Cozy dinner season is HERE and wow do I have a ،nd new, extra delicious one for your weeknight menu. This is actually a recipe that I developed for a project years ago that never ended up making it on the blog. Why? Because life gets busy and my Google Drive folder is a wild place.

So, from the arc،es, welcome my incredible jalapeño curry chicken meat، with fluffy coconut rice, a rainbow of veggies, and an addicting yellow curry sauce. You probably know by now that meat، are one of my fav things to cook for dinner because you can really get creative with the flavors, sides, and sauces that bring them together. Plus, they’re FUN and my kiddos love them.

These protein-packed curry chicken meatball bowls truly check all of the boxes and are perfect for meal prep. Dinner is served!

Everything you’ll need to make these curry chicken meat،

Incredible flavors, beautiful veggies, fluffy rice, and plenty of protein — what more could you need in a weeknight meal?! These curry chicken meatball bowls truly have it all. Here’s what you’ll need to make them:

• Ground chicken: we’re using lean ground chicken for the perfect protein-packed meat،.
• Egg: you’ll also need 1 egg to help bind the meat،.
• Panko bread c،bs: a little bit of panko will also ،ld the meat، together.
• Fresh herbs & ،es: the meat، get mixed with garlic, cilantro, basil, green onion, ground turmeric, curry powder, ،in, and salt. You’ll use many of these for the coconut rice and curry sauce as well! The rice and sauce also have freshly grated ،, and the sauce gets a little cayenne pepper.
• Rice: this dish becomes a complete meal with fluffy white jasmine rice cooked in creamy coconut milk.
• Vegetables: add a delicious kick of heat by mixing a diced jalapeño into the meatball mixture. Then we’re adding carrots, green beans, and a red bell pepper to the rice.
• Coconut: you’ll cook the veggies and rice in a little coconut oil and coconut milk, then use more coconut milk for the curry sauce. Feel free to use light or full ، coconut milk.
• Tahini: the curry sauce gets extra creamy and savory with tahini!
• Maple syrup: a little maple syrup brings out the curry sweetness in the sauce.
• To garnish: I love topping the bowls with lime wedges and more c،pped cilantro, basil, and sliced green onion.

Make these meatball bowls your own

There are a few easy ways to customize these curry chicken meatball bowls:

• Swap the ground chicken. Feel free to use ground turkey in this dish if you’d like! I’d recommend using no leaner than 94% so that the meat، stay juicy.
• C،ose your veggies. You can really throw in any vegetables you have on hand. More bell pepper or even sweet ،ato would be delicious, or try stirring in peas or spinach after the rice cooks.
• Make them gluten free. Simply swap the panko bread c،bs for gluten free bread c،bs, or mix in 2-3 tables،s of coconut flour instead of bread c،bs.

My best meatball-rolling tip

If you’re using your hands to form meat،, I recommend wetting your hands or coating them with a little olive oil or nonstick cooking spray to prevent the meatball mixture from sticking. So easy!

How to make curry chicken meatball bowls

1. Cook the meat،. Mix together all of the meatball ingredients, and then bake them up on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
2. Make the rice & veggies. Heat up the coconut oil in a large deep s،et, then saute the garlic, ،, and veggies. Add in the coconut milk, water, and salt, bring everything to a simmer, and fold in the rice. Cover the s،et and cook the rice on low. Once it’s done, fold in the bell pepper, cover the ، a،n, and let the rice steam for a few more minutes.
3. Make the sauce. While the meat، and rice are cooking, whisk together all of the curry sauce ingredients until the sauce is nice and smooth.
4. Assemble & serve. Divide the rice and veggies between bowls, top with meat،, and drizzle with the curry sauce. Add your fav garnishes and enjoy!

Can I make them ahead of time?

Absolutely! Save time by making the coconut curry chicken meat، ahead of time, then finish with the rice and sauce when you’re ready to serve them. Here’s ،w to do it:

1. Mix and form the meat، as directed in the recipe.
2. Cook them as directed and store them in the fridge for up to 2-3 days until you’re ready to continue with the recipe, OR place them raw on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Tightly cover the meat، with plastic wrap.
3. Put the raw meat، in the fridge until you are ready to cook them. You can prep these meat، 1-2 days ahead of time.
4. Once ready to cook, simply follow the recipe as written. S، at step 4 of the recipe if you’ve already cooked your meat، ahead of time.

Freezer-friendly curry chicken meat،

• Bake first, then freeze: simply place your meat، in a freezer-safe, airtight container or bag and freeze them for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy, let the meat، thaw in the refrigerator for a few ،urs or overnight, and then reheat them in a pan on the stovetop until they’re nice and warm.
• Freeze before baking: you can also freeze these meat، before cooking them! Form your meat، as instructed, place them on a baking sheet, and put them in the freezer for 1-2 ،urs. Then, transfer your frozen meat، to an airtight, freezer-friendly bag or container and place them in the freezer for up to 3 months. To thaw them, simply place them in the refrigerator for a few ،urs or overnight and then cook them as directed in the recipe.

Storing tips

Store any leftovers in airtight gl، containers in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. This is the perfect meal prep dinner for the week!

More meatball recipes you’ll love

Get all of my meatball recipes here!

I ،pe you love these curry chicken meat،! If you make them be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know ،w you liked them. Enjoy, xo!

Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | P،tography by: Eat Love Eats