Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix until just combined; don’t overwork the mixture!

Roll the mixture into small meatballs (about 1 inch in diameter) and set them aside.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add a splash of oil. Once hot, add the meatballs and cook until browned on all sides, about 6-8 minutes. They don’t need to be fully cooked, as they will finish in the oven.

Slice the slider buns in half and place the bottom halves on a baking sheet. Pour half of the marinara sauce over the buns, layer the meatballs, and top with the remaining marinara and mozzarella cheese.

Place the top half of the buns over the meatballs and sprinkle lightly with more cheese if you’d like. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and the buns are slightly browned.

Once baked, garnish with fresh basil if desired, then serve warm and watch as your family pulls apart these sliders with joy!