Ground beef curry is a popular Indian dish called Keema curry that is usually a thick gravy made with onions, tomatoes, curry powder, and coconut milk. It needs only 30 minutes and can be served over basmati rice, chapati, or naan.

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Ground beef is my kids' favorite kind of curry. It is a very popular dish and I often make it with peas and diced carrots too. This recipe is very versatile. For example, you can reduce the liquid in the recipe and use the ground beef mixture to fill in samosas as well as potato patties.
Why make this curry?
- If you're looking for the easiest curry that's also quick to make, then this is it. It takes only 20 minutes to cook.
- It uses easy-to-find spices like curry powder and garam masala and a tomato paste and coconut milk gravy. It absorbs all those wonderful flavors. As a result, it has a rich, creamy, and delicious sauce.
- Today, am serving it with Indian flatbreads like chapati and roti. But, you can also use basmati rice, naan bread, turmeric rice, pilaf, vegetable. And when I'm looking for a low-carb option, I eat cauliflower rice. My cauliflower rice works great for me in place of steamed rice.

Ingredients and substitutes
- Beef - Ideally, you can use any minced meat or ground meat. I have tried it with beef, turkey, lamb, and chicken. They all taste delicious, but my favorite is still the beef. And if you use chicken, I highly recommend using the ground chicken thigh and reducing the cooking time.
- Onion - You can use brown or white onions. Make sure to let them sweat and cook down. The sweetness it adds when caramelized makes a big difference.
- Ginger/garlic - Always use fresh ginger and garlic cloves for Indian cooking. I recommend mincing or grating these as it really blends well in the sauce.
- Spices – I used my homemade curry powder as well as garam masala. These are made with simple spice powders like cayenne pepper, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, cardamom, etc. They both can be easily found in most supermarkets these days.
- Fresh herbs - I like using cilantro in Indian cooking. But you can also use a combination of parsley and mint.
- Optional ingredients -
- Yogurt - I am using coconut milk, but you can also use 2 tablespoon of plain yoghurt or sour cream at the end of cooking.
- Veggies - You can also add dices carrots and potatoes to the curry along with the green peas.
- Beef stock - I used water to make this curry, but you can also use chicken or beef stock.

Ground beef curry recipe - Keema curry
- In a saute pan or cast-iron skillet, saute onion in the oil over medium heat for two minutes until translucent. Then, add the ground beef and stir on medium high heat until its no longer pink.
Pro tip - Cooking the onions on medium-low lets them sweat and lightly caramelize. Browning the beef adds a nice caramelization.

- Next, add the ginger and garlic. Saute for 2 minutes. Then, add the tomato paste, curry powder, cayenne, and garam masala. Saute well for 2 to 3 mins on low heat until fragrant.
Pro tip - Saute these ingredients until a nice aroma comes from the spices.

- Then, add the coconut milk and chicken stock. Season with salt, pepper, and add the chopped cilantro or parsley and lemon juice. Bring to a boil.
Pro tip - Adding water to the ground beef will prevent lumps during cooking.

- Once the mixture comes to a boil, lower the heat and cover the pot with a lid. Simmer on medium-low heat for 15 minutes.
Pro tip - When cooked, you will see the oil from the recipe float to the top of the curry. - Taste and adjust seasoning and consistency.
Pro tip - If you are serving chicken curry with rice, you may want to have some gravy. So, add a little water and bring to a boil. And if you're serving mince curry with chapati, a thicker consistency is preferable. - Sprinkle with more chopped cilantro before you serve.

Tips for success
- The recipe is very simple and very easy but please do follow the steps properly.
- The secret to cooking Indian food is to cook the spices well at every stage. Don't make haste.
- Saute the onions until they are translucent, and let the ginger and garlic become fragrant.
- Also, let the tomatoes become soft, so they disappear in the sauce.
- Cook the spices until they are fragrant.
- If you just add ingredients quickly to the pan and cook, you will have a curry with color, it will even taste good, but you will lack that depth of flavor that the process builds at every stage in the cooking process.

More Indian recipes
- Slow Cooked Beef Curry
- Butter Chicken
- Indian Lamb Curry
- Slow Cooker Indian Chicken Curry or Slow Cooker Lamb Curry
- Quick Chicken Curry - just 6 ingredients
- Lentil Chicken Curry, Kidney Bean Coconut Curry
- Easy Prawn Curry or Easiest Fish Curry
- Meatball Kofta Curry, Beef Mince Curry with Peas
- Instant Pot Lamb Curry or Instant Pot Chicken Curry
- See all Indian recipes
Frequently asked questions
This curry will keep in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. You can even store it in a freezer bag in the freezer for up to a month.
Absolutely, you can use ground lamb, chicken, turkey, or a combination of beef and pork or lamb and pork too.
Not really! I like to use curry powder, garam masala, and paprika for color. But, you can also use cayenne or hot paprika to add a little more heat.
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Ground Beef Curry
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Conversions Used
1 lb = 453 grams, 1 cup = 240 ml, 1 stick = 113g, 1 tbsp= 15 ml, 1 tsp= 5 ml,
Ingredients
- 1 lb (500 g) Ground Beef
- 2 tablespoon Cooking oil
- 1 Onion (chopped)
- 1 tablespoon Garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon Ginger (grated)
- 2 tablespoon Tomatoes paste
- 2 tablespoon Curry powder
- 1 teaspoon Cayenne or sweet paprika (2 teaspoon to make it spicy)
- 1 teaspoon Garam masala
- ½ cup Coconut milk (or ¼ cup coconut cream)
- 1 cup Broth or stock (chicken or beef )
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Black pepper
- 2 tablespoon Lemon juice
- 1 cup Cilantro or parsley (chopped)
Instructions
- In a saute pan or cast-iron skillet, saute onion in the oil over medium heat for two minutes until translucent. Then, add the ground beef and stir on medium high heat until its no longer pink.Pro tip - Cook the onions on medium-low letting them sweat and lightly caramelize. Browning the beef adds a nice caramelization.
- Add the ginger and garlic. Saute for 2 minutes. Then, add the tomato paste, curry powder, cayenne, and garam masala. Saute well for 2 to 3 mins on low until fragrant. Pro tip - Saute these ingredients until a nice aroma comes from the spices.
- Next, add the coconut milk and chicken stock. Season with salt, pepper, and add the chopped cilantro or parsley and lemon juice. Bring to a boil. Pro tip - Adding water to the ground beef will prevent lumps during cooking.
- Once the mixture comes to a boil, lower the heat and cover the pot with a lid. Simmer on medium-low heat for 15 minutes. Pro tip - When cooked, you will see the oil from the recipe float to the top of the curry.
- Taste and adjust seasoning and consistency.Pro tip - If you are serving chicken curry with rice, you may want to have some gravy. So, add a little water and bring to a boil. And if you're serving mince curry with chapati a thicker consistency is preferable.
- Sprinkle with more chopped cilantro before you serve.
Recipe Notes & Tips
- The recipe is very simple and very easy but please do follow the steps properly.
- The secret to cooking Indian food is to cook the spices well at every stage. Don't make haste.
- Saute the onions until they are translucent, let ginger and garlic go fragrant.
- Let the tomatoes become soft, so they disappear in the sauce.
- Cook the spices until they are fragrant.
- If you just add ingredients quickly to the pan and cook you will have a curry with color, it will even taste good, but you will lack that depth of flavor that the process builds at every stage in the cooking process.
Nutrition Information
The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you
Candy
Delicious. will make again and again. Thank you
Teri Z
I followed instructions to the 'T' and it left me wanting more. So darn delicious, I've made it several times since first discovering this recipe. I love the aroma of the garlic and spices. Every layer smells better than the last.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you so much Teri for the lovely feedback.
Janet Osborn
Excellent recipe Followed exactly as your tips instructed I'm saying...PERFECTION!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Janet.