Prep Time::20 mins
Bake Time::20 mins
Total Time::40 mins
Servings::12
Yield::12 sliders
Ingredients
cooking spray
1 ½ cups (6 oz.) finely pre-shredded low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese
1 cup (about 3 1/2 oz.) finely pre-shredded Italian cheese blend
¼ cup finely chopped fresh basil
¼ teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning, divided
1 ⅓ cups pizza sauce (from 1 [13-oz.] jar)
2 tablespoons sun-dried tomato pesto
1 (12 count) package Hawaiian sweet rolls
¾ cup (about 3 oz.) thinly sliced pepperoni
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
¾ teaspoon garlic powder
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment, and place a cooling rack on baking sheet. Spray rack with cooking spray.
Stir together mozzarella, Italian cheese blend, basil, pepper, and 1 1/2 teaspoons of the Italian seasoning in a small bowl until combined. Set aside.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Stir together pizza sauce and pesto in another small bowl. Set aside.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Without separating the individual rolls, cut the entire slab of rolls in half horizontally using a serrated knife. Place bottom layer of rolls on the prepared baking sheet. Set top layer of rolls aside.
Sprinkle bottom layer of rolls evenly with half of the cheese mixture; top evenly with half of pepperoni and half of the sauce. Repeat layers once.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Bake in the preheated oven until cheese melts, about 15 minutes.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Meanwhile, combine butter, Parmesan, garlic powder, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning in a small saucepan; cook over medium, stirring occasionally, until butter melts, 1 to 2 minutes. Set aside.
Remove rolls from oven, and add top layer of rolls; brush top of rolls evenly with butter mixture. Return to preheated oven, and bake until rolls are golden brown and crisp, about 5 minutes.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Separate the rolls, and serve immediately.
DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS
Variations:
Sausage: Prepare recipe as directed, substituting 3/4 cup cooked, crumbled Italian sausage for pepperoni.
Meat Lover's: Prepare recipe as directed, reducing pepperoni to 1/4 cup, and adding 3 oz. thin deli ham slices and 1/4 cup cooked crumbled Italian sausage.
Veggie: Prepare recipe as directed, substituting 1 cup mixed sauteed peppers, onions, and mushrooms for pepperoni.
BBQ Chicken: Prepare recipe as directed, substituting 1 cup barbecue sauce for pizza sauce and sundried tomato pesto. Substitute 1 cup chopped or shredded rotisserie chicken for pepperoni.
Chicken Alfredo: Substitute 1 1/4 cups alfredo sauce for pizza sauce and sundried tomato pesto. Substitute 1 cup chopped or shredded rotisserie chicken for pepperoni.