These delicious Korean Meatball Sliders are a 15-minute dish that your family will devour! They’re perfect for a quick and easy lunch or dinner, and fantastic as an appetizer.
There’s a restaurant near me that serves Wagyu beef sliders, and I have become obsessed. Sliders are the perfect three-bite, no-utensils-required dish…right? Tons of flavor without much fuss. As a busy mom, I can tell you that easy meals like that are very welcome.
Pre-cooked Meatballs are the perfect size for sliders, and they come in many different flavors. When the idea for these Korean Meatball Sliders hit me, I found these Korean BBQ Beef & Pork meatballs that I wanted to try. They have a terrific flavor on their own and make a great simple appetizer.
These Korean Meatball Sliders start with the Korean BBQ Beef & Pork Meatballs. I used a quick Katsu sauce, or Tonkatsu, which is an Asian-style barbecue sauce. It’s extremely fast and simple to make, not to mention it really complements the flavors of these meatballs. I finished them with slices from mini-cucumbers, and these are a MUST. The crunch and fresh cucumber flavor really brings it all together!
For a bun, I picked up some Gua Bao, which are soft Taiwanese “hamburger” buns, although I’ve heard them called “pork belly buns”, too (and I’ve had pork belly on them…don’t miss it if you have the chance). Any Asian market will carry them and my local store keeps them in stock, too. You’ll usually find them in the frozen section. They’re simple to use, simply pop them in the microwave with a spritz of water. They’re warm and SO soft. You’ll love them. My girls even put peanut butter and jelly on them!
Why You’ll Love Korean Meatball Sliders
Easy to Assemble: With pre-cooked meatballs and minimal prep for the sauce and cucumbers, these sliders come together quickly, making them ideal for weeknight dinners or party appetizers.
Customizable: Feel free to customize the sliders with additional toppings like shredded cabbage, green onions, or sesame seeds for added texture and flavor.
Balanced Flavors: The combination of sweet, savory, and tangy flavors in the sauce, paired with the tender meatballs and crisp cucumbers, creates a well-balanced bite with every slider.
Refreshing Crunch: Sliced mini-cucumbers add a refreshing crunch to the sliders, balancing out the savory flavors of the meatballs and sauce.
Unique Bun Choice: Gua Bao buns offer a pillowy softness and slight sweetness that perfectly complements the bold flavors of the meatballs and sauce.
Korean Meatball Sliders Ingredients Notes
- Meatballs: You can make your own if you have time, but packaged, precooked meatballs are one of the selling features of this recipe. You can use your favorite brand and flavor, but we used a package that was a Korean BBQ inspired beef and pork meatball with a tasty glaze.
- Cucumbers: Try the mini cucumbers from the produce section or Japanese cucumbers.
- Gua Bao: These are perfect for Korean sliders – so soft and delicious. If you can’t find them, you can swap it out for soft, split dinner rolls or a regular slider bun.
- Sauces & Seasonings: We use a mixture of ketchup, Worcestershire, soy sauce, mirin, and Dijon mustard. These, paired with the ginger and garlic powders create that kick of Korean-inspired flavor to coat the meatballs.
Find the complete Korean Meatball Sliders ingredients list with measurements in the recipe card below.
How To Make Korean Meatball Sliders
- Make the sauce: In a medium saucepan over medium low heat, mix together all the sauce ingredients and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Heat the meatballs: Add the meatballs to the sauce and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until heated through.
- Assemble: Place 2-3 meatballs on each bun and top with cucumber slices, adding extra sauce as needed. Serve and enjoy!
Variations, Substitutions, and Cooking Tips
Heat Things Up – Adjust the heat by adding sriracha or gochujang to the sauce for a spicy kick.
Protein Swap – Experiment with different types of meatballs such as beef, pork, chicken, or even vegetarian meatballs for varied tastes.
Bun Alternatives – If Gua Bao buns are unavailable, you can use slider buns, dinner rolls, or even lettuce cups as alternatives.
Topping Options – Customize with additional toppings like shredded carrots, sliced radishes, or kimchi for extra flavor and texture. Pickled veggies are always a plus, too!
Sauce Thickness – Adjust the consistency of the sauce by simmering longer for a thicker sauce or adding water or broth to thin it out.
Bun Preparation – Steam or microwave the Gua Bao buns according to package instructions to soften them before assembling the sliders.
Korean Meatball Sliders
These delicious Korean Meatball Sliders are a 15-minute dish that your family will devour! Perfect for an easy dinner or a tasty appetizer.
Ingredients
SAUCE
- ½ cup ketchup
- 2 T Worcestershire sauce
- 2 T soy sauce
- 1 T mirin
- 1 T sugar
- 1 t Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
SLIDERS
- 1 package cooked meatballs
- 2-3 mini-cucumbers, sliced
- 1 package Gua Bao, you'll need about 6-8 "buns"
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, mix together sauce ingredients. Heat over medium-low heat and simmer 10 minutes. Add meatballs and continue cooking for 5 minutes more, stirring occasionally, until meatballs are heated through.
- Place 2-3 meatballs on a bun, then add a few slices of cucumber to each slider. Add additional sauce as needed, or serve the extra on the side.
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Mary
Thursday 22nd of June 2017
Kristy, these look amazing! I've printed off my coupon and I'm going to make these soon!
Kristy Bernardo
Thursday 22nd of June 2017
Thanks so much, Mary!! Cheers :)