Description
This Italian Turkey Meatball Subs recipe features tender, flavorful turkey meatballs baked to perfection and nestled in toasted sub rolls smothered with marinara sauce and melted mozzarella cheese. Enhanced with Italian herbs, garlic, and Parmesan, these hearty sandwiches make a delicious and satisfying meal perfect for family dinners or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 lbs ground turkey
- 1/4 cup plain bread crumbs
- 1/2 onion, finely diced
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 2 cloves garlic, pressed
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground pepper
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 3 tbsp freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp milk
Subs and Topping
- 4 sub rolls, 6 inch
- 4 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
- Chopped parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375˚F to prepare for baking the meatballs.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine bread crumbs, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and Italian seasoning. Then add the parmesan, egg, diced onion, parsley, and pressed garlic. Pour in the milk and olive oil and mix everything together so the dry ingredients start absorbing the wet, letting it sit for 5 minutes.
- Incorporate Turkey: Add the ground turkey to the mixture and work it in evenly, using your hands if needed. Once combined, shape the mixture into 2-inch meatballs.
- Bake Meatballs: Place the meatballs spaced evenly on a greased cookie sheet and bake at 375˚F for 25-35 minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of 165˚F, indicating they are cooked through.
- Prepare Subs: Carefully cut the sub rolls in half. Spread 1 tablespoon butter evenly inside each roll, sprinkle with garlic salt and a little mozzarella cheese, then place them under the oven broiler on high for 2-4 minutes until the cheese melts and the bread edges brown.
- Assemble Sandwiches: Spoon marinara sauce on the bottom halves of the rolls. Place 4 meatballs on each bun, spoon 1/4 of the remaining marinara over the meatballs, then top with 1/4 of the remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Final Bake: Return the assembled sandwiches to the oven at 350˚F and bake for 10-15 minutes until the cheese melts and the sandwiches are heated through.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from the oven, garnish with chopped parsley if desired, and serve hot with extra marinara sauce for dipping. Enjoy!
Notes
- Use an instant-read thermometer to ensure meatballs are safely cooked to 165˚F internally.
- For a spicier touch, increase the red pepper flakes to your preference.
- You can substitute sub rolls with hoagie rolls or other sandwich bread of similar size.
- Freshly grated parmesan cheese gives better flavor than pre-grated cheese.
- Leftover meatballs can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.
- For a crispier crust on the subs, toast the rolls slightly longer under the broiler but watch carefully to avoid burning.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: Italian turkey meatball subs, turkey meatball sandwiches, baked meatballs, Italian sandwich recipe, easy meatball subs
