• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
Platings and pairings logo.
Start Here
All Recipes
Perfect Pairings
Wine Travel
About
Home

Thai Curry Meatballs

Jump to Recipe

|

Posted by:

Erin Lynch

|

Updated:

February 28, 2025

|

5 from 13 votes

This site runs ads and generates income from affiliate links. Disclosure policy.

Thai curry meatballs pinterest image.
  • Facebook
  • Flipboard
  • Email

This recipe for Thai Meatballs is a recipe that I make on the regular. I like that the ingredients are easy to find in the local grocery store, and the fact that it’s a nutritious and quick weeknight dinner option that will be on your table in just 30 minutes!

Meatballs simmering in curry sauce in skillet.

Save This Recipe!

Enter your email address to get a link to this post conveniently in your inbox!

Save Recipe

Table of Contents

  • Ingredients Needed
  • Recipe Tips
  • How to Make Ahead, Store and Reheat
  • What to Serve With Them
  • Wine Pairings
  • Full Recipe

I love a good curry recipe. Curry Chicken Skewers with Lime, Curry Chicken Salad, Coconut Curry Butternut Squash Soup, even this Curry Pasta all have a special place in my heart.

So, I thought it was time to finally share this recipe with you – Curry Turkey Meatballs.

Served with the most amazing spicy mangos.

Have I caught your attention?

Curry meatballs simmering in skillet.

That creamy, dreamy red curry sauce melts over the meatballs, and finds its way into every nook and cranny of your bowl of rice. And when you top it all off with some spicy, limey mangos – it’s basically irresistible.

The contrast of those delicious cool & sweet mangos with the warm rice is like heaven in a bowl.

The most time-consuming part of making curried turkey meatballs is forming them. I’ve found that using a cookie scoop makes the process much easier. If you don’t have a scoop, you can also form them by hand. Wetting your hands before forming the meatballs makes them less sticky to work with.

Ingredients Needed

For the Meatballs

  • Ground Turkey – Feel free to swap out the turkey for ground dark meat chicken, ground pork or ground beef. Or, try a meatless alternative like Impossible beef.
  • Egg
  • Garlic
  • Ginger Paste – Look for ginger paste near the fresh herbs of your grocery store’s produce section. You can also use freshly minced ginger or frozen ginger cubes.
  • Soy Sauce – I prefer to use low sodium soy sauce. Or, use tamari or coconut aminos.
  • Plain Breadcrumbs – Or, panko.
  • Green Onions

For the Sauce

This red curry sauce comes together super quickly, in about 5 minutes. Just bring it to a simmer and let it cook for a couple minutes until it thickens up. Then add the meatballs, simmer a few minutes longer to get them nice and coated and serve.

  • Coconut Milk – This is the coconut milk that is sold in cans in the asian foods aisle.
  • Red Curry Paste – Different brands can vary in heat. I’d suggest starting with 2 Tablespoons and going up from there if you’d like more heat.
  • Soy Sauce – Adds that umami flavor and the perfect amount of salt. I prefer to use low sodium soy sauce. Or, use tamari or coconut aminos.
  • Ginger – You can use fresh ginger that is grated. Or, look for ginger paste that is sold in the produce section of grocery stores. It’s a huge timesaver!
  • Garlic + Shallot

For the Spicy Mangos

  • 1 fresh mango (diced)
  • 1 serrano pepper (seeded and minced)
  • 1 lime (zested and juiced)

Recipe Tips

  • Don’t use only white meat ground turkey. It will be too dry. Stick to ground dark meat or a mix of white and dark meat. If you can’t find ground turkey already in the case, check with the butcher to see if they can grind up some boneless dark meat for you fresh!
  • Don’t over handle the ground turkey, otherwise your meatballs can become too dense, and not as tender.
  • Be sure your meatballs are roughly the same size. This ensures they’ll cook evenly.
  • Use a cookie scoop to make the process easier and ensure your meatballs are all the same size.
  • Wet your hands to make the process less sticky.
  • Use a meat thermometer. Meatballs are done when they reach a temperature of 160-degrees. I love using this meat thermometer to test for doneness.
Overhead shot of curry meatballs in grey bowl with chopsticks, topped with spicy mangoes.

How to Make Ahead, Store and Reheat

Make Ahead: Form the turkey meatballs ahead of time and keep them in the refrigerator until you’re ready to cook them. They will keep for up to 5 days. Or, freeze the meatballs on a baking sheet, spaced apart so they don’t stick to each other. Once frozen, store in freezer safe bags. To serve, bake frozen meatballs at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes, until heated through.

Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Freeze: Fully cook, cool completely and freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight. Note: I don’t recommend freezing the coconut curry sauce. I would make that last minute and add the meatballs to it before serving.

Reheat: Simmer on a stovetop while covered on low heat until heated through. Or use a microwave and reheat in 1 minute increments until warm.

What to Serve With Them

  • Rice or Rice Cooker Coconut Rice
  • Quinoa
  • Thai Quinoa Salad
  • Cucumber Edamame Salad
  • Sauteed Spinach
  • Stir Fry Veggies
  • Spaghetti Squash
  • More → 25+ sides for Meatballs

Or serve them as an appetizer on a platter with toothpicks, and some naan bread or pita bread for dipping into the sauce.

Wine Pairings

  • Dry Riesling is a great match for this curry. The hint of sweetness will tame down the heat while its acidity stands up to the bold blend of spices.
  • Gewurztraminer is another lightly sweet wine that pairs nicely with this dish.
Overhead shot of curry meatballs in grey bowl with chopsticks, topped with spicy mangoes.

More Curry Recipes

  • Curry Chicken Skewers with Lime
  • Curry Corn Chowder
  • Butternut Squash Curry
  • Potato Vindaloo Curry
  • Curry Pasta
  • Lamb Curry
  • Coconut Curry Butternut Squash Soup

More Meatball Recipes

  • Sticky Mongolian Meatballs
  • Chicken Piccata Meatballs
  • Marry Me Chicken Meatballs
  • Peruvian Chicken Meatballs
  • Spanish Meatballs
  • Butter Chicken Meatballs
  • Easy Turkey Swedish Meatballs

More Ground Turkey Recipes

  • Taco Zucchini Boats 
  • Turkey Picadillo
  • Pumpkin Chili
  • Turkey Swedish Meatballs
  • Turkey Taco Lettuce Wraps
  • More → 25+ BEST ground turkey recipes

Love mango? 💛 Be sure to check out these 45+ easy mango recipes!

Did you try this Thai Meatball Recipe?

If you loved these Thai Curry Meatballs I would appreciate it so much if you would give it a star review! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

For more great Platings & Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

PS – If you have leftover coconut milk, try out one of these 45+ recipes that use coconut milk.

Save This Recipe!

Enter your email address to get a link to this post conveniently in your inbox!

Save Recipe – Before Recipe Card

Meatballs simmering in curry sauce in skillet.

Full Recipe

Thai Meatballs

Thai Curry Meatballs is a recipe that I make on the regular. I like that the ingredients are easy to find in the local grocery store, and the fact that it’s a nutritious and quick weeknight dinner option that will be on your table in just 30 minutes!
5 from 13 votes
Print Pin
Serves 4 people
Created by Platings and Pairings
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Cook Time: 20 minutes mins
Total Time: 30 minutes mins

Equipment

  • Cookie Scoop
  • Baking Sheet
  • Large Skillet
  • Mixing Bowl

Ingredients

Turkey Meatballs:

  • 1 large egg
  • 1 clove garlic (minced or grated)
  • 1 teaspoon ginger paste (or finely minced ginger)
  • 2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 pound ground turkey or chicken
  • ½ cup plain breadcrumbs
  • 2 green onions (thinly sliced)

Coconut Curry Sauce:

  • 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 shallot (minced)
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 can (14 ounce full-fat coconut milk)
  • 2-3 tablespoons Thai red curry paste (depending on how spicy you like it)
  • 2 Tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons ginger paste (or finely minced ginger)
  • Large handful of baby spinach
  • 1 Tablespoon lime juice
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro and/or basil (roughly chopped)

Spicy Mangos:

  • 1 fresh mango (diced)
  • 1 serrano pepper (seeded and minced)
  • 1 lime (zested and juiced)

For Serving:

  • Steamed rice
  • Lime wedges

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 450-degrees.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together egg, garlic, ginger and soy sauce. Add ground turkey, breadcrumbs, and green onions. Mix until just combined.
  • Form the meat into tablespoons sized balls (about 15-20 meatballs) and place them on a baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes until cooked through.
  • Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shallot and garlic and cook until shallot becomes translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
  • Add coconut milk, curry paste, soy sauce and ginger. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer. Add the cooked meatballs and simmer about 5 minutes, until they’re well coated in the sauce.
  • Remove from the heat and stir in spinach, lime juice, cilantro and/or basil. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if needed.
  • Combine mango, serrano, lime zest and lime juice in a small bowl.
  • Serve meatballs and curry sauce over bowls of rice topped with spicy mango mixture.

Nutrition

Calories: 294kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 103mg | Sodium: 527mg | Potassium: 541mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1903IU | Vitamin C: 29mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 2mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

This post was originally published in 2021. It was updated in 2022 to add new information. The original Thai Meatballs recipe remains the same. Enjoy!

  • Facebook
  • Flipboard
  • Email
5 from 13 votes (11 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

4 responses

  1. Brenda
    January 18, 2023

    5 stars
    Delicious! I’ve made this many times, and it’s to die for! Thanks so much for sharing.

    Reply
    1. Erin
      January 18, 2023

      Thank you so much for trying it and leaving a comment Brenda!

      Reply
  2. Sabrina
    September 23, 2023

    5 stars
    yummy, a meatball recipe that isn’t bathed in marinara, not that I dislike marinara, but that’s more or less all I have in my recipe box, so thank you for this very different recipe featuring meatballs!

    Reply
    1. Erin
      September 25, 2023

      Thanks Sabrina!

      Reply

Hi, I’m Erin!

Can I pour you a glass of wine? Let’s have some fun in the kitchen! Maybe some pasta? A juicy steak? I’ve got loads of yummy, easy recipes for you! Because cooking should feel as comfy as your favorite yoga pants. ♥

Know More

Follow Me on Social!

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • X
  • YouTube

Recent Recipes

  • Cucumber Edamame Salad
  • Chicken Piccata Pasta
  • French Lentil Salad
  • Green Shrimp
  • Roasted Fennel & Artichoke Hearts
  • Mexican Street Corn Potato Salad
  • Creamy Cucumber Salad
  • One-Skillet Creamy Tomato Gnocchi with Burrata

Dish Type

30 Minute Meals
Appetizer Recipes
Cocktail Recipes
Dessert Recipes
Healthy Recipes

Cooking Method

Air Fryer Recipes
Grilling Recipes
Instant Pot Recipes
Slow Cooker Recipes
Sous Vide Recipes

Ingredient

Beef Recipes
Chicken Recipes
Lamb Recipes
Pork Recipes
Seafood Recipes

Cocktails

Classic
Gin
Margarita
Moscow Mule
Vodka

Sides

Bread
Potatoes
Rice
Salad
Vegetables

Travel

Australia
California
Europe
Hawaii
Italy
About Me
Contact
Privacy Policy

© All Rights Reserved.

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.