Hot Honey Pepperoni Sliders (Print Version)
Soft rolls layered with pepperoni, mozzarella, pizza sauce, and sweet-hot honey glaze, baked golden.
# What You'll 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 Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
02 - Using a bread knife, slice the slider buns horizontally in one piece to create a top and bottom slab, keeping the individual rolls attached. Place the bottom slab in the prepared baking dish.
03 - Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the bottom buns. Sprinkle half of the mozzarella cheese over the sauce layer.
04 - Arrange the pepperoni slices in a single layer covering the cheese. Top with the remaining mozzarella, distributing it evenly.
05 - Set the top slab of buns over the assembled filling, pressing down gently.
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 of the buns using a pastry brush.
07 - Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese and a pinch of red pepper flakes over the glazed bun tops.
08 - Cover the dish loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 5 minutes until the cheese is fully melted and the tops are golden brown.
09 - Let the sliders rest for a few minutes. Garnish with chopped fresh basil if desired. Slice along the bun seams and serve warm.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The sweet and spicy honey butter glaze soaks into the rolls and creates a crust that is completely irresistible, almost like garlic bread met a honey drizzle and they fell in love.
- Pulling the whole tray apart slider by slider while the cheese stretches between them is pure chaos in the best way, and people lose their minds every single time.
02 -
- Do not skip the foil cover during the first bake because uncovered rolls will dry out and toast too fast before the cheese in the middle has a chance to fully melt.
- Letting them rest those few minutes after baking is not optional because piping hot molten cheese will slide right off the bun and onto your plate if you cut too soon.
03 -
- Hawaiian rolls add a subtle sweetness that pairs perfectly with the spicy glaze, and that slight sweetness is the reason people keep asking what makes these taste so different from regular pizza sliders.
- Brush some of the honey butter glaze between the top buns and the cheese layer too because that extra hit of flavor inside is what takes these from good to completely addictive.