Smoky Asian Fusion Meatball Sliders on the Traeger

The Ultimate Game-Day Finger Food

The Big Game is more than just football—it’s a time-honored tradition of gathering with friends and family, feasting on great food, and arguing over which commercials were the best. In our house, hosting a Big Game party has become an annual event, evolving over the years from a laid-back gathering of adults to a full-blown family-friendly affair, complete with kids running around in team jerseys, DIY snack stations, and plenty of Traeger-smoked appetizers to keep everyone happy.

How Our Game-Day Parties Have Evolved

Back in the day, our game-day spreads were all about classic tailgate fare—ribs, wings, chips, and dip. But as the guest list grew to include more kids, we found ourselves shifting towards easier, bite-sized options that were just as delicious but way more manageable for little hands. These Asian Fusion Meatball Sliders have become one of our favorite game-day recipes because they check all the boxes: simple to make, packed with smoky flavor, and fun to eat. Plus, since they start with frozen meatballs, they take almost zero prep time, leaving us more time to enjoy the game (or chase the kids around before halftime).

Why These Sliders are a Game-Day MVP

Whether you’re hosting a full house or just kicking back with family, these sliders bring big, bold flavor with minimal effort. A combination of Bachan’s Japanese BBQ Sauce and Asian-style wing sauce gives the meatballs a sweet and spicy kick, while the quick slaw and crispy wonton strips add crunch and freshness. The best part? You can set it and forget it on your Traeger, letting that signature wood-fired flavor do all the work.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

✔ Super Easy – Thanks to frozen meatballs, there’s minimal prep work.
✔ Big Flavor – The combination of Bachan’s Japanese BBQ Sauce, Asian-style wing sauce, and wood-fired smoke makes these sliders unforgettable.
✔ Perfect for a Crowd – Make a big batch and watch them disappear.
✔ Great for Kids and Adults – Adjust the heat level to suit your family’s taste.

Ingredients for Asian Fusion Meatball Sliders

Main Ingredients:

• 1 bag frozen meatballs
• Brioche slider buns

Sauce for Meatballs:

• ½ cup Bachan’s Japanese BBQ Sauce
• ½ cup your favorite Asian-style wing sauce (We used Buffalo Wild Wings’ bottled Asian Zing sauce)

Quick Spicy Slaw:

• 1½ cups shredded cabbage
• 1 tbsp thinly sliced white onion
• 2 tbsp cilantro leaves
• 1 tsp thinly sliced jalapeño
• 2 tbsp Bachan’s Japanese BBQ Sauce
• 1 tsp olive oil
• ½ tsp sesame oil
  (Mix and adjust seasoning as necessary)

Creamy Sauce:

• 2 tbsp mayo
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp Bachan’s Japanese BBQ Sauce

Toppings:

• Crunchy wonton strips (found in the salad toppings section of your grocery store)
• Sesame seeds

How to Make Asian Fusion Meatball Sliders on the Traeger

Step 1: Preheat Your Traeger and Smoke the Meatballs

1. Preheat your Traeger to 250°F.
2. Arrange the frozen meatballs on a wire rack placed over a cookie sheet.
3. Smoke the meatballs for 20 minutes to infuse them with wood-fired flavor.

Pro Tip: Use Traeger Woodridge pellets for the best smoky flavor. The mild, slightly sweet smoke pairs perfectly with Asian-inspired flavors.

Step 2: Coat the Meatballs in Sauce

4. In a small bowl, mix equal parts Bachan’s Japanese BBQ Sauce and Asian-style wing sauce.
5. Using a wooden skewer, dunk each smoked meatball in the sauce mixture.
6. Return the meatballs to the wire rack and place them back on the Traeger at 250°F for another 20 minutes.

Why This Works: The second round of smoking helps the sauce set into a slightly sticky glaze, giving the meatballs a rich, caramelized flavor.

Step 3: Prepare the Slaw and Creamy Sauce

7. While the meatballs are smoking, mix all the slaw ingredients in a bowl and let it sit for at least 10 minutes so the flavors meld.
8. In a separate bowl, whisk together the creamy sauce ingredients.

Step 4: Prepare the Slider Buns

9. Using a sharp knife, cut an “X” into the top of each brioche slider bun.
10. Use your fingers to gently push open the hole in each bun.
11. Warm the buns on the Traeger for 5 minutes to make them soft and toasty.

Step 5: Assemble the Sliders

12. Add 1 tablespoon of spicy slaw to the bottom of each bun hole.
13. Place two saucy meatballs inside the bun.
14. Drizzle with creamy sauce and sprinkle with crunchy wonton strips and sesame seeds.

Serve immediately with extra Bachan’s BBQ Sauce and wing sauce on the side for dipping.

Perfect Pairings for These Sliders

If you’re planning a full game-day spread, here are some other great Traeger appetizers to serve alongside these sliders:

• Smoked Fried Chicken Wings
• Jalapeno Popper Rellenos
• Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread

Pro Tips for the Best Asian Fusion Meatball Sliders

✔ Use High-Quality Frozen Meatballs – Not all frozen meatballs are created equal! Choose ones with a good balance of beef and pork for the best texture.
✔ Customize the Spice Level – Prefer less heat? Swap the Asian wing sauce for more Bachan’s BBQ sauce. Want more kick? Add a dash of sriracha to the creamy sauce.
✔ Get That Extra Crunch – Don’t skip the wonton strips! They add an awesome crispy texture to the sliders.
✔ Make It a Meal – Serve these sliders with fries, grilled veggies, or a simple side salad for a complete dinner.

Final Thoughts: The Best Sliders for Game Day

These Asian Fusion Meatball Sliders are the ultimate big-game finger food. They’re smoky, saucy, crunchy, and packed with bold flavors. Plus, they’re super easy to make thanks to frozen meatballs and simple sauces.

Make a batch this weekend and watch them disappear fast!

Try This Recipe? Let Us Know!

Did you make these Asian Fusion Meatball Sliders? Share your photos and tag us on Instagram (@ThisJewCanQue) or Facebook (@ThisJewCanQue)!

📌 Pin this recipe for later!

Looking for more game-day Traeger recipes? Check out these smoked appetizers:

• Nashville Hot Chicken Dip
• Texas Trash Dip
• S’Mores Dip

Fire up your Traeger and get grilling!

Asian Fusion Meatball Sliders on the Traeger

thisjewcanque

Smoky, saucy, and packed with bold Asian-inspired flavors, these Asian Fusion Meatball Sliders are the perfect game-day snack. Made with frozen meatballs, a quick homemade slaw, and a flavorful glaze, they come together effortlessly on the Traeger grill.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, gameday, sandwich, slider, Snack

Cuisine American, Asian, bar food, fusion, gameday

Servings 8

Equipment

• Traeger Grill (or another pellet smoker)
• Wire rack (for even cooking and smoke circulation)
• Cookie sheet (to catch drippings)
• Mixing bowls (for the slaw and sauces)
• Wooden skewers (for dipping meatballs in sauce)
• Sharp knife (to cut an “X” in slider buns)

Ingredients

  

Meatballs & Sauce

• 1 bag frozen meatballs
• ½ cup Bachan’s Japanese BBQ Sauce
• ½ cup Asian-style wing sauce Buffalo Wild Wings’ Asian Zing recommended

Quick Spicy Slaw

• 1½ cups shredded cabbage
• 1 tbsp thinly sliced white onion
• 2 tbsp cilantro leaves
• 1 tsp thinly sliced jalapeño
• 2 tbsp Bachan’s Japanese BBQ Sauce
• 1 tsp olive oil
• ½ tsp sesame oil

Creamy Sauce

• 2 tbsp mayo
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp Bachan’s Japanese BBQ Sauce

Sliders & Toppings

• Brioche slider buns
• Crunchy wonton strips salad toppings section of grocery store
• Sesame seeds

Instructions

 

• Preheat the Traeger to 250°F. Arrange frozen meatballs on a wire rack over a cookie sheet.
• Smoke for 20 minutes. This adds a layer of wood-fired flavor to the meatballs.
• Prepare the sauce. In a small bowl, mix equal parts Bachan’s BBQ Sauce and Asian-style wing sauce.
• Glaze the meatballs. Using a wooden skewer, dunk each meatball into the sauce and return to the wire rack.
• Smoke for another 20 minutes. This allows the sauce to caramelize and set onto the meatballs.
• Prepare the slaw. In a bowl, mix shredded cabbage, onion, cilantro, jalapeño, Bachan’s BBQ Sauce, olive oil, and sesame oil. Let it sit for 10 minutes.
• Make the creamy sauce. In a separate bowl, whisk together mayo, olive oil, and Bachan’s BBQ Sauce.
• Prepare the slider buns. Cut an “X” on the top of each bun and gently push open a hole. Warm the buns on the Traeger for 5 minutes.
• Assemble the sliders. Add 1 tbsp of spicy slaw to the bottom of each bun hole, place two meatballs inside, and drizzle with creamy sauce.
• Add toppings. Sprinkle with crunchy wonton strips and sesame seeds for added texture and flavor.
• Serve hot! Offer extra Bachan’s BBQ Sauce and wing sauce for dipping.

Notes

Adjust the spice level by using more Bachan’s BBQ Sauce for a milder flavor or adding extra jalapeño for heat.
Make it a meal! Serve with fries, a simple salad, or grilled veggies.
For the best smoky flavor, use Traeger Woodridge pellets.

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