If you’re following a keto lifestyle but miss the comfort of a hearty sandwich, these keto meatball sliders are about to become your new favorite. Packed with flavor and low in carbs, these sliders are a fun and satisfying way to enjoy a classic comfort food without sacrificing your goals.
The star of this recipe is, of course, the meatballs. They’re made with a savory blend of ground beef or turkey, parmesan cheese, eggs, garlic, and herbs, no breadcrumbs required. These juicy, tender meatballs are oven-baked or pan-seared until golden brown, then simmered in a rich, low-sugar marinara sauce to soak up even more flavor.
Instead of traditional buns, these keto sliders are nestled into mini “buns” made from cloud bread, almond flour rolls, or even thick slices of roasted zucchini or eggplant for a veggie-forward twist. The result? A bite-sized sandwich that’s both delicious and totally keto-friendly.
To take them to the next level, top each slider with a slice of fresh mozzarella or shredded cheese, and pop them under the broiler for a gooey, melted finish. Add a sprinkle of chopped basil or parsley for a fresh burst of flavor and a pop of color.
These keto meatball sliders are perfect for weeknight dinners, game day appetizers, or meal prep lunches. They’re easy to customize with different meats, cheeses, and sauces, even a drizzle of homemade basil pesto or a dash of chili flakes if you’re feeling bold.
What makes these sliders so great is how they deliver all the comforting elements of a traditional meatball sub in a smaller, low-carb format. They’re satisfying, cheesy, saucy, and just the right size to leave you feeling full without the carb crash.
Whether you’re cooking for yourself or feeding a crowd, keto meatball sliders are a surefire hit that proves keto food can still be crave-worthy and fun.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1/2 cup bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese grated
- 1/4 cup parsley chopped
- 1/4 cup onion chopped
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 egg lightly beaten
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 12 slider buns
- Tomato sauce
- slices mozzarella cheese
- Basil leaves
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, parsley, onion, garlic, egg, salt, and black pepper.
- Shape mixture into small meatballs and place on a baking sheet.
- Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20-25 minutes or until cooked through.
- Slice slider buns and spread tomato sauce on the bottom half.
- Top with a turkey meatball, a slice of mozzarella cheese, and a basil leaf.
- Place the top half of the bun on top and secure with a toothpick.
- Repeat with remaining meatballs and buns.
- Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
WOW!!! So easy to make. I didn’t have buns, so I served them with zucchini noodles! Yum!!! 🥳
Ugh, why would you use turkey? Beef is the only way to go! Give me real meat.
Just wow. 10 outta 10. So tasty!
I don’t think ground turkey is as good as beef for meatballs. They turned out a bit dry, I might add more sauce next time.
Easy to make but I forgot the basil. Still came out ok tho.
Glad it turned out okay! Basil definitely adds flavor, but turkey sliders can still be tasty without it.
Lol, how you forget the basil? That’s like makin pizza without cheeze! 👀
Do you really need that much cheese? Just a little makes it better, I think.
I was skeptical about turkey meatballs being good, but these were surprisingly tasty! Will make again.
I’m glad you liked them! Turkey meatballs can actually be really good if cooked right. I never thought about adding mozzarella, sounds delicious!
Best recipe ever! So delicious and healthy. Keto for the win!!
These sliders are amazing! Just made them for a party and everyone loved them. A big hit!
Yuck! I hate turkey! Tried it with chicken instead and it was much better. Still, not my fav.
I get it! Turkey isn’t everyone’s favorite. Chicken sliders sound delicious too! 😋
The bread crumbs made it really soggy! Didn’t like it at all. 1/10 would not recommend.
These sliders are super delicious! I made them for dinner and my family loved them! Definitely a hit, will make again.
Keto? But where’s the real bread? 🤔
I’m so glad to hear that! These sliders really do bring the family together. 😊
These meatballs are really good for being keto! I added some extra cheese on top. Health benefits and yummy. Win-win!
Just OK for me. The flavors didn’t pop like I thought they would. I will stick to my usual recipe.
I tried it with veggie buns instead of slider buns, still good! Not sure if it’s keto tho 😂
Man, meatballs with turkey? What’s wrong with the beef? 🤷♂️ Just saying!
These sliders are amazing! I never thought turkey could taste so good 😊
I found the recipe a bit confusing. Shouldn’t there be more binding agents or something? 🤔
Yum! Made these for the game day and they were gone in minutes! Great stuff!
I don’t know about this keto thing. Sliders without a real bun sounds wrong. Not for me.
I get where you’re coming from, but you should definitely give it a try! The meatballs are really filling and tasty without the carbs. It’s a different experience, but you might surprise yourself!
These were shockingly tasty for something “keto.” The meatballs held together well and the basil + tomato sauce combo is actually perfect.
I used beef instead of turkey, and they still came out great! Very tasty. 👍
I don’t get it. Isn’t bread crumbs not keto? Kind of a weird recipe.
These meatball sliders were a hit at my family gathering! Everyone loved them. Will definitely make again!
These are soooo good! Made them for game night and everyone loved them! 🤤
Not sure about using turkey, tastes kinda bland compared to beef. Maybe add some spices or something?
I get what you mean! Turkey can be a bit bland. I usually add some Italian seasoning or extra garlic to kick it up a notch. Give it a try!
So yummy! Simple, quick and healthy. I like to add hot sauce for a kick! 🔥
Keto? More like no-taste. The bread crumbs ruined it for me.
Meh. 375 for 25 mins felt like too long. Could be my oven, but they were kinda bland. Maybe I just needed more salt or cheese.
Yum!
OMG these are delicious! So easy to make! Even my kids who don’t like anything ate them up. 10/10!
Its fine. Just fine. What impresses me is how simple it is but I expected more flavor.
They were OK but my meatballs fell apart. What did I do wrong?
These meatball sliders were shockingly good for keto-ish food. The turkey stays juicy and the parmesan + garlic combo is legit. I added extra basil and it tasted super fresh!
I left out the parsley bc I didn’t have any. Still turned out delicious! Will make again!
These sliders are amazing! So easy to make and taste great!
These were so good! I made them for my kids and they devoured them. Definitely making again!
bad recipe. my meatballs fell apart in the oven! what did I do wrong??
I thought 1/2 cup bread crumbs would ruin the keto thing, but I guess it depends how strict you are. Still delicious though—next time I’ll try almond flour or crushed pork rinds instead.
Followed the recipe exactly. I used ground turkey and it came out juicy, not dry. Slider assembly was a little messy but worth it.
These weren’t amazing. I thought they would be bigger like real sliders but they were kinda tiny… 😕
I followed it mostly but my toothpicks kept falling out 😅 Also I only had dried basil so I used that—way weaker flavor. Would give 4 stars if it had more sauce.
Oh nooo, toothpicks failing is the worst 😅 Next time you could chill the meatballs a bit before assembling—should firm them up so the toothpick holds better. And yeah, dried basil is usually way less punchy than fresh; I’d add a little more or mix it into the sauce.
Mine didn’t need more sauce, but I *always* pack the meatballs tighter than I think I should. If your mix was a bit dry (like not enough egg/binding), that could make them fall apart and then the toothpick slides out. Also 1/2 cup bread crumbs—did you use regular or keto-style? Confused 😬
Recipe is okay but I confused basil with parsley! Lol. Can I just skip the sauce? I don’t like ketchup.
I dunno man, they were kinda bland. Needs more spices. Maybe some chili flakes?
I totally agree! A little chili flakes could really kick these sliders up a notch. Spices make everything better!
Bland? I thought they were fine! Maybe you just need to appreciate the subtle flavors?
What’s the point of keto if there’s bread? Seems misleading. Shoulda just called it turkey meatball on bread.
The recipe is confusing at parts, like how many meatballs to make. I just eyeballed it.
Confusing? For me, it’s pretty straightforward. Maybe just read through it a bit more? 🤔
Eyeballing is a good tactic! Sometimes the exact number doesn’t matter, just make them tasty! 👍
Super easy and quick recipe! Even my kids helped me make these. Love it!
Are slider buns even keto-friendly? Seems fishy to me🤔.
I think slider buns are made of wheat, so they’re not really keto-friendly. But whatever floats your boat!
I’m skeptical about keto + tomato sauce together. Like… tomato sauce isn’t exactly low-carb either. But the sliders were still a hit with my family.
Easy recipe, but i messed up the crumbs—used the wrong measuring cup lol. Mine were a bit dry. Still ate them anyway. Would try again correctly.
Great way to use ground turkey! Family loved them. Will make again!
Not bad, but mine needed way longer than 20-25 minutes at 375°F. Maybe my meatballs were too big. Flavor was good regardless!
Not sure about the bread crumbs—thought keto meant no breadcrumbs? I used almond flour crumbs and it turned out better. Otherwise flavor was okay.
I think keto can still have some crumbs… just not regular bread. I made mine with crushed pork rinds once and they were way better than I expected. 12 slider buns though—those are probably not keto unless you swap them too 😅
Totally get what you mean—“keto” gets used loosely online. Breadcrumbs usually aren’t keto, but almond flour crumbs basically act like a low-carb binder so your result makes sense. Glad it still tasted good!
Whole kitchen smelled amazing. The parmesan in the mix really helps. I’ll be making these for parties—great finger food!
Pretty solid. I did 22 minutes and they came out cooked but a little dry on the bottom. Maybe my meatballs were smaller than yours. Still worth making again.