Neelys Meatball Sliders Food

BARBEQUED MINI-MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, combine first 9 ingredients. Mix well with hands. Shape into the size of walnuts and place in a single layer in a 13 by 9-inch pan. Pour Neelys BBQ sauce over meatballs and bake for 45 minutes. Remove and serve with toothpicks as an appetizer.
• In a large saucepan, combine all the ingredients. Bring mixture to a boil, reduce heat to simmer. Cooked uncovered, stirring frequently, for 2 hours.

JACK'S MEATBALL SLIDERS

Steps:

• Make the sauce: In a large saucepan over medium heat, saute the garlic and red pepper flakes in the oil 1 minute, stirring. (Do not brown the garlic.) Stir in the tomatoes and salt. Bring the sauce to a boil, reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the meatballs: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. In a large bowl, mix the beef, sausage, onion, garlic, thyme, parsley, egg, parmesan, breadcrumbs, ricotta and salt with your hands. Form 1 1/2-inch balls out of the meat mixture. Heat a large ovenproof skillet (preferably cast iron) with a bit of olive oil. Working in batches, add the meatballs and brown on all sides, about 4 minutes. Return all the meatballs to the skillet and place in the oven to finish cooking, 10 minutes.
• Toss the meatballs with 3 cups of the prepared sauce. Place on the toasted slider buns and sprinkle with parmesan and parsley.

MEATLESS MEATBALL SLIDERS

Steps:

• Combine the nuts and garlic in a food processor and pulse to a coarse crumb. Add the panko, Parmesan, parsley, a big pinch of salt and a few turns of pepper and pulse to combine. Add the eggs and process until the mixture holds together in a ball. Roll the mixture into 1 1/2 tablespoon-size balls, packing just firmly enough so they hold together but not so much that they toughen. Put the balls on a plate or sheet of parchment paper.
• Warm the tomato sauce in a large pot over medium heat.
• Heat 1/4 inch of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the balls in batches, turning, until they're golden brown on all sides, 7 to 10 minutes. (Alternatively, you can deep-fry the suckers if that's what you're into.) Add to the tomato sauce.
• Put 1 slice of mozzarella, 2 balls and 1 or 2 basil leaves on each roll. Serve with additional sauce and chopped parsley or basil on the side.

MINI MEATBALL SLIDERS FOR A PARTY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Place the beef and pork in a mixing bowl. Add the egg, breadcrumbs, pesto, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper and half the Parmesan. Gently mix together to incorporate. Scoop out 24 heaping tablespoons meatball mix (each just shy of 1 1/2 tablespoons). Roll the mounds into round meatballs between your palms.
• Place a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Pour in the olive oil and heat until shimmering. Carefully add the meatballs to the skillet and fry until crispy and brown, 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Remove the meatballs from the skillet and discard any remaining oil.
• Halve the potato buns horizontally without separating the buns from each other. Put the bottom buns on the prepared baking sheet and spread 1/2 cup marinara sauce on top. Line up the meatballs on top of the sauce, so that each bun will have its own meatball. Pour the remaining marinara sauce over the meatballs. Sprinkle with the basil. Lay the sliced provolone evenly over the meatballs. Place the top buns over the cheese.
• Mix the melted butter and the garlic salt together. Generously brush over the top buns. Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan evenly over the butter mixture.
• Bake until the provolone melts and the topping turns golden brown, about 15 minutes. Slice into individual sliders and serve immediately.

MIGHTY MEATBALL SLIDERS

Steps:

• For the sauce: Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet set over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and onions and saute until the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove the mixture from the heat and let cool. Transfer the mixture to a blender and add the tomato puree. Blend until smooth.
• Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium pot set over medium heat. Add the sliced garlic and cook until the garlic is golden brown, about 30 seconds. Remove the garlic with a slotted spoon, leaving the oil in the pot. Carefully pour the tomato sauce into the pot, reduce the heat to medium-low and let simmer while you prepare the meatballs.
• For the meatballs: In same skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat and add the garlic and onions. Saute 5 minutes, and then remove from the heat to cool.
• In a bowl, combine the milk and breadcrumbs and stir until the crumbs look like wet sand. Add a little more milk if it looks too dry.
• In a large bowl, combine the ground meats, sausage, parsley, basil, eggs, some salt and pepper, the cooked onion-garlic mixture and the breadcrumbs. Stir with your hands until just mixed, and then form 24 small meatballs. Place the meatballs on a baking sheet or plate.
• Reheat the large skillet over medium-high heat and add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. When the oil is hot, add half the meatballs and cook until browned on all sides, turning a few times during cooking, about 5 minutes. Repeat with the remaining meatballs. Transfer all the meatballs to the simmering tomato sauce and cook for a few minutes, until cooked through.
• To serve, place 2 meatballs on each slider roll and spoon some sauce on top. Top the meatballs with a slice of cheese and serve. You may have leftover sauce.
• This recipe was created by a contestant during a cooking competition. The Food Network Kitchens have not tested it for home use, therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.

MEATBALL SLIDERS WITH A TWIST

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine the nuts and garlic and pulse to a coarse crumb. Add the breadcrumbs, Parmesan, parsley, salt and a few turns of pepper and pulse to combine. Add the eggs and process until the mixture holds together in a ball. Roll 1 1/2 tablespoon-sized balls, packing just firmly enough so they hold together but not so much that they toughen. Put the balls on a plate or sheet of parchment paper.
• Warm the tomato sauce in a large pot over medium heat.
• Heat 1/4 inch of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and cook the balls in batches, turning until they're golden brown on all sides, 7 to 10 minutes. (Alternatively, you can deep fry the suckers if that's what you're into.) Add the balls to the tomato sauce.
• Put 1 slice of mozzarella, 2 balls and 1 basil leaf on the bottom of each roll. Top with the top of the slider bun and serve with additional marinara sauce and chopped parsley or basil on the side.

TRIPLE PORK SLIDERS

Steps:

• Preheat a flat top grill pan to medium-high heat.
• In a medium bowl, mix the ground pork, sausage, cheese, shallot, garlic, and salt and pepper, to taste. Form the meat mixture into small equal-sized patties.
• Cook the burgers for 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Remove them from the pan and serve on split rolls with a half a slice of bacon, lettuce, tomato and Smoked Paprika Mayonnaise.
• Mix all of the ingredients together in s medium bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until serving, allowing the flavors to meld. Can be made a day ahead.