Description
Thai Basil Chicken is a vibrant and flavorful stir-fry dish featuring ground chicken cooked with garlic, chilies, and fresh Thai basil leaves. This quick and easy recipe combines savory soy, oyster, and fish sauces with a touch of brown sugar for the perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and salty flavors. Served over steamed jasmine rice, it makes a satisfying and authentic Thai main course that’s perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein and Vegetables
- 1 1/2 pounds ground chicken
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 Thai chilies or 1 red chili, thinly sliced (adjust to heat preference)
- 1 small onion, sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
Sauces and Seasonings
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
Fresh Herbs and Serving
- 1/2 cup fresh Thai basil leaves (or regular basil)
- Cooked jasmine rice, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the aromatics: Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic and sliced chilies, stir-frying for about 30 seconds until fragrant and aromatic.
- Cook the chicken: Add the ground chicken to the skillet, breaking it up with a spatula. Cook until the chicken is fully cooked and lightly browned, about 5 to 7 minutes.
- Add vegetables: Stir in the sliced onion and red bell pepper, cooking for another 2 to 3 minutes until they are just tender but still crisp.
- Incorporate sauces and sugar: Pour in the soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, and sprinkle the brown sugar over the mixture. Stir well to combine all flavors and let the sauce cook for 1 to 2 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Finish with basil: Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the fresh Thai basil leaves until wilted and fragrant.
- Serve: Spoon the flavorful chicken mixture hot over steamed jasmine rice and enjoy immediately.
Notes
- For extra heat, increase the number of chilies or add a spoonful of chili garlic sauce.
- Ground turkey or pork can be used as a substitute for chicken based on preference or availability.
- Thai holy basil provides the most authentic flavor, but regular basil is a fine alternative if unavailable.
- To keep the dish gluten-free, ensure that soy sauce and oyster sauce are labeled gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stir-Fry
- Cuisine: Thai
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (without rice)
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 880 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg
