Slow-Cooker Spicy Meatball Sliders with Chipotle Mayo

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-03 · Updated 2026-05-03

Tender slow-cooked meatballs simmered in a smoky chipotle tomato sauce, served on mini slider buns with a creamy chipotle mayo for a game day crowd-pleaser. This American-inspired Super Bowl recipe, ready in about 260 minutes, pairs ground beef, panko breadcrumbs, milk for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 380 calories and feeds 12, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 3 cloves minced garlic
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 peppers, chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
• 24 oz tomato sauce
• 1 tbsp honey
• 12 mini slider buns
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp lime juice

The slow cooker we’d leave this in all day → Best Slow Cookers in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, combine 2 pounds ground beef, 1 cup panko breadcrumbs soaked in 1/2 cup milk, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, 1 large egg, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Mix gently until just combined.
2. Step 2: Shape the mixture into 24 evenly sized meatballs. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown the meatballs on all sides for about 5 minutes; they do not need to be fully cooked.
3. Step 3: Transfer the browned meatballs to a slow cooker. In a blender, combine 24 oz tomato sauce, 2 chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, and 1 tablespoon honey. Blend until smooth, then pour over the meatballs.
4. Step 4: Cover and cook on low for 4 hours, until meatballs are tender and sauce is thickened.
5. Step 5: While meatballs cook, mix 1/2 cup mayonnaise with 1 tablespoon lime juice and a pinch of salt to make chipotle mayo.
6. Step 6: To serve, place 2 meatballs per mini slider bun (12 buns), spoon sauce over, and spread chipotle mayo on the bun tops.