Thai Turkey Meatballs
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This Thai turkey meatballs with red curry sauce recipe is a flavorful and gluten-free recipe that’s perfect for dinner or meal prep. Tender meatballs made with ground turkey are baked and then simmered in a creamy coconut curry sauce, making this dish both easy and satisfying.
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Thai Turkey Meatballs Recipe
weeknight dinners truly do not have to be as difficult or boring as we make them out to be in our heads! I get it, I too am always looking for ways to switch things up without a lot of effort — and I’m a food blogger!
These Thai Turkey Meatballs are so easy and a great way to shake things up. Forget regular Spaghetti & Meatballs and make meatballs more fun again!
Turkey meatballs are leaner than regular beef meatballs, and these have the most divine curry sauce studded with vegetables. Serve over rice and serve with your favorite sides. You’re going to love the bold flavors of this one-pot meal!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
These Turkey Thai Meatballs are so easy to love!
- These meatballs are made with simple, whole ingredients.
- The Thai curry sauce takes regular turkey meatballs up several notches. And it isn’t spicy!
- Despite a longer ingredient list, this is a relatively easy meal to put together.
Ingredients
It looks like a long list, but these Thai Meatballs are full of simple ingredients! You probably have a lot of these in your pantry already.
Thai Turkey Meatballs Ingredients
For the meatballs, you’ll need to shop for these ingredients:
- Ground turkey: Lean and flavorful, turkey is a great base for these meatballs.
- Egg: Acts as a binder to keep the meatballs together.
- Almond flour: A gluten-free alternative to breadcrumbs that adds texture.
- Curry powder: Gives the meatballs warm, aromatic spice.
- Garlic powder: Adds a hint of savory flavor.
- Salt and Pepper: Enhances the flavor of the meatballs.
- Red curry paste: Infuses authentic Thai flavor into the meatballs.
- Chopped cilantro: Adds a bright freshness to the meatballs as a garnish.
- Optional toppings: Crushed peanuts and a sweet crunch and lime wedges add a tangy freshness.
Thai Curry Sauce Ingredients
For the Curry Sauce, you’ll need to grab:
- Thinly sliced onions: Provides a savory base for the sauce.
- Thinly sliced bell peppers: Adds sweetness and vibrant color.
- Shredded carrots: Gives the sauce a slight crunch and natural sweetness.
- Minced fresh ginger: Adds zing and warmth to the dish.
- Minced garlic: Provides a rich, savory flavor.
- Full-fat coconut milk: Creates a creamy and luscious sauce.
- Red curry paste: Packs the sauce full of bold Thai flavor.
- Salt and pepper: Balances the flavors of the sauce.
Substitutions and Variations
Ground Turkey Alternatives: Swap for ground chicken or ground pork for a different flavor.
Coconut Milk: Use light coconut milk for a less rich sauce, or substitute with coconut cream for an extra creamy sauce.
Curry Paste: Adjust the amount of red curry paste to control spice levels, or try yellow curry paste for a milder flavor.
How to Make Thai Turkey Meatballs
These Thai meatballs are pretty easy to throw together! Here’s how to do it, step-by-step.
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, mix the ground turkey, egg, almond flour, curry powder, garlic powder, pepper, salt, and red curry paste until well combined. Scoop the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet to form meatballs, spacing them evenly. Bake for 10 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165ºF.
While the meatballs bake, prepare the curry sauce:
Heat a large pan over medium heat and sauté the onions, bell peppers, and carrots until softened. Add the ginger and garlic, cooking until fragrant. Stir in the red curry paste and cook for 1 minute.
Pour in the coconut milk, shaking the can beforehand to combine the fat and liquid. Add salt and pepper. Simmer the sauce for a few minutes to thicken. Add the baked meatballs to the sauce and toss to coat.
Serve the meatballs and sauce over jasmine rice, garnished with cilantro, crushed peanuts, and lime wedges if desired.
Storage Instructions
To store: Cool leftover meatballs completely, then refrigerate in an airtight container with sauce for up to 3 days.
For longer storage: Freeze in an air-tight, freezer-safe bag or container for up to 2 months. Don’t forget to write the date on the bag or a piece of tape on the container!
What to Serve with Thai Turkey Meatballs
I’d recommend serving these meatballs with some cooked rice. Jasmine or basmati rice are excellent choices, or you can keep it low-carb with coconut cauliflower rice. I also like to add fresh, chopped cilantro, finely-chopped peanuts and lime wedges for a little extra zing.
You could also pair these meatballs with rice noodles or even air fryer zucchini. Steamed broccoli or a simple cucumber salad make great vegetable sides, while warm naan or flatbread can be used to scoop up every bit of the coconut curry sauce.
Tips for Success
This incredible Thai fakeout recipe is a fantastic easy dinner. To make it extra successful, here are a few solid tips:
- Be sure to shake the coconut milk can really well before opening it to make sure that the fat and liquid combine.
- Use a cookie scoop for evenly sized meatballs. Try to keep them around 1-2 inches in diameter so that they all cook evenly. You can also roll them in your hands to make them smooth and even. But it doesn’t really matter!
- Don’t skip letting the curry paste cook for a minute to enhance its flavor!
- Use a meat thermometer placed into the thickest part of a meatball to make sure it reaches 165 degrees before placing the meatballs in the sauce.
FAQ
You can substitute it with gluten-free breadcrumbs or oat flour.
Yes, cooked meatballs freeze well. Store in an airtight container for up to two months.
Over-mixing meatballs can make them tough. Be sure to mix your meatball mixture just until all of the ingredients are thoroughly mixed together.
You meatballs should not fall apart if you use a binder and shape them well. In this recipe, the almond flour works alongside the egg to bind the turkey so that the meatballs hold their shapes. They also retain moisture, keeping the meatballs soft and tender.
More Delicious Meatball Recipes
- Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
- Mediterranean Lamb Meatballs
- Easy Orange Chicken Meatballs
- Instant Pot Swedish Meatballs
Thai Turkey Meatballs
Equipment
Ingredients
Thai Turkey Meatballs
- 2 lbs ground turkey
- 1/2 cup almond flour
- 1 tablespoon curry powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons pepper
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons red curry paste
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
Thai Curry Sauce
- ½ cup onion sliced thin
- ½ cup bell peppers sliced thin
- ½ cup carrots cut into small pieces or shredded
- 1 teaspoon minced ginger
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 14 ounces full fat coconut milk
- 2 teaspoons red curry paste
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Prepare a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
- In a large bowl, mix tigether ground turkey, almond flour, curry powder, garlic powder, pepper, salt, red curry paste and dried basil.
- With a cookie scoop, spoon onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes or until 165°F (74°C).
- While baking, make the curry sauce. Sauté onions, peppers and carrots until softened. Add ginger and garlic and sauté until fragrant.
- Add curry paste and let cook for 1 minute or so before adding the coconut milk. Shake the can before pouring it in to combine the fat and liquid parts.
- Add salt and pepper then let simmer for a few minutes to thicken. Once the meatballs are cooked through, add them to the pan and toss to coat meatballs with sauce.
- Serve over rice and garnish with cilantro, crushed peanuts and lime wedges if desired.
