
- Butter brushing: Brush the butter over the rolls evenly. Don’t forget the sides! This helps get a nice golden color all around.
What To Serve With Grinder Sliders
Grinder Sliders are quite flavorful and hearty on their own, but here are some ideas for complementary side dishes:
- Chips and dip: A classic side for sliders. Choose your favorite chips and pair them with a dip like salsa or guacamole.
- Pasta salad: A light pasta salad with a vinaigrette dressing can offer a refreshing counterpoint to the sliders. This Italian pasta salad would also be tasty on the side while complementing the flavor of the sliders.
- Pickles: A side of pickles can provide a nice tangy contrast to the hearty sliders.
- Vegetable crudites: A platter of raw veggies with a creamy dip (like this homemade ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing) can add a fresh, crunchy element to the meal.
- Fruit salad: A simple fruit salad provides a sweet and refreshing end to the meal.
- French fries or sweet potato fries: Either traditional French fries or sweet potato fries make a classic pairing for a hearty slider!
Use Leftover Salami In One Of These Recipes:
- 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
Ingredients
- 12 sweet Hawaiian rolls
- 12 slices ULTRA THIN provolone cheese, separated (Note 1)
- 3 oz. deli salami (12 slices)
- 3 oz. deli pepperoni (12 slices)
- 4 oz. deli ham (6 slices)
- 3.5 tbsp garlic-herb butter (Note 2)
Slaw Topping
- 1 bag (8 oz) shredded iceberg lettuce
- 1/4 cup diced banana peppers
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
- Optional: 2 roma tomatoes, thinly sliced, 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
Slaw Dressing
- 1 tablespoon each: freshly squeezed lemon juice and Dijon mustard
- 1½ tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1½ teaspoons white sugar
- 2½ tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ cup full-fat mayonnaise (Best Food's/Hellman's)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, plus fine sea salt and pepper
Instructions
- PREP: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Generously grease a 9x13-inch pan. With a sharp serrated knife, slice the Hawaiian rolls in half, creating a top and bottom slab. Place the bottom slab of the rolls in the prepared pan.
- PREPARE SANDWICHES: To 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!
- BAKE SLIDERS: 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.
- SLAW TOPPING: 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. Season to taste (I add ¼ tsp of salt and ⅛tsp of pepper). Put the lid on the jar and shake until well combined. Pour the dressing over the slaw and toss until everything is well coated.
- ENJOY: 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
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
