Juicy Turkey Meatball Subs (Printable)

Tender turkey meatballs in a rich tomato sauce with mozzarella and fresh basil on toasted sub rolls.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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 or 1 tablespoon dried parsley
07 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
10 - 2 tablespoons milk

→ Sauce

11 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
12 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
13 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
14 - 24 oz crushed tomatoes
15 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
16 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
17 - 1/2 teaspoon sugar
18 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Assembly

19 - 4 sub rolls or hoagie rolls
20 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
21 - 2 tablespoons fresh basil, sliced (optional)
22 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat the 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, pepper, and milk. Mix gently until just combined to avoid tough meatballs.
03 - Shape the mixture into sixteen 1.5-inch meatballs. Place them evenly on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 15 to 18 minutes until golden and cooked through.
04 - While the meatballs bake, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened, about 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in garlic and sauté for an additional minute.
05 - Add crushed tomatoes, dried basil, oregano, sugar, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Simmer gently for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
06 - Transfer the baked meatballs into the simmering sauce and continue cooking for 5 to 7 minutes, spooning the sauce over the meatballs to infuse flavor.
07 - Preheat the broiler. Split the sub rolls and place them cut side up on a baking sheet. Toast under the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes until lightly browned.
08 - Place four meatballs with sauce on each toasted roll. Top evenly with shredded mozzarella and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
09 - Broil the assembled subs for 2 to 3 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Garnish with fresh basil if desired and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The turkey keeps things lean but the cheese and sauce make it feel indulgent.
  • Everything comes together in under an hour, so it fits into busy weeknights without stress.
  • The meatballs stay tender because of the milk and breadcrumbs, no dry bites here.
  • You can prep the meatballs ahead and freeze them, then just simmer and assemble when you're ready.
02 -
  • Don't skip the milk in the meatball mix, it keeps them from turning dry and crumbly.
  • Toast the rolls before assembling or they'll turn into a soggy mess under all that sauce.
  • Let the meatballs simmer in the sauce for a few minutes so they absorb the flavor and stay juicy.
03 -
  • Freeze the shaped raw meatballs on a tray, then transfer to a bag so you can bake them straight from frozen when you need them.
  • Use a small cookie scoop to portion the meatballs evenly, they'll cook at the same rate and look more uniform.
  • If the sauce tastes too acidic, add another pinch of sugar instead of more salt.

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