Turkey Meatball Subs with Cheese (Printer-friendly)

Tender turkey meatballs in marinara with melted cheese on toasted sub rolls for a satisfying meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Turkey Meatballs

01 - 1 lb ground turkey
02 - 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
03 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
04 - 1 large egg
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
07 - 1 tsp dried oregano
08 - 1/2 tsp salt
09 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Sauce

10 - 2 cups marinara sauce
11 - 1 tbsp olive oil
12 - 1 small onion, finely chopped

→ Assembly

13 - 4 sub rolls or hoagie buns
14 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
15 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
16 - Fresh basil for garnish

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, garlic, parsley, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix until just combined.
03 - Shape mixture into 16–18 small meatballs. Place on the prepared baking sheet.
04 - Bake meatballs for 15–18 minutes, until golden and cooked through.
05 - While meatballs bake, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion until soft, about 3 minutes.
06 - Pour in marinara sauce and bring to a simmer.
07 - Transfer baked meatballs to the sauce, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes.
08 - Cut sub rolls lengthwise without cutting all the way through and toast under the broiler until lightly crisp.
09 - Arrange 4–5 meatballs with sauce in each roll. Top generously with mozzarella and a sprinkle of Parmesan.
10 - Place assembled subs on a baking tray and broil for 2–3 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.
11 - Garnish with fresh basil if desired. Serve hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The combination of tender turkey meatballs and bubbling melted cheese creates pure comfort food magic
  • These subs come together in under an hour but taste like theyve been simmering all day
  • Perfect for feeding a hungry crowd or having leftovers for lunch the next day
02 -
  • Overmixing the meatball mixture makes them tough and rubbery, so mix just until combined
  • Letting the meatballs simmer in the sauce for the full 10 minutes is crucial for flavor absorption
  • Toasting the rolls before assembly prevents them from becoming soggy under all that sauce
03 -
  • Wet your hands slightly with cold water or oil before shaping meatballs to prevent sticking
  • For extra crispy edges, broil the assembled subs with the oven door cracked open slightly

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