Garlic Parmesan Turkey Meatball Subs (Print Version)

Tender turkey meatballs in creamy garlic-Parmesan sauce nestled in toasted sub rolls.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Turkey Meatballs

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

→ Garlic Parmesan Cream Sauce

10 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
11 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
12 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
13 - 1 1/4 cups whole milk
14 - 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
15 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
16 - Salt to taste

→ Assembly

17 - 4 soft sub rolls, approximately 6 inches each
18 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
19 - 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
20 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley for garnish

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, egg, minced garlic, parsley, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined without overmixing.
02 - Shape mixture into 16 meatballs and arrange on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
03 - While meatballs bake, melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute, then slowly whisk in milk. Bring to a simmer while stirring constantly until slightly thickened, approximately 2 to 3 minutes.
04 - Stir in Parmesan cheese, black pepper, and salt to taste. Continue cooking until cheese is fully melted and sauce reaches a smooth consistency. Remove from heat.
05 - Transfer the baked meatballs to the cream sauce and gently toss until evenly coated.
06 - Preheat the oven broiler. Split sub rolls and spread softened butter on the inside surfaces. Place on a baking sheet with buttered sides facing up and broil for 1 to 2 minutes until lightly toasted.
07 - Distribute 4 meatballs with sauce into each toasted sub roll. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over each sandwich and broil for an additional 1 to 2 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
08 - Remove from broiler and garnish with chopped fresh parsley. Serve immediately while hot.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • The meatballs stay juicy because turkey tends to dry out, but the cream sauce fixes that problem beautifully.
  • It feels fancy enough for company but honest enough to make on a random Wednesday night.
02 -
  • Don't overmix the meatball mixture or they'll become dense and tough—mix just until combined and stop.
  • Whisk the milk in slowly when making the sauce or you'll end up with lumps that no amount of stirring will fix.
03 -
  • Room temperature meatballs absorb the sauce better than cold ones, so let them sit for a minute after baking before adding to the pan.
  • If your sauce breaks or looks separated, pull it off the heat and whisk in a splash of cold milk to bring it back together.
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