Turkey Meatball Sub Casserole
A warm, cheesy meatball sub casserole with juicy meatballs, marinara sauce, melted provolone, and toasted Italian bread baked to golden perfection.
October 2025 update: I first shared this turkey meatball sub casserole back in January 2024, and I still remember the day I came up with it. I was in one of those creative moods where everything in the kitchen just works. It’s still one of my favorite comfort food recipes, and so easy to throw together. In this updated version, I’ve added a few extra tips to help you make the best turkey meatball sub casserole every time. I hope you love it as much as I do!
👩🍳 A Fun Twist On A Meatball Sub
My son asked for meatball subs one night, but all I had was a single loaf of Italian bread, which definitely wasn’t enough to feed our family of five. Instead of running to the store, I started experimenting in the kitchen to see how far I could stretch that loaf. That little experiment turned into this delicious meatball sub casserole, and honestly, I think I like it even more than the original sandwiches.
Casseroles are such an easy way to feed a hungry family, especially when everyone wants comfort food without spending hours in the kitchen. This meatball sub casserole takes all the best parts of a classic sub and transforms them into a warm, bubbly bake that’s perfect for weeknights or family gatherings. It’s hearty, cheesy, and full of those cozy Italian flavors that make everyone happy.
It starts with tender, perfectly seasoned turkey and Italian sausage meatballs. They’re tucked between layers of thick Italian bread and creamy provolone cheese, then smothered in marinara sauce and topped with a generous handful of shredded Italian cheese. The bread soaks up just enough sauce to stay flavorful while still getting toasty on the edges.
Once it comes out of the oven, you’ve got gooey melted cheese, crisp golden bread, and juicy meatballs all baked together in one casserole dish. It’s satisfying, simple, and cleanup is a breeze. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or just want an easy dinner that feels special, this meatball sub casserole will definitely earn a spot in your weeknight rotation.
🛒 Turkey Meatball Sub Casserole
🥣 Visual Process for Making Turkey Meatball Sub Casserole
Now that we’ve got our ingredients ready, let’s get cooking! This casserole is not just delicious; it’s also super simple to make. Start by preheating your oven to 350℉. In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, Italian turkey sausage, egg, breadcrumbs, chopped onion, dried basil, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, dried parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix everything together until well combined. Form small meatballs. Place those delicious little meatballs in a casserole dish.
Bake those beauties in the oven for about 25 minutes, or until they’re cooked through and no longer pink inside. Once they’re done, drain off any excess liquid.
Grab your Italian bread and tuck those slices snugly against the edge of the casserole dish, creating a lovely bed for your meatballs. Fill in the gaps with more bread slices and stack those meatballs as needed. If you don’t drain the liquid off, the bread will get mushy. You also want the bread slices to stick up higher than the meatballs so it gets kind of toasty.
Tuck slices of provolone cheese beside the meatballs and generously smother the meatballs with marinara sauce. Don’t put the sauce on your bread. Finish it off by sprinkling a half cup of shredded Italian cheese on top. Pop that casserole in the oven for 30-40 minutes until the bread is toasty and the sauce is bubbling.
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Turkey Meatball Sub Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 lb Italian turkey sausage
- 1 large eggs
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- ½ medium onion
- 1 tbsp dried basil
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ½ loaf Italian bread (sliced in to thick slices and then cut in half.)
- 16 oz marinara
- 8 slices provolone (cut in half)
- ½ cup Italian cheese (shredded)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉. In a large bowl mix 1 lb ground turkey, 1 lb Italian turkey sausage, 1 large eggs, ½ cup breadcrumbs, ½ medium onion, 1 tbsp dried basil, 1 tbsp garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried parsley, ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Combine and form smallish meatballs. Place meatballs in a casserole dish.
- Bake meatballs for 25 minutes or until they are no longer pink in the middle. Remove from the oven and drain off as much liquid as you can.
- Starting on one end of the casserole, tuck slices of italian bread against the edge of the casserole in a line. Make sure your pieces of bread are taller than your meatballs so they get toasty instead of mushy. Do the same in rows between the meatballs, piling the meatballs up if necessary to get them all to fit. The final row should be along the far edge of the casserole dish.
- Tuck slices of cheese beside the meatballs and then top the meatballs with marinara sauce. Avoid getting sauce on your bread as much as possible so the pieces will toast in the oven. Sprinkle ½ cup Italian cheese over the marinara and bake for 30-40 minutes or until the bread is toasted and the sauce is bubbling.
Notes
Substitutions
Storage
Nutrition
FAQs
How can I prevent the meatballs from shrinking too much?
Meatballs shrink because they lose too much moisture when baking. Don’t overmix the meat mixture and avoid packing it too tightly when forming meatballs. Lightly rolling them keeps them tender and juicy.
What’s the best way to reheat leftovers?
Reheat in the oven at 325°F covered with foil until warmed through. This keeps the bread crisp instead of rubbery like it can get in the microwave.
Serving Suggestions For Turkey Meatball Sub Casserole
This meatball sub casserole pairs perfectly with so many sides. I love serving it with a crisp Caesar or garden salad to cut through all the cheesy richness. A batch of roasted veggies like broccoli, zucchini, or bell peppers adds color and freshness to the plate.
More Casserole Recipes To Try
If you’re into cozy, cheesy comfort food, you’ll love these other casserole recipes too. My Chicken Parmesan Casserole skips the frying and adds a crispy topping for a quick, family-friendly dinner that’s big on flavor and easy on time. For something nostalgic, try my One-Pan Chicken Pot Pie with Rosemary Biscuits.
If you’re in the mood for something meatless, my Easy Vegetarian Butternut Squash Enchiladas with Black Beans bring creamy squash, black beans, and ricotta together in a homemade sauce that tastes like fall in a pan. Or spice things up with Chicken Pineapple Fried Rice Stuffed Bell Peppers—sweet, savory, and just a little tropical.
For a lighter take, Low Carb Ricotta Lasagna swaps noodles for cheesy, flourless cottage cheese layers that are surprisingly satisfying. Craving something classic? My Sweet Potato Tater Tot Casserole and From-Scratch Tater Tot Casserole are both cozy weeknight hits, full of creamy sauces and crispy toppings.
And if you’re after bold flavor, try Beef Burrito Casserole, stacked with seasoned beef, refried beans, and melty cheese inside homemade tortillas. For breakfast lovers, Breakfast Casserole with Sausage, Eggs, and Veggies bakes up fluffy and hearty enough to feed a crowd.
You can never go wrong with a bubbling Lasagna with Ricotta Cheese or creamy Easy Recipe for Chicken Enchiladas with Cream Cheese and Green Chiles. And finally, my Cheddar Bay Biscuit Chicken Pot Pie might just be the coziest of them all with buttery biscuits baked over creamy chicken and veggies.