Beef meatball sliders

Spiced Lamb Meatball Sliders with Goat Cheese and Pickled Cucumbers
Â
Ingredients
For the Meatballs:
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
½ cup diced onion
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
½ teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon fennel seeds, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
2 ounces fresh goat cheese (about ¼ cup)
½ pound merguez sausage (spicy lamb) or hot Italian sausage, casings removed
1 pound ground lamb
½ cup breadcrumbs
2 large eggs
Kosher salt, to taste
For the Sauce:
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
1 (28-ounce) can whole San Marzano tomatoes, crushed by hand
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Kosher salt, to taste
½ teaspoon sugar
½ teaspoon dried oregano
For the Sliders:
½ pound fresh goat cheese (about 1 cup)
2½ tablespoons mascarpone cheese
1½ tablespoons whole milk
â…› teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
¼ teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
¼ teaspoon chopped fresh dill
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
24 slider rolls
Pickled sliced cucumbers, for serving
Instructions
Prepare the Meatball Base:
Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.-
Toast the Spices:
Add coriander, chopped fennel seeds, and rosemary to the skillet. Toast for 1 minute until fragrant. Transfer this mixture to a large bowl and chill until cool. -
Form the Goat Cheese Balls:
Roll the goat cheese into small ½-inch marble-sized balls. Set aside. -
Make the Meatball Mixture:
To the cooled spice mixture, add the sausage, ground lamb, breadcrumbs, eggs, and ½ teaspoon salt. Mix gently by hand until just combined. -
Shape the Meatballs:
Divide the mixture into 24 small ovals (about 2 tablespoons each). Press your thumb into the center of each oval to create a small indentation. Place a goat cheese ball inside, then mold the meat around it, rolling into smooth balls. Refrigerate until ready to cook. -
Prepare the Sauce:
In a large pot, heat ¼ cup olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion and cook until softened, about 1 minute. Add the crushed tomatoes with their juices, red pepper flakes, ½ teaspoon salt, and sugar. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 10 minutes. Stir in the oregano. -
Cook the Meatballs in Sauce:
Gently add the meatballs to the sauce. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until meatballs are cooked through, about 10 minutes. -
Make the Goat Cheese Spread:
In a bowl, beat together goat cheese, mascarpone, and milk with a wooden spoon until smooth. Stir in oregano, rosemary, thyme, dill, ¼ teaspoon salt, and a pinch of black pepper. -
Assemble the Sliders:
Spread the goat cheese mixture on each slider roll. Top with a meatball, some pickled cucumbers, and spoon extra sauce over the meatballs.
- Pro Tip
To prevent the goat cheese center from leaking out while cooking, chill the formed meatballs well before cooking. This helps the cheese hold its shape and creates a delicious, melty surprise inside each bite.
- Hands-Free Cooking with Audio Recipes
- Cooked This Dish? Tell Us What You Think!