Pizza Sliders

Name: Pizza Sliders
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 12 slider buns; 1 cup pizza sauce (divided); 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (divided); 1 cup sliced mushrooms; 1 cup bell peppers (diced (red, green, or yellow)); ½ cup black olives (sliced ); ¼ cup red onions (diced); 2 tablespoons butter (melted); 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning; 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

By Shruthi B. MakanjuUpdated Jun 03, 2025

NF VE

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Reviews

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Servings 12 sliders

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Let me tell you about the night these pizza sliders saved my sanity. It was a Friday, and I’d ambitiously promised my husband homemade pizza for movie night. Fast forward to 5 PM, and I had forgotten the dough the previous night. But I spotted a pack of slider buns I’d forgotten about—and inspiration struck. Ten minutes later, these pizza sliders were in the oven, and my kitchen still looked clean (well, clean-ish). Everyone loved them so much, I might never go back to traditional pizza.

A close up image of a stack of pizza sliders on a plate.

This post contains helpful tips and tricks! If you’re in a rush, please use the “Jump to Recipe” above!

Pizza night got a whole lot simpler with these sliders!

What if you could have all the cheesy, saucy goodness of pizza without the rolling, stretching, and flour-dusted chaos? I know it’s my recipe, but seriously, it’s everything you adore about pizza—gooey cheese, tangy sauce, and endless toppings—wrapped up in a no-fuss package. It’s perfect for those nights when you want the comfort of homemade without spending hours in the kitchen.

These sliders are crowd-pleasers too, whether you’re feeding a hungry family or hosting a last-minute get-together. And the buttery, garlicky topping? Let’s just say, you’ll want to eat the buns straight from the tray (no judgment here). Trust me, once you try them, you’ll be finding excuses to make these over and over again!

Love easy crowd pleasers? Check out my stuffed mushrooms, sweet potato skins or air fryer smashed potatoes for other awesome finger foods for your next pizza, movie or game night.

📋 Ingredients and notes

To make these pizza sliders, you’ll need slider buns, pizza sauce, diced bell peppers, sliced mushrooms, black olives, red onions, melted unsalted butter, shredded mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.

An overhead image of pizza slider ingredients with labels.

Variations & Substitutions

Slider buns. I like to use brioche buns or Hawaiian rolls because they add a slight sweetness that balances the savory flavors perfectly. Or make it from scratch with my easy homemade vegan dinner rolls recipe.
Pizza sauce. Use your favorite store-bought pizza sauce or marinara sauce. I like to use Rao’s or Don Pepino’s. You can also experiment with a spicy alfredo sauce or basil pesto sauce.
Cheese. I used mozzarella cheese, but you can swap it out for provolone cheese, cheddar, gouda, or a blend of melty cheese. I also add a sprinkle of parmesan at the end, but it’s optional.
Veggies. You can swap in zucchini, spinach, cherry tomatoes, roasted red onions or even roasted eggplant for a fun twist on the classic toppings. When I’m out of fresh tomatoes, tomato and garlic confit is my go-to topping for the pizza.
Customize your toppings. Add your favorite pizza toppings—spinach, jalapeños, or even sun-dried tomatoes are all delicious additions.

Make vegan pizza sliders

Use vegan cheese, dairy-free butter, and slider buns without animal products for a fully plant-based version.

Shruthi’s Top Tip

A quick sauté with olive oil and a pinch of salt brings out the sweetness in the peppers and onions.

If you like a saucier slider, spread a little extra pizza sauce on the top buns before baking.
Don’t skip the butter topping. It gives the sliders a golden, crispy finish and adds a subtle garlic-herb flavor.
Bake on the middle rack to ensure even cooking and prevent the bottoms from getting soggy.
Use parchment paper. It makes cleanup a breeze and prevents sticking if any sauce or cheese spills over.

📖 How to make cheesy pizza sliders

Step 1:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.

Step 2:
Slice the slider buns in half horizontally, keeping the bottom halves connected. Place the bottom half of the buns in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.

Step 3:
Spread half the pizza sauce over the bottom buns. Sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella cheese evenly on top.

An overhead image of spreading pizza sauce on the top of the bottom half.

An overhead image of spreading shredded mozzarella cheese on top of the bottom half of the sliders.

Step 4:
Layer the mushrooms, bell peppers, olives, and onions over the cheese.
Spread the remaining pizza sauce over the vegetables and top with the remaining mozzarella cheese.

An overhead image of adding the veggies on the top of the bottom half of the pizza slider.

An overhead image of sprinkling more mozzarella cheese on the pizza slider.

Step 5:
Mix the melted butter, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning in a small bowl.

An overhead image of the garlic butter sauce in a bowl.

Step 6:
Place the top halves of the buns on top. Brush the melted butter mixture evenly over the tops of the buns. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.

A close up image of brushing the vegetarian pizza sliders with the garlic butter sauce.

An overhead image of sprinkling parmesan cheese on top of the buns.

Step 7:
Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 10 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the top of the rolls are golden brown.

Step 8:
Remove from the oven and let them cool for 2-3 minutes. Slice into individual cheese sliders and serve warm!

A close up image of a piece of pizza slider on the baking sheet.

🍴 How to serve vegetarian pizza sliders

I love serving these pizza sliders with a side of crispy fries—whether it’s my golden cottage fries or healthy avocado fries. If you want something more filling, dive into my gouda mac and cheese or cheesy potatoes for the ultimate comfort combo. Perfect for game day, summer BBQs, or anytime you need an excuse to eat like a champion!

An image of a hand picking up one pizza slider from the baking pan.

🍴Storage and reheating suggestions

To make ahead, assemble the sliders in the morning, cover in place in an airtight container, then store in the fridge until you’re ready to bake. Wrap individual sliders in foil and freeze for up to a month. Reheat them in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes, and they’ll taste freshly baked.