Red Curry Meatballs

Red Curry Meatballs — Indian-spiced beef meatballs are simmered in a homemade red curry sauce that’s perfectly spicy, savory, and so comforting especially when served over a bed of basmati rice! Learn how to recreate this ethnic dish that’ll IMPRESS your family and friends and have everyone begging for more!

Red Curry Meatballs Recipe

I am a huge curry fan — whether it’s Thai-inspired or Indian-inspired — it’s hard to resist all the wonderful depth and intensity of flavors in curry recipes. 

These beef meatballs are richly seasoned with Madras curry powder, garam masala, ginger, coriander, cumin, and more. They’re juicy, tender, and pack a whollop of Indian flavors in every succulent bite.

Then there’s the homemade red curry sauce that has so many fragrant and rich dried spices in it, along with dried chili peppers, diced tomatoes, lime, cilantro, and plenty more.

It’s intensely flavored, spicy without being too hot, and is just divine drizzled over rice. 

Even though you may think this recipe takes hours and hours to make, it really doesn’t! The meatballs are quick and easy, ready in less than 30 minutes. And while they bake, your curry is simmering, and everything comes together in about 1 hour.

Like many ethnically-driven recipes, there are lots of ingredients in this red curry meatballs recipe. There’s no way around it if you want to have an authentic-tasting coconut curry meatball recipe. 

Despite the long list of ingredients, nothing is too tricky to find and you should be able to find everything you need in the ethnic section of most well-stocked supermarkets. If you can’t, Amazon links are provided for anything that may prove tricky. Amazon is also probably more budget-friendly.

Tip: Finally, this was a long post to write, and I explained a lot of details and “trivia”, but if you just want the recipe. Scroll past all my chatter right down to the recipe card section where you’ll find just the recipe.

What is the Difference Between Indian and Thai Red Curry?

This is one of those questions that everyone will have a slightly different answer and everyone will swear they are correct!

In my opinion, Indian curries tend to be:

• Less spicy overall
• Use dried spices rather than curry paste
• Use ghee or dairy 
• More stew-like and less soupy or thin
• Use tomatoes or a tomato base with sauteed onions
• Served with Basmati rice
• Never served with noodles

On the contrary, Thai curries often are:

• More spicy in general
• Use a curry paste rather than dried spices
• Made coconut milk
• Soupier, thinner, and brothier 
• Fresh lemongrass, ginger, lime, or shallots used in place of tomatoes and onions
• Served with jasmine rice
• Never served with bread

Source

That being said, the beauty of making curries at home is that you can combine elements from various countries and cultures and tweak things until you get the flavor profile just perfect, for you.  

I’m less concerned about whether something is totally “authentic” from one country or region and more concerned with do I love how it tastes and would I make this again?

And yes, I would definitely make this Indian-leaning red curry with meatballs again and again!

Ingredients in Curried Meatballs 

For the meatballs, you’ll need the following easy to find fridge and pantry ingredients including the following:

• Lean ground beef
• Jalapeno pepper
• Egg
• Panko bread crumbs
• White onion
• Plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
• Toasted sesame oil
• Garam masala
• Fresh ginger
• Madras curry powder
• Salt
• Coriander
• Cumin
• Pepper

Note: All ingredients amounts are listed in the recipe card section when you keep scrolling down.

Ingredients in Homemade Curry Sauce

In order to make homemade red curry sauce, you’ll need the following fridge and pantry ingredients:

• Vegetable or olive oil
• White onion
• Garlic
• Fresh ginger
• All-purpose flour
• Madras curry powder
• Garam masala
• Turmeric
• Coriander
• Salt
• Pepper
• Tomato paste
• Beef broth
• Canned petite diced tomatoes
• Canned full-fat coconut milk
• Dried red chiles (Indian kashmiri chili peppers or Mexican chiles de arbol – these are spicier)
• Bay leaf
• Fresh cilantro
• Lime juice
• Lime wedges, for serving
• Basmati rice, for serving

Note: All ingredients amounts are listed in the recipe card section when you keep scrolling down.

How to Make Beef Meatballs

Making the beef meatballs for your beef meatball curry recipe is super easy by following these basic and straightforward steps:

1. To a large bowl, add all the ingredients.
2. Mix everything together lightly.
3. Scoop our your meatballs with a small scoop.
4. Bake for 20 minutes or until just done. 

Tip: While the meatballs bake, get started on your curry sauce!

How to Make Red Curry Sauce for Meatballs

Making your own Indian-inspired curry sauce doesn’t have to be intimidating. In fact, by following my easy steps, you’ll look like a curry-making pro!

1. To a large saucepan, add the oil, onions, garlic, ginger, and saute for 3 to 4 minutes.
2. Add the dried spices, salt, pepper, flour, and toast for 1 minute.
3. Add the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
4. Add the beef broth, diced tomatoes, and stir to combine with the spiced onion and flour mixture.
5. Add the coconut milk, red chiles, bay leaf, and simmer for 20 minutes.
6. Add the cooked meatballs to the curry, stir to combine and coat, and simmer for 10 minutes.
7. Remove the bay leaf and chiles if desired, add the lime juice, cilantro, taste, and serve with rice or as desired!

Can I Make the Meatballs with Ground Chicken or Turkey?

Yes you sure can. You can use either ground chicken, ground turkey, ground pork, or mix-and-match them with the ground beef.

The leaner the protein, such as ground chicken and turkey, the faster the meatballs will dry out so make sure not to overbake them in the least because they will continue to cook as they simmer in the curry sauce.

Can I Use Frozen Meatballs for This Recipe?

For anyone short on time or energy, and you don’t want to bother with making your own meatballs, you can use frozen meatballs that have been previously cooked.

Thaw them and add them directly to your already simmer red curry. You can skip the baking step since they’ve already been cooked. 

Tip: I love Trader Joe’s frozen turkey meatballs (they also have frozen beef) for anyone looking for a frozen option.

What to Serve With Coconut Curry Meatballs

The obvious choice for me with red curry meatballs is a side of basmati rice. Spoon some of that glorious curry sauce over the rice and let it absorb right in.

If you’re short on time or energy, you can always use a few packets of Basmati Ready Rice. 

For those looking to enjoy your curry meatballs with a curried vegetable, this Roasted Curried Cauliflower with Chickpeas is fabulous. 

Can I Make the Meatballs in Advance? 

Yes you can. There are a few make-ahead options for this beef curry meatballs recipe including the following:

• Form the raw meatballs up to 24 hours before you plan on baking them. 
• Assemble and cook the meatballs as instructed and then store them airtight in the fridge. Within the next 2 to 3 days, make the curry sauce, drop the meatballs into it to warm them and simmer. Note – Freshly made meatballs that are warm from the oven will absorb the curry sauce better and will be more tender overall. However, if there’s a reason you need to prepare the dish in components like this, it’ll be fine.
• Make the entire recipe as instructed, let cool, and then freeze for later. 

How to Store Leftovers

Extra red curry sauce meatballs will keep airtight for up to 5 days in the fridge or up to 4 months in the freezer.

One great thing about curries is that the flavors tend to marry and meld together as time passes so your meatballs and red curry may taste even better as leftovers!

Generally speaking, meatballs (and curry sauces) freeze and thaw very well so you can even use this as a batch-cooking recipe.

Double it and eat half within the first few days and freeze the other half.

Tips for the Best Red Curry Meatballs

Spiciness: This curry has a pretty good kick to it, but it’s balanced, and quite honestly I think a proper curry should be a little bit spicy. However, there are ways to reduce the spiciness by:

• Seeding the jalapeno or using half of one (or none).
• Use Indian kashmiri chili peppers rather than Mexican chiles de arbol because kashmiris are less spicy.
• Also, remove the chili peppers at the end when you remove the bay leaf. If they stay in with the dish, their heat will seep out into the curry broth and increase the overall heat factor as time passes.
• Use a mild Madras curry powder. There are literally thousands of types of curry powders so make sure you know what you’re buying from mild to wild and everything in between based on your ultimate goal for the spicy factor.

Various dried spices: There are a some dried spices such as garam masala and Madras curry powder that you may not have in your cupboard for this recipe. However, they’re essential and can’t be omitted. Other spices such as coriander, turmeric, or cumin are not quite as essential and if you’re short by one (or two) there’s enough else going on that your red curry meatballs will survive. For best results though, follow the recipe as written. 

Ground beef substitute: Ground beef is what I used for my meatballs with red curry sauce. However, you can also use ground chicken, ground turkey, ground pork, or a mix-and-match combination of any of the aforementioned.

Breadcrumbs: Make sure to use panko breadcrumbs rather than regular breadcrumbs. They’re Japanese-style bread crumbs and help give the meatballs some texture.

If you’re wondering what to do with the rest of your box of panko bread crumbs, check out these other great recipes using panko bread crumbs. 

Shaping the meatballs: Scoop our your meatballs with a small scoop. Not only does this ensure that they all visually appear the same, but it ensures they will all cook at the same time and rate.

Baking the meatballs: These are small meatballs and can dry out quickly so make sure not to overbake them.  It’s fine if they are slightly underbaked and a bit pink in the center as they will continue to cook through as they simmer in the red curry sauce after baking.

Taste your red curry: Curry of any kind always varies in terms of exact flavor profile, spiciness, saltiness, and so forth. Make sure to taste yours as you go, making sure it’s what you want. Don’t be afraid to add salt. The finishing touches of lime juice and cilantro really add great depth of flavor so don’t skip them. And if your curry sauce is at all bitter from the tomatoes, lime juice, or chiles, a pinch of sugar to balance it out is a good trick.

More Easy Curry Recipes:

Thai Chicken Coconut Curry – An EASY one-skillet curry that’s ready in 20 minutes and is layered with so many fabulous flavors!! Low-cal, low-carb, and HEALTHY but tastes like comfort food!!

Green Thai Chicken Coconut Curry – An EASY, one-skillet curry that’s ready in 20 minutes and tastes BETTER than from a Thai restaurant!! It’s healthy comfort food that tastes AMAZING!!

Thai Yellow Curry with Chicken — Better-than-takeout yellow curry is EASY and ready in 25 minutes!! Healthy comfort food with the PERFECT amount of heat and lots of textures and flavors in every bite! Impress your friends and family and make this DELICIOUS curry at home!!

Sweet Potato and Chickpea Coconut Curry – An easy one-skillet curry that’s ready in 30 minutes and is layered with so many fabulous flavors! Healthy comfort food that tastes amazing!

Coconut Lime Chicken and Sweet Potato Curry – An EASY, one-skillet curry that’s ready in 20 minutes and tastes BETTER than a restaurant!! Juicy chicken and tender sweet potatoes simmer in a lime-scented coconut milk sauce that tastes AMAZING! Healthy comfort food!!

Chickpea and Kale Thai Coconut Curry – An easy one-skillet vegan curry that’s ready in 15 minutes and has amazing Thai-inspired flavors! Low-cal, low-carb, and healthy but tastes like hearty comfort food!

Cauliflower, Chickpea, and Chicken Coconut Curry – An EASY, one-skillet curry that’s ready in 20 minutes and tastes BETTER than a restaurant!! The Thai-inspired coconut milk broth makes this healthy comfort food taste AMAZING!!

Thai Pumpkin Curry with Chickpeas — An EASY curry that’s ready in 30 minutes! Tender fresh pumpkin, chickpeas, bell peppers, spinach, and more all bathed in the most aromatic Thai-inspired coconut milk broth! If you love Thai food, skip the restaurant and make this better-than-takeout curry at home!