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These Coconut Curry Chicken Meatballs with Garlic Butter are full of fresh, spicy, salty, tangy, flavors, and so simple. Made with flavorful Thai red curry paste, creamy coconut milk, and a quick homemade curry powder. The meatballs are seasoned, mixed, rolled, baked until crispy, and then served in a creamy curry sauce with spicy chili garlic butter. A side of rice soaks up all that yummy curry sauce, so delicious with fresh herbs and lime.
You know my oldest brother Creighton is influencing my recipes whenever I share meatballs. I used to hate making meatballs, but he’s helped me see the light. I try to get creative with them any time I feel like I need to switch my recipes up a bit.
I’ve been craving nothing but color for the last few weeks. The picture/dream I have in my head every day is this – I want everything I make and share with you to be bright, fresh, full of herbs, and in general the most delicious recipe you’ll make that week. Like the most delicious.
It’s a high-achieving, high-expectation approach, but I want everything to be pretty and yummy!!
It’s difficult to execute though. Food changes quickly, the light moves, and being creative can be hard, but some recipes, like this one, just work. I adore this recipe, the simplicity of it, and the color. It’s not my prettiest recipe, but all the color, the ease, and the flavor is here.
I’m excited to share this recipe, it’s so delicious!!!
Details
Usually, I’ll order spicy curry powder on Amazon, but when I’m out, I always make my own curry blend. It takes 5 extra minutes, but I always love customizing the spices. I add lots of cumin and ginger with a touch of paprika, cayenne, and cinnamon, it’s the perfect blend.
I shared the recipe in the notes, I use it a lot for chicken and salmon. Of course, you can also just use store-bought spicy curry powder. I’d add some cayenne or chili flakes to make it spicer!
Mix the meatballs, I love using a mix of ground chicken and ground pork. Add the curry powder, a drizzle of Tamari, shallots, and black pepper to the meat. You don’t need to add garlic since that’s going in the butter!
Once the meatballs are mixed, bake until crispy. This is my favorite easy, mess-free, way to cook any kind of meatball. No splattering!
I kept the sauce really simple: butter, ginger, and lots of Thai red curry paste. Coconut milk keeps it creamy, and tamari adds a little salty flavor.
Finish cooking the meatballs in the curry sauce so they stay really tender and flavorful.
The last step is the garlic butter. Brown the butter, garlic, and chili flakes until the butter turns golden and the garlic crisps. Drizzle the garlic butter over the meatballs just before serving. It makes every bite melt in your mouth.
Serve the meatballs and sauce over rice with lots of chopped cilantro or try some Thai basil.
This is such a simple, wholesome, and delicious meal. Love that!
Looking for other dinner recipes? Here are my favorites:
Black Pepper Chicken and Bacon Quesadillas with Avocado Basil Ranch
Thai Black Pepper Chicken and Garlic Noodles
One Pot Stove-Top Mac and Cheese
Honey Garlic Salmon Soba Noodle Bowls
Coconut Milk Braised Black Pepper Chicken
Coconut Curry Salmon with Garlic Butter
Lastly, if you make this Coconut Curry Chicken Meatballs with Garlic Butter, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Coconut Curry Chicken Meatballs with Garlic Butter
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 507 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds ground chicken or ground pork
- 1-2 tablespoons spicy curry powder
- 3 tablespoons tamari or soy sauce
- 1 shallot, chopped
- kosher salt and black pepper
- chili flakes
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 6 tablespoons salted butter
- 1/4 cup Thai red curry paste
- 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
- 2 orange or red bell peppers, sliced
- 2 cups canned full-fat coconut milk
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce (or soy sauce)
- 1/2 cup chopped Thai basil, or cilantro
- 3-4 cloves garlic, chopped
- limes, for serving
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.2. Add the chicken, curry powder, shallot, 1 tablespoon tamari/soy, salt, and pepper to a bowl. Mix until just combined. Coat your hands with a bit of oil, and roll the meat into tablespoon-size balls (will make 15-20 meatballs) placing them on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, until the meatballs are crisp.3. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt together 1 tablespoon butter, the curry paste, and ginger. Cook, 2-3 minutes until fragrant. Add the peppers, coconut milk, 3 tablespoons tamari/soy sauce, and fish sauce. Slide the meatballs into the sauce and simmer 5 minutes, or until cooked through. 4. Meanwhile, melt 5 tablespoons butter, the garlic, and a pinch of chili flakes. Cook until the butter is browning and the garlic crisps.5. Serve the meatballs and sauce over bowls of rice. Drizzle the butter over the meatballs and top with basil or cilantro.
Notes
Spicy Curry Powder:
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2-1 teaspoon cayenne
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
kosher salt and black pepper Mix everything to combine. Makes 2-3 tablespoons.
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2-1 teaspoon cayenne
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
kosher salt and black pepper Mix everything to combine. Makes 2-3 tablespoons.
I think this recipe may have just changed my life!! Amazing. The meatballs got so crispy and I swear I almost drank the garlic butter out of the pan.
Wow thank so much! haha loveee to hear this!! xT
This was incredible! I cooked the meatballs in a pan instead of the oven so I could use up the browned bits for the sauce. So good!
Thank you so so much for trying out the recipe! So happy to hear that you enjoyed it! xT
I’ve never used Red Curry paste, we like flavour spice but not much heat. Is this heat-spicy? What can we use instead if it is?
Hi Pam,
I think you will enjoy the red curry paste in this recipe, it is really mellowed out by the coconut milk:) Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xx
This was rather good and easy once the meatballs were in the oven. Take rice cooking time into account (I wish “cooked rice” was in the ingredients so one knows to prep for it.)
I ended up using 2tbsp extra of the curry paste, because I had a can from my local Asian grocery store that had that much. It probably made it a little more spicy. Ended up not having any cilantro or basil, would definitely suggest this to add freshness.
Check you coconut milk if you get it in a can, you may need 2 cans. Sauce was too spicy for my 19 mo, however he liked the meatballs once the sauce was off (may have been since I used more curry paste).
Will make again. Thanks!
Thanks so much for the feedback Rachael, I really appreciate it! xT
Fresh out of garlic in the pantry so I chopped peanuts and topped with that instead. Really added some extra crunch and depth! And I’m feeling good about my improvisation ☺️ thanks for another knockout recipe easy to put together on weeknights! 💛
Hey Jessica,
Happy Wednesday!! I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and appreciate you making it! xT
This turned out good but I needed more heat in the sauce. Also my sauce came out thin. Delicious though with some added Sambal Oelek. My meatballs came out with a great crunch. I will definitely make this again just with some more added heat, I thickened the sauce with a tiny bit of corn starch. Another keeper. We had two HBH meals in a row. The One Pot Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomato burrata Pasta is one of our all time favs. Thanks so much!
Hi Mary,
Fantastic!! I appreciate you making this recipe and your comment, love to hear that it turned out well for you!🍒🥭
Tieghan! Another killer recipe!!!! After the first bite, my husband looked at me and said I must make this again. Thanks!
Hey Laura,
Fantastic!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! xx
I love this recipe. I used turkey instead of chicken and added mango and Greek yogurt on top. I also skipped the butter drizzle.
This recipe was pretty easy and so delicious.
I live at 6200 feet and cooked meatballs for 12 minutes. Are the cooking times for high altitude since you live in Colorado?
Love to hear this Michele!! Thanks so much for trying this recipe and your feedback! They are yes:) Have a wonderful weekend!🌈🌤️ xT
So delicious and SO easy. Even our 11 month old LOVED the meatballs and kept going back for more 😁
Love to hear this Brittany!! Thanks so much for trying this recipe and your feedback! Have a wonderful weekend!🌈🌤️ xT
Could you make the meatballs ahead of time and add to the sauce to simmer for longer later? Trying to decide if I can make this before cheer camp tonight lol!
Hi Alexis,
Totally, that would work well for you! Let me know if you have any other questions, I hope it’s delish! xT
So delicious! I didn’t have red curry paste, so I used yellow instead, but otherwise I followed directions as listed. It was a huge hit and will be in our regular rotation now 🙂
Hi Dani,
Thanks so much!! I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and I appreciate you making it! Have a great weekend:)
I cant wait to try this weekend. Any tips or changes you would
Suggest if opting for ground pork?
Hi Christina,
You should be able to follow the recipe as written using ground pork:) Let me know how it turns out, I hope it’s delish! xx
Simply said, knocked it outta the park. The hubs said literally this isn’t my thing although Licked the bowl clean. Also served with Naan brushed with the garlic butter. A keeper for sure, thanks for sharing
Thank you so much!!
The other half realllly like this one, so it stays in the weekly rotation ☺️ at this point we know we’re making at LEAST 2 recipes from HBH per week 🥰
Thanks so much for making so many recipes Jennifer!! I love to hear that this one is a fave:) Have a great weekend! xT
This one was something that I would normally not try but it intrigued me. So happy I tried it! It was delicious and will definitely make again. It opened my eyes to trying other of your recipes I might not normally make. Thanks for all your great recipes!!
Hi Sue,
Awesome!! I love to hear that this recipe was a hit and appreciate you making it! Thanks for your comment! xT
This was SO GOOD! Am I currently trying to air out my house the morning after making it? Yes. But so so so worth it. I did have the alter the curry powder and use a non-spicy kind so my 7 and 5 year old would eat it, but after doing so, my 5 year old proclaimed “this is the best meatball of all time” — It didn’t take too long to make, it was simple, and the sauce was just fantastic!
Hey Michelle,
Happy Friday!!🍍🥥 Thanks a bunch for making this recipe and your comment, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xT
I am not exaggerating when I say that this is in the top 10 most delicious things I’ve ever made. I find that at home attempts at curry are frequently underwhelming in flavor, but this one blew me away!!! I savored each bite in delight and I can’t wait to keep eating the leftovers.
Hey Isadora,
Happy Friday!!🍍🥥 Thanks a bunch for making this recipe and your comment, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xT