Italian Grinder Sliders
Published 6/15/2025
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My Italian grinder sliders are a major hit for any occasion! I love whipping up a platter of these to enjoy with our neighbor friends while the kids are playing outside in the summertime. They’re easy to make a large batch, and pack tons of yummy Italian sammie flavors.
why i love this recipe ⤵️
Tons of flavor in a handheld size: The slider size of these sammies are perfect for kiddos hands or serving as an appetizer before a main meal at your backyard BBQ.
Large batch to feed a crowd: I love that you can easily assemble 12 sliders like they’re one giant sandwich, making it super quick to serve 12 sliders all at once.
Super customizable: While this exact recipe features all my favorite Italian grinder fixins’, you can 10000% make these your own. Only have one kind of deli meat on hand? I’ve made these as turkey grinders, ham grinders — you get the idea.
The Star Ingredients
Hawaiian rolls: You’ll need the whole dang package of Hawaiian rolls for these sliders. Don’t pull the rolls apart, but instead slice all of them at once by cutting lengthwise across all the rolls. Yes, this means you’ll assemble these grinder sliders as one giant sammie.
Deli meat: Choose your own adventure here! I’m using turkey, pepperoni, mortadella, salami and prosciutto. Really covers all the bases for the ultimate Italian sammie flavor.
Sliced cheese: I went with pepper jack and provolone! Both melt really well and have great flavor. Make sure you place the sliced cheese as the first layer when you’re assembling your sliders so you can easily remove the tops of the bread when adding the lettuce and onions.
Italian seasoned lettuce and onions: DON’T SKIP THESE! It really takes things up a notch in the flavor department and truly makes these sliders taste gourmet. You’ll toss the sliced onions in red wine vinegar and dried oregano and then let them marinate for a few minutes before tossing with shredded lettuce and olive oil.
Find the list of full ingredients in the recipe card below.
What to Serve with These Sliders
I’m a big fan of a classic sammie + potato chips combo (try these air fryer sweet tater chips!), but also ❤️ serving these grinder sliders with a side of creamy coleslaw or sweet potato fries.
Storage
These grinder sliders are best served immediately after baking.
If you’re hoping to prep them ahead of time, I recommend assembling the grinders with the meat and cheeses and keeping in the refrigerator until you’re ready to bake. You can also prepare the Italian seasoned lettuce and onions ahead of time, but you’ll want to keep those in the fridge and wait to assemble on the grinders until you’re ready to serve.
More Yummy Sandwich Recipes
- Favorite Turkey Sandwiches
- Avocado Tuna Salad Sandwich
- Turkey Pesto Sandwiches
- Homemade Egg Salad Sandwich
Italian Grinder Sliders on Hawaiian Buns
Ingredients
- 12- count Hawaiian Rolls
- 7 oz. sliced turkey breast
- 2 oz. sliced pepperoni
- 4 oz. sliced mortadella
- 3 oz. sliced salami
- 2 oz. sliced prosciutto
- 6 slices pepper jack cheese
- 6 slices provolone cheese
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ white onion, sliced
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 4 oz. shredded lettuce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large tomato, sliced
- 6 pickle slices
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉ and spray a 9×13 pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
- Slice the Hawaiian rolls lengthwise, leaving them connected. Place the bottom into the prepared pan.
- Next, layer the pepper jack and provolone cheeses on the bottom. Then add the turkey, pepperoni, mortadella, salami, and prosciutto. Place the top of the Hawaiian rolls on top of the cheese. Brush with melted butter.
- Bake the sliders for 15 minutes at 350℉.
- While the sliders are baking prepare the toppings. Place the sliced white onion, red wine vinegar, and dried oregano in a large bowl. Stir to combine and set aside. Let the onions marinate for 5 minutes.
- After the onions have had time to sit, add the shredded lettuce and olive oil to the onions. Stir to combine. Set aside.
- Add the mayonnaise and mustard to a small bowl and stir to combine.
- When the sliders are done baking, take them out of the oven and transfer to a cutting board. Gently take the top off and set aside. Top the sliders with the lettuce, sliced tomatoes, and pickles. Spread the mayo mix on the top of the Hawaiian rolls.
- Place the slider tops on top and cut to serve.
Tips & Notes
- Any meat and cheese combination could work on this. I chose some more traditional Italian meats and cheeses.
- I recommend baking these for a more traditional grinder sandwich.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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