Tikka Masala with Spiced Meatballs

Tikka Masala with Spiced Meatballs

You’ve probably had Tikka Masala, but have you had Tikka Masala with Spiced Meatballs? You can’t go wrong with warm Indian-Spiced meatballs drowned in a rich and creamy tomato sauce. Notes of cumin, cinnamon, and ginger.

It’s a total game changer.

Pair them with some couscous or rice & crispy toasted naan and you’ll be in absolute heaven.

Did I mention this dish is super easy to make and can be done in under an hour? Which makes it perfect for a weeknight dinner. Mark this one down as a winner, winner…..Tikka Masala Meatball Dinner.

Ingredients- Must Love Garlic

Tikka Masala Spiced Meatballs Ingredients:

  • Ground Meat– Which type of meat should you use? I like to use ground pork. It works great for meatballs and has a wonderful flavor on it’s own. Ground beef and ground chicken can also be used. If using ground beef, go for an 80/20 blend-the fat helps keep the meatballs moist in the oven. If using ground chicken, take note that it tends to dry out easily. Add a bit of whole milk to your mixture to add a bit of moisture back.
  • Minced Shallot– shallots are very similar to onion, but have a milder sweetness and less of a bite. They add a bit of sharpness without being overwhelming.
  • Panko Breadcrumbs– breadcrumbs works as a binder in meatballs, so they keep their shape when exposed to heat (and when stabbed with a fork). Either store bought or homemade breadcrumbs work here. To make homemade breadcrumbs, use either stale bread or dry bread out in oven at 300F for 30 minutes. Add dried bread to a food processor with a bit of garlic powder & Italian seasoning and blend.
  • Egg– also used as a binder.
  • Spices– for spices we will be using a blend of Indian flavors: ground ginger, ground cumin, cinnamon, salt & pepper.

Tikka Masala Sauce Ingredients:

  • Butter– either salted or unsalted.
  • Garlic– fresh finely minced cloves work the best.
  • Tomato Sauce– the canned variety. Tomato sauce is essentially a puree of cooked down tomatoes and can generally be found in the canned vegetable section of the grocery store.
  • Cream- for this recipe I used heavy cream but yogurt and half and half can also be used. Half and half is a 50/50 mixture of milk and cream, it has less calories and fat bit is still delicious and creamy.
  • Spices– ground cumin, smoked paprika, and salt

Serving Suggestions:

  • Cilantro– for garnish. Cilantro really compliments the flavors of Indian spices. If cilantro isn’t your thing, parsley works well too.
  • Naan– essential for mopping up all of the delicious sauce.
  • Couscous or Rice– I personally prefer couscous. It’s quick, it’s easy, and has a wonderful texture. To cook couscous, just bring 1 & 1/4 cup water or broth with 1 tbsp of butter to a boil. Add 1 cup of dry couscous to pot, cover with lid, remove from heat, and let sit undisturbed for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and serve.
Tikka Masala- Must Love Garlic

How to Make Tikka Masala Spiced Meatballs:

  • Preheat oven to 400 F. Add ground meat ( I used ground pork but beef and chicken would also work. Check ingredient notes for more information), minced shallot, breadcrumbs, egg, and ground ginger, ground cumin, cinnamon, salt & pepper to a mixing bowl.
  • Mix by hand until very well combined. Scoop out about 1 1/2 tbsp of ground meat mixture and roll in between hands to form a ball. Place meatball on a lightly oiled baking sheet.
  • Repeat this process until you’ve formed about 18-22 meatballs. Place meatballs on a baking sheet leaving about an inch between each. Bake at 400F for 14-16 mins until internal temperatures reach 165F.
Tikka Masala- Must Love Garlic

How to Make Tikka Masala Sauce:

  • Meanwhile, while the meatballs are baking start making the sauce. In a large frying pan, melt butter completely over medium heat. Add fresh finely minced garlic & sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Add ground cumin, smoked paprika, and salt. Stir to fully combine.
  • Pour in canned tomato sauce & heavy cream and whisk until smooth. Simmer sauce, stirring frequently, for 20 minutes until thickened slightly. Once sauce has simmered, carefully add in meatballs. Toss them in sauce and allow to simmer another few minutes.

Plate and Serve:

  • Serve Tikka Masala with Spiced Meatballs over a bed of couscous or rice and garnish with a bit of finely chopped cilantro. Serve with toasted naan to mop up all of the sauce.
Tikka Masala- Must Love Garlic

More Beef & Pork Recipes You Will Love:

If you try this recipe, please leave a star rating and review in the recipe card below! I always appreciate your feedback. Follow me on Instagram and Pinterest for more garlic goodness and travel inspiration!

Close up Tikka Masala and Indian Spiced Meatballs with naan and couscous in a white bowl.

Tikka Masala with Indian Spiced Meatballs

You can’t go wrong with spiced meatballs drowned in a rich and creamy tomato sauce. Serve with couscous or rice and toasted naan.
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Indian
Servings 4 (4-5 large meatballs each)

Equipment

  • Mixing Bowl
  • Baking Sheet
  • Large Frying Pan
  • Gloves (Optional)

Ingredients
  

For Meatballs:

  • 1 lb ground meat I like ground pork. See ingredient notes for other options.
  • 1 large shallot minced
  • 1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper

For Sauce:

  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 2 tbsp minced garlic
  • 4 tsp ground cumin
  • 4 tsp paprika
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 16 oz tomato sauce
  • 2 cups cream

For Serving:

  • Cilantro for garnish
  • Couscous or Rice
  • Naan

Instructions
 

For Meatballs:

  • Preheat oven to 400 F. Add ground meat ( I used ground pork but beef and chicken would also work. Check ingredient notes for more information), minced shallot, breadcrumbs, egg, and ground ginger, ground cumin, cinnamon, salt & pepper to a mixing bowl. Mix by hand until very well combined. Scoop out about 1 1/2 tbsp of ground meat mixture and roll in between hands to form a ball. Place meatball on a lightly oiled baking sheet. Repeat this process until you’ve formed about 18-22 meatballs. Place meatballs on a baking sheet leaving about an inch between each. Bake at 400F for 14-16 mins until internal temperatures reach 165F.

For Sauce:

  • Meanwhile, while the meatballs are baking start making the sauce. In a large frying pan, melt butter completely over medium heat. Add fresh finely minced garlic & sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Add ground cumin, smoked paprika, and salt. Stir to fully combine. Pour in canned tomato sauce & heavy cream and whisk until smooth. Simmer sauce, stirring frequently, for 20 minutes until thickened slightly. Once sauce has simmered, carefully add in meatballs. Toss them in sauce and allow to simmer another few minutes.

To Serve:

  • Serve Tikka Masala with Spiced Meatballs over a bed of couscous or rice and garnish with a bit of finely chopped cilantro. Serve with toasted naan to mop up all of the sauce.
Keyword couscous, curry, dinner, easy, meatballs, naan, tikka masala
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!


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