Coconut Curry Meatballs | Makhani Sauce
Coconut Curry Meatballs in Makhani Sauce are comforting and full of warm Indian-inspired spices. Juicy baked meatballs simmer in a creamy tomato-coconut Makhani sauce inspired by butter chicken, making this an easy, flavorful dish perfect for cozy dinners or sharing.
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This recipe was born out of a delicious little craving. I was in the mood for a rich, comforting butter chicken… but I wanted it in meatball form. After searching everywhere and finding only chicken or turkey meatball versions (which, let’s be honest, can be a bit bland), I decided to do what I love most in the kitchen: improvise.
So I took two of my favorite comfort-food classics and blended them into one irresistible dish: Tender, juicy meatballs simmered in a velvety, spiced butter chicken sauce. The result is deeply flavorful, gently spicy, and incredibly cozy. It’s the kind of meal that fills the kitchen with amazing aromas and has everyone going back for seconds… which is always the best compliment a recipe can get.
Looking for some inspiration?… For more Indian Inspired Recipes, click HERE! ; for more Curry Recipes, click HERE! ; for more Recipes with Coconut, click HERE! and for more Recipes with Rice, click HERE!
~Recipe made in January 2026~
Coconut Curry Meatballs | Makhani Sauce
Ingredients
MEATBALLS (MAKES 48)
- 4 oz (115 g) bread crumbs (Panko)
- 3 oz (85 g) milk
- 1 Lb (453 g) ground beef
- 1 Lb (453 g) ground porc
- 4 garlic cloves (Minced)
- 2 Shallots
- 2 eggs (Large)
- 3.53 oz (100 g) parmesan cheese (Grated)
- 1 oz (28.35 g) Italian parsley (A handful | Chopped)
- 1 oz (28.35 g) Fresh Basil (A handful | Chopped)
- 2 tsp (12 g) Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp (2 g) Greek oregano
- 1/4 tsp (0.5 g) red chili flakes
- Salt, Pepper (To taste)
CURRY MARINADE
- 5.30 oz (150 g) Greek Yogurt
- 1 Tbsp (7 g) fresh ginger (Grated)
- 4 Garlic Cloves (Minced)
- 2 tsp (5 g) garam masala
- 1 tsp (2 g) ground turmeric
- 1 tsp (2 g) chili powder
- 1/4 tsp (6 g) sea salt
PUMPKIN MAKHANI SAUCE
- 2 Tbsp (30 g) Ghee (I used Coconut Oil)
- 4 shallots (Chopped)
- 1 1/2 Tbsp (10.5 g) fresh ginger (Grated)
- 4 Garlic Cloves (Minced)
- 2 Tbsp (32 g) tomato paste
- 1 Tbsp (6 g) garam masala
- 2 tsp (4 g) curry powder
- 1 tsp (2 g) ground coriander
- 1 tsp (2 g) Ground Cumin
- 1/4 tsp (1.5 g) sea salt
- 14 oz (397 g) coconut milk (1 can)
- 8.54 oz (242 g) pumpkin purée
- 1 Tbsp (12 g) light brown sugar
- 12 oz (340 g) frozen peas
Instructions
MEATBALLS PREPARATION
- Prepare a 9×13-inch | 23×33 cm rectangular dish like you would usually do and set aside. NOTE: For this recipe, I used my rectangular baking dish from bonCOOK placed on top of a medium perforated baking sheet. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, stir the bread crumbs together with the milk until combined. Let it soak for 10 minutes.4 oz bread crumbs, 3 oz milk
- When ready, add the ground beef, ground pork, garlic, shallots, eggs, Parmesan cheese, Italian parsley, fresh basil, and Worcestershire sauce. Sprinkle the Greek oregano, red chili flakes and season with salt & pepper evenly on top. Use your hands to mix the ingredients until combined. NOTE: You can rub your hands with a little bit of olive oil to prevent sticking or use food grade gloves like me 🙂Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.1 Lb ground beef, 1 Lb ground porc, 4 garlic cloves, 2 Shallots, 2 eggs, 3.53 oz parmesan cheese, 1 oz Italian parsley, 1 oz Fresh Basil, 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp Greek oregano, 1/4 tsp red chili flakes, Salt, Pepper
- Take your preparation out of the refrigerator.Using a spoon, scoop and roll the mixture into 1-tablespoon balls and place them directly inside your prepared baking dish.Refrigerate while preparing the marinade.
CURRY MARINADE PREPARATION
- To a mixing bowl, add the Greek yogurt, grated ginger, minced garlic, garam masala, ground turmeric, chili powder and sea salt. Mix together until combined.5.30 oz Greek Yogurt, 1 Tbsp fresh ginger, 4 Garlic Cloves, 2 tsp garam masala, 1 tsp ground turmeric, 1 tsp chili powder, 1/4 tsp sea salt
- Generously brush each meatballs with the marinade. If any left overs, just pour it on top.Cover with a plastic wrap and return to the fridge.NOTE: I like to prepare the marinade a few hours prior cooking to get more flavors. You can keep the meatballs refrigerated up to 24 hours.
BAKE!
- Preheat oven at 425℉/220℃. Take your meatballs out of the refrigerator while the oven is warming up. Remove the plastic wrap.
- Bake for 12 minutes at 425℉/220℃. Every oven heats differently and all meatballs are not of equal size. Set aside while preparing the Makhani Sauce.NOTE: If using a thermometer, the temperature in the center of each meatball should be about 160℉/72℃.
PUMPKIN MAKHANI SAUCE PREPARATION
- In a large frying pan, heat the ghee (here I used coconut oil) over medium heat. When hot, add the chopped shallots and minced garlic. Sauté until soft, about 3-5 minutes.2 Tbsp Ghee, 4 shallots, 4 Garlic Cloves
- Add the grated ginger, tomato paste, garam masala, curry powder, ground coriander, ground cumin and sea salt. Sauté until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.1 1/2 Tbsp fresh ginger, 2 Tbsp tomato paste, 1 Tbsp garam masala, 2 tsp curry powder, 1 tsp ground coriander, 1 tsp Ground Cumin, 1/4 tsp sea salt
- Add the coconut milk, pumpkin purée and the light brown sugar to your pan. Stir until the sauce for 1 minute.Add the frozen peas stir until the sauce is slightly thick, about 2-3 minutes.OPTION 1:Add the baked meatballs to the pan, stir and let the curry simmer on medium low for about 10 minutes. OPTION 2:Let the curry simmer on medium low for about 10 minutes. You will serve the meatballs on top of the sauce.14 oz coconut milk, 8.54 oz pumpkin purée, 1 Tbsp light brown sugar, 12 oz frozen peas
- Once your Coconut Curry Meatballs | Makhani Sauce is ready, taste and season to taste. Top with fresh herbs and serve with rice. Enjoy & Bon Appétit!
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For this recipe, I combined both of my favorite recipes: 1. Pumpkin Butter Chicken Curry | Murgh Makhani and 2. Spooky Mummy Meatballs. If you have not tried any of these recipes, you are in for a treat! ~Nessa
Ces boulettes de viande au curry en sauce Makhani sont parfumées, fondantes et pleines de saveurs. Mijotées dans une sauce tomate-coco inspirée du butter chicken, elles offrent un plat facile et réconfortant, parfait pour un dîner gourmand.
Avec cette recette, je participe au Rendez-vous culinaire du Dimanche des Marmitonnes organisé par Isabelle du blog Une Ribambelle d’histoires.
Tous les 2ème Dimanche du mois, Les Gourmandises Voyagent en Inde avec Les Étapes Indiennes de Hilde du blog Livroblog. Le thème ce mois-ci est “Qui réchauffe ! #chaud #épicé #réconfortant”.

