Asian Meatballs with Peanut Coconut Sauce

Name: Asian Meatballs with Peanut Coconut Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 ½ pounds extra lean ground beef; ¼ cup quick oats ((can also sub in regular or gluten-free bread crumbs)); 1 teaspoon sesame oil; 1 egg; 1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce; 2 garlic cloves (minced); 3 tablespoons finely minced green onion; 2 tablespoons finely minced fresh parsley; 1 teaspoon grated gingerroot; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper; ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes; 2 cups full-fat canned coconut milk; 1/4 cup natural peanut butter; 1 tablespoon sesame oil; 2 tablespoons honey; 1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce; 1/4 cup finely minced fresh parsley; 2 tablespoons grated gingerroot; 2 teaspoons grated lime zest

These Asian beef meatballs are served with a flavourful Thai peanut coconut sauce that tastes great served over rice, rice noodles or zucchini noodles! Super easy and delicious, this meal is ready to serve in just 30 minutes! {Gluten-free and dairy-free}

Close up of meatballs and rice in a bowl.

Meatballs have always been a family favourite, and this Asian meatball recipe with peanut coconut sauce is one of our top ways to serve them up! The beef meatballs are infused with so much flavour and the Thai peanut butter sauce? To die for!

The sauce is perfectly thick and creamy with just the right amount of sweet and spicy flavours that you’ll totally want to lick the bowl. I highly recommend serving the meatballs and peanut sauce over rice, rice noodles or zucchini noodles to soak up all of that delicious sauce!

Made from scratch, this Thai-inspired dinner is a great healthy alternative to your usual takeout, and it’s so quick and easy to make!

This is one delicious family-friendly meal that everyone will love! Be sure to try my Korean Ground Beef and Thai Peanut Chicken Recipe too!

Asian meatballs and sauce in a skillet with a spoon.

Why we love this recipe

Quick: Ready to serve in just 30 minutes, this is a great option for a quick and tasty weeknight meal. It’s so good, you’ll totally want to add it to your regular menu rotation!
Make ahead: You can easily make this dinner ahead of time and reheat it. It’s freezer-friendly too, so it’s great for meal prep.
Healthy: Packed with protein (with 29 grams per serving) and lower in sodium than your traditional takeout, this meal is way healthier (and cheaper!) than ordering in.

Ingredient notes

Ingredients to make the asian meatballs recipe with labels

For the Asian beef meatballs:

Beef: Use extra lean ground beef for the leanest option. You can also sub in extra lean ground chicken, turkey or pork.
Oats: Quick oats are used to soak up some of the excess moisture and help hold the meatballs together. You can also use regular or gluten-free breadcrumbs or almond flour.
Sesame oil: This adds moisture to the meatballs and gives the meatballs and sauce a slightly nutty taste. Use regular or toasted sesame oil.
Egg: To bind the ingredients together.
Garlic and green onion: Finely minced to add flavour to the meatballs.
Parsley: To add freshness to the meatballs. You can also use cilantro.
Ginger: Ginger is a key ingredient in Thai cooking and adds a delicious warming flavour. Use freshly grated ginger root rather than ground for the best flavour.
Seasonings: Salt, pepper and red pepper flakes add flavour and a slight kick of spice. Add more red pepper flakes if you want to increase the heat.

For the Thai Peanut Sauce:

Coconut milk: Use full-fat canned coconut milk for a thicker, more creamy sauce. You can also use light, but the sauce won’t be as rich and creamy.
Peanut butter: Use natural peanut butter with no added salt or sugar. Ideally, “peanuts” should be the only ingredient on the ingredients list.
Honey: Adds a slight sweetness to the sauce.
Soy sauce: Use a reduced sodium soy sauce to lower sodium content. You can also sub in Tamari sauce or coconut aminos.

Step by step instructions

How to make meatballs

raw ingredients for the meatballs in a glass bowl.

The meatball ingredients mixed together in a glass bowl with a spoon

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or spray with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
To make meatballs, mix together all meatball ingredients in a large bowl until combined. Form mixture into approximately 24 meatballs, about 1.5 inches in size. Place on prepared pan.
Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until the meatballs are cooked through and nicely browned on the outside.

How to make peanut sauce

Baked Asian meatballs added to the peanut coconut sauce.

While meatballs are cooking, prepare sauce. In a deep, non-stick skillet, whisk together all sauce ingredients. Heat over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until sauce boils. Reduce heat to medium and cook uncovered for about 3 minutes, stirring often. Sauce will thicken a bit.
Add cooked meatballs to sauce and toss to coat or serve it as a dip with meatballs.
Serve warm over zucchini noodles, rice noodles or rice and top with extra sauce. Garnish with additional minced green onion and a sprinkle of sesame seeds, if desired.

Recipe Notes:

Be sure to chop the parsley and green onion very finely so that there aren’t large pieces in the meatballs. We want them to be evenly distributed so there’s equal amounts of flavour in each bite.

Don’t over mix the meatball mixture or it may result in tough meatballs. Instead, mix ingredients until just combined.

Once the meatballs are done baking, I recommend dabbing off the excess grease on some paper towel before adding to the peanut sauce.

If you wish to save time, make up a batch of the sauce in advance and add the meatballs and reheat just before serving.

Overhead shot of Asian meatballs with peanut sauce in a bowl with rice and a fork.

Recipe FAQs

How to store

You can store the meatballs and sauce in the fridge covered for up to four days. Let them cool fully before storing.

Can you freeze the meatballs and peanut sauce?

Yes! You can freeze the meatballs and sauce either together or separately. Let them both cool before placing in a freezer safe bag or container. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

How to reheat

You can reheat the meatballs and peanut sauce in a skillet over medium low heat, stirring occasionally until heated through. Don’t reheat over too high of a setting or the sauce may start to boil, thicken and stick to the sides of the pan.

What are Asian meatballs made of?

These meatballs are made with ground beef and classic Asian flavours and seasonings like ginger, chili flakes, green onion, garlic, sesame oil and soy sauce. You can also make Asian meatballs with other ground meats like chicken, turkey or pork.

What is a good binder for meatballs?

In this recipe, eggs and quick oats are used as the binders. I use quick oats to incorporate more fibre, but you can also use fine breadcrumbs. You can also replace the egg with a flax egg.

Can meatballs be healthy?

Absolutely! These meatballs are oven baked rather than shallow fried so they don’t require any cooking oil, and use extra lean ground beef to reduce calories and saturated fat.

They are a great source of protein which can leave you feeling satisfied and less likely to cave in those those cravings throughout the day. They are also low in refined carbs since oats are used as the binder, and are a gluten-free option for those who might have specific dietary requirements.

Serving suggestions

You can serve the meatballs and Thai peanut sauce over a bed of rice, cauliflower rice, rice noodles or zucchini noodles. Pair it along with some veggies like carrot ribbons, roasted broccoli or this Asian Cucumber Salad for a balanced meal!

You can even serve them up as an appetizer and use the peanut sauce as a meatball dipping sauce!

Recipe variations

Different meat: You can make these meatballs with other ground meats like chicken, turkey or pork.
Add an extra kick of heat: Make them spicier by adding in more chili flakes or some diced fresh red chilies.
Different meatball binder: The quick oats can be substituted for regular or gluten-free breadcrumbs or almond flour.
To make egg-free: Sub in a flax egg for the regular egg.

A fork picking up a meatball from the bowl of rice.

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Meatballs and coconut peanut sauce served on cooked rice with limes in background

Course Main Course