Healthy Turkey Meatballs in Curry Sauce

By Rena Awada | Updated On February 19, 2021

These healthy Turkey Meatballs in Curry Sauce are moist and juicy, then covered in a creamy red curry sauce that is bursting with an Asian flavor. Made with lean turkey, they are a low-fat and high-protein dinner, snack, or appetizer. Plus, they’re perfect for making and freezing ahead!

top view of turkey meatballs in a pan


For all the meatball lovers out there, this recipe is a fresh twist on your typical meatball. Turkey Meatballs in Curry Sauce are made with ground turkey instead of ground beef for a lean, protein-rich meal. The turkey perfectly soaks up the delicious flavors of fresh ginger, red curry paste, honey, and coconut milk to give you a tasty and filling dinner everyone will love. Serve these easy and healthy turkey meatballs as a meal or an appetizer for a party or game day.

Looking for more meatball recipes? Try these Italian Baked Turkey Meatballs or our Buffalo Chicken Meatballs.

Why you’ll love this easy meatball recipe

  • Delicious! These ground turkey meatballs are tender and juicy, and the curry sauce is perfectly creamy and packed with vibrant flavors. Every bite is better than the last!
  • Easy to make. Meatballs are pretty easy to make, plus they bake in the oven while you are making the sauce. Everything is ready at the same time for a convenient dinner.
  • Nutritious. Turkey has low-fat content but still has plenty of protein to make a filling dinner. Plus these meatballs are dairy-free and cooked alongside healthy vegetables.
close up image of turkey meatballs in a silver skillet

Ingredients you’ll need

This is just a list of ingredients you will need to make these easy and healthy Turkey Meatballs. Full measurements are listed further down below.

Ground turkey
Egg
Panko
Green onions
Garlic cloves
Fresh ginger or ginger paste
Low sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos
Red curry paste
Kosher salt
Ground black pepper
Groundnut oil
Red bell pepper
Yellow onion
Honey
Full-fat unsweetened coconut milk
Cilantro
Roasted peanuts

Ingredients for turkey meatballs and curry sauce on counter.

How to Make these healthy turkey meatballs

  • Prep: Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Combine meatball ingredients: In a large bowl, mix all the meatball ingredients, using clean hands to blend well.
  • Form meatballs: Clean your hands and wet them a bit to prevent the meat mixture from sticking. Take a spoonful of mixture and roll it between your palms to create a meatball. Repeat with the remaining mixture and arrange the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet.
  • Cook: Bake for 15 minutes, or until cooked through.
  • Make curry sauce: While meatballs are baking, heat the groundnut oil in a large pan. Saute the onions and bell pepper for 3-4 minutes, stirring often. Add in the ginger, curry paste, honey, and coconut milk.
  • Simmer the sauce: Mix well and bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat and allow the sauce to simmer for 8-10 minutes.
  • Add meatballs to sauce: As soon as the meatballs are done baking, add them to the curry sauce.
  • Garnish and serve: Season with salt and pepper to taste, then garnish with fresh cilantro and chopped peanuts.
Left side of skillet with meatballs and curry sauce.

Tips and substitutions

  • Ground turkey: We prefer using 93% lean turkey for this recipe.
  • Panko: You can also use gluten-free panko breadcrumbs.
  • Ginger: Fresh ginger has the most flavor. Peel the skin off with the back of a spoon, then grate with a Microplane or grater. You can freeze the leftover and grate it from frozen next time you need ginger.
  • Soy sauce: Substitute with coconut aminos if desired.
  • Red curry paste: You can substitute it with curry powder, but the flavor may not be identical. If substituting, use 1 teaspoon in the meatballs and 1 teaspoon in the curry sauce.
  • Groundnut oil: Also called peanut oil. Substitute with sunflower oil or canola oil.
  • Don’t over-mix the meat: Mix until just combined for tender meatballs that don’t fall apart.
spoon scooping turkey meatball from pan

faqs

How do you keep turkey meatballs from falling apart?

The key to keeping your meatballs together is to keep them moist and include a good binding agent. In this recipe, the breadcrumbs and the egg help hold the meat together. Another key is to avoid over-handling the meat. Try to mix and form the meatballs with as little extra mixing as possible. 

Why are my turkey meatballs rubbery?

If the texture of your meatballs is rubbery, they are probably over-mixed or overcooked. When making the meatballs, use your hands to combine the mixture and only mix until just combined. This should keep the texture moist and tender. 

Can I freeze turkey meatballs?

Yes! Cool the meatballs completely after baking, then freeze for 2-3 months. Make the curry sauce fresh before serving, then add thawed meatballs. 

How long do I cook turkey meatballs?

These meatballs bake for about 15 minutes. To be sure they are done, check them with a meat thermometer until it reads 165 degrees. 

Spoon scooping out meatball in curry sauce garnished with cilantro and peanuts.

More turkey recipes

full top view of pan with creamy turkey meatball in curry sauce

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top view of turkey meatballs in a pan

Healthy Turkey Meatballs in Curry Sauce

These Healthy Turkey Meatballs in Curry Sauce are moist and juicy, then covered in a creamy red curry sauce that is bursting with Asian flavor. Made with lean turkey, they are a low-fat and high-protein dinner, snack, or appetizer.
4.93 from 14 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: Asian
Diet: Hindu
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 338kcal
Author: Rena

Ingredients

Meatballs

  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup panko
  • 4 green onions minced
  • 2-3 cloves garlic pressed
  • 1 1/2 tbsp grated ginger or ginger paste
  • 1 tbsp low sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos
  • 1 tbsp red curry paste
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Curry Sauce

  • 1 tbsp groundnut oil or peanut oil
  • 1 red bell pepper sliced
  • ½ yellow onion sliced
  • 1 tbsp minced ginger
  • 1 tbsp red curry paste
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 x 13.5 oz can full-fat unsweetened coconut milk
  • Cilantro for garnish chopped
  • 1/4 cup roasted peanuts chopped

Instructions

Meatballs

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Combine all meatball ingredients in a large bowl and, using your clean hands, mix well to blend.
  • Clean your hands and wet them a bit to prevent the meat mixture from sticking. Take a spoonful of mixture and roll it between your palms to create a meatball. Repeat with remaining mixture and arrange the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet.
  • Bake for 15 minutes, or until cooked through.

Curry Sauce

  • Meanwhile, in a large pan heat the groundnut oil. Saute the onions and bell pepper for 3-4 minutes, stirring often. Add in the ginger, curry paste, honey and coconut milk.
  • Mix well and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and allow the sauce to simmer for 8-10 minutes.
  • As soon as the meatballs are done baking, add them to the curry sauce.
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste and garnish with fresh cilantro and chopped peanuts.

Video

Notes

  • Ground turkey: We prefer using 93% lean turkey for this recipe. 
  • Panko: You can also use gluten-free panko breadcrumbs. 
  • Ginger: Fresh ginger has the most flavor. Peel the skin off with the back of a spoon, then grate with a Microplane or grater. You can freeze the leftover and grate it from frozen next time you need ginger.
  • Soy sauce: Substitute with coconut aminos if desired. 
  • Red curry paste: You can substitute it with curry powder, but the flavor may not be identical. If substituting, use 1 teaspoon in the meatballs and 1 teaspoon in the curry sauce. 
  • Groundnut oil: Also called peanut oil. Substitute with sunflower oil or canola oil.
  • Don’t over-mix the meat: Mix until just combined for tender meatballs that don’t fall apart.

Nutrition

Calories: 338kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 103mg | Sodium: 942mg | Potassium: 577mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 2320IU | Vitamin C: 42mg | Calcium: 71mg | Iron: 3mg
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kaitlin k says

    5 stars
    We love this recipe! We learned to double the meatballs and freeze half. So delish and a nice change of pace from our routine meals

  2. Beck & Bulow says

    5 stars
    My cousin just made these meatballs as written with one exception – he added Some shredded mozzarella and they were amazing. This is a perfect recipe. Thank you.

  3. Alli says

    4 stars
    Super tasty flavor but I found the meatballs the be a little soft. I think if I crisped them up on a hot cast iron first that would have helped add a crisp. All around great flavor and add Spinach as well!

  4. Louise-Andrée says

    5 stars
    DELICIOUS and EASY !!! My family loved it so much that it is now in our meal rotation.
    I tried it with ground chicken and it was also delicious !
    I’m always a little scared when I try a new recipe. Will the time and effort be worth it ? Will the kids love it ? Well, I can say that so far I have tried 5 recipes from you and they were all a HUGE success.

    Thank you for sharing your gift with us ! I’m a huge fan now !!!

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