Easy Thai Basil Chicken Recipe: A Flavorful 20-Minute Dinner

Thai basil chicken revamps ordinary weeknight meals into extraordinary culinary adventures with its vibrant, aromatic profile.

Fresh ingredients dance together in a lightning-fast stir-fry, creating sensational layers of flavor and texture.

Bold chili peppers provide fiery excitement while fragrant Thai basil contributes a distinctive peppery essence that cannot be replicated.

Each tender bite promises a harmonious balance between spicy, sweet, and savory notes that awaken your palate.

Elegant in its simplicity, this recipe showcases the remarkable depth of Thai cooking techniques and ingredients.

Home cooks can easily master this restaurant-quality dish with a few strategic cooking steps.

You’ll love how quickly this meal comes together without compromising on incredible taste.

Why Thai Basil Chicken Feels So Fast and Flavorful

• Burst with Vibrant Flavors: This Thai basil chicken delivers a explosive taste journey through bold spices, zesty chilies, and aromatic herbs that dance across your palate with authentic Southeast Asian excitement.
• Quick and Easy Weeknight Wonder: Whipped up in less than 20 minutes, this recipe offers busy home cooks a delicious meal that requires minimal prep and delivers maximum satisfaction with simple ingredients.
• Nutritional Powerhouse Protein Boost: Packed with lean ground chicken and loaded with protein, this dish provides a balanced meal that supports muscle health while keeping you feeling energized and full.
• Restaurant-Quality Comfort at Home: Transform your kitchen into a Thai street food paradise, creating a restaurant-style dish that impresses family and friends without complicated techniques or expensive ingredients.

What You’ll Need for This Thai Stir-Fry Star

• Ground Chicken: Lean protein that provides the base for the dish, choose fresh and high-quality meat for best flavor.

• Garlic, Green Chilies: Sharp and spicy base that builds deep flavor profile, choose fresh and firm chilies for maximum heat.
• Onions or Shallots: Provides sweet and aromatic foundation, select firm and bright colored alliums.
• Thai Basil: Authentic herb with distinctive anise-like flavor, crucial for traditional Thai taste.
• Green Onions: Fresh garnish that adds brightness and mild onion flavor.

• Light Soy Sauce, Dark Soy Sauce: Adds umami and color depth, balance between saltiness and richness.
• Maple Syrup or Honey: Provides subtle sweetness to balance spicy and savory elements.
• Garlic Chili Sauce or Sriracha: Adds extra heat and complex flavor, choose based on personal spice preference.
• Oyster Sauce: Enhances umami and provides glossy texture.
• Fish Sauce: Brings authentic Southeast Asian depth and saltiness.
• Red Chili: Additional heat element, can be adjusted to taste.
• Sesame Seeds: Crunchy garnish with nutty flavor.

• Steamed Rice: Classic base for the dish.
• Fried Egg: Optional protein topping.
• Prawn Crackers: Crispy side accompaniment.

Quick Instructions for Big Flavor in a Flash

Step 1: Prep Aromatics

Finely chop garlic and green chilies into small, uniform pieces.

Step 2: Sauté Base Ingredients

Heat oil in a nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add onions or shallots and cook until softened, about 2-3 minutes. Toss in chopped garlic and green chilies.

Step 3: Cook Chicken

Add ground chicken to the pan. Break up the meat and cook until it turns from pink to a golden brown, ensuring it remains juicy and tender, about 4-5 minutes.

Step 4: Build Flavor Profile

• Light soy sauce
• Dark soy sauce
• Maple syrup (or honey)
• Garlic chili sauce (or Sriracha)
• Oyster sauce
• Fish sauce

Step 5: Finish with Fresh Basil

Stir in fresh Thai basil leaves, cooking just until they wilt but retain their vibrant green color. If the mixture looks dry, add a splash of water to create a light sauce.

Step 6: Plate and Garnish

• Crispy fried egg
• Prawn crackers
• Chopped green onions
• Additional fresh basil leaves
• Sprinkle of sesame seeds

Tips to Balance Heat, Sweet, and Savory

• Chop Precisely: Finely mince garlic and green chilies to ensure even flavor distribution and prevent large, overwhelming chunks in each bite.
• Control Heat Carefully: Maintain medium-high temperature to seal chicken's juiciness while creating a perfect caramelized exterior without burning aromatics.
• Layer Sauces Strategically: Add sauces gradually and taste as you go, balancing sweet, salty, and spicy notes for an authentic Thai flavor profile.
• Preserve Basil's Vibrancy: Add fresh basil leaves at the very end of cooking, stirring quickly to maintain its bright green color and robust herbal essence.
• Garnish Generously: Top the dish with fresh green onions, extra basil leaves, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds to add texture, color, and additional layers of flavor.

Storing Stir-Fry Without Sacrificing Texture

• Store Leftovers in Airtight Containers: Transfer the remaining Thai basil chicken to sealed glass or plastic containers with tight-fitting lids. Refrigerate promptly within two hours of cooking to maintain freshness and prevent bacterial growth. Properly stored, the dish will stay delicious for 3-4 days.
• Refrigerator Reheating Method: Warm the chicken in a skillet over medium heat, adding a splash of water or chicken broth to restore moisture. Stir gently and frequently to distribute heat evenly, preventing dryness and maintaining the original flavors. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 165°F for safe consumption.
• Freezer Storage Option: Pack cooled Thai basil chicken in freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty zip-lock bags, removing excess air to prevent freezer burn. Label with the date and contents. Freeze for up to 2 months.

What Goes Well with Thai Basil Chicken

• Perfect Rice Companion: Jasmine rice offers a fragrant, soft base that beautifully absorbs the savory chicken's bold flavors and complements the dish's spicy profile.
• Refreshing Beverage Match: Thai iced tea provides a sweet, creamy counterpoint to the spicy chicken, cooling the palate with its smooth texture and balanced sweetness.
• Crisp Wine Selection: A chilled Riesling with slight sweetness cuts through the dish's heat, enhancing the herbal notes of Thai basil while offering a clean, bright finish.
• Complementary Side Dish: Fresh cucumber salad with a light vinegar dressing adds a cool, crisp texture that balances the rich, spicy chicken and provides a refreshing contrast.

New Ideas to Keep Stir-Fry Night Exciting

• Veggie Power Punch: Replace ground chicken with crumbled extra-firm tofu or mixed vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, and mushrooms for a plant-based protein alternative.
• Spicy Seafood Switch: Swap ground chicken with shrimp or diced white fish for a quick seafood version that maintains the original recipe's zesty Thai flavor profile.
• Korean-Thai Fusion: Add gochujang sauce and use Korean chili flakes to create a cross-cultural spin that amplifies the dish's heat and complexity while keeping the basil essence intact.
• Lean Protein Remix: Substitute ground chicken with ground turkey or lean ground beef for a different protein option that still absorbs the aromatic sauce and herbs perfectly.

Thai Basil Chicken Recipe

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4.9 from 34 reviews

• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 2 1x

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Description

Spicy Thai basil chicken delights with bold Southeast Asian flavors, blending aromatic herbs and fiery chili peppers. Authentic street-style cooking brings zesty comfort to your plate, inviting you to savor each perfectly seasoned bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 8 ounces (226 grams) ground chicken
• 2 fried eggs

Vegetables and Herbs:

• ½ cup brown onion or shallot, diced
• 5 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 medium red chili, roughly chopped
• 1 medium mild hot green pepper, chopped
• ½ cup Thai basil or regular basil
• 2–3 stalks green onion, for garnish
• More basil leaves
• Sesame seeds

Sauces and Condiments:

• 1 tablespoon light soy sauce (gluten-free if needed)
• 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce (low sodium if possible, gluten-free if needed)
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup or 2 teaspoons liquid honey
• 1 teaspoon garlic chili sauce, sriracha, or another hot sauce
• 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce
• Avocado oil for cooking

Additional Items:

• 1 cup uncooked rice
• Prawn crackers

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Instructions

1. Carefully mince the garlic cloves and finely slice the green chilies into delicate, thin rounds, releasing their aromatic essence.
2. Warm a tablespoon (15 milliliters) of vegetable oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, allowing the oil to shimmer and spread evenly across the cooking surface.
3. Introduce finely diced onions or shallots to the pan, gently sautéing until they become translucent and develop a soft, golden edge, approximately 2-3 minutes.
4. Sprinkle the minced garlic and sliced green chilies into the pan, stirring quickly to prevent burning and allowing their intense flavors to bloom and intermingle.
5. Add ground chicken to the fragrant mixture, breaking it into small, uniform pieces with a wooden spatula, cooking until the meat transitions from pink to a rich, juicy pale color with no raw spots visible.
6. Create a flavor symphony by incorporating light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, maple syrup, garlic chili sauce, oyster sauce, and fish sauce, each adding depth and complexity to the dish.
7. Fold in fresh Thai basil leaves, watching them gently wilt while maintaining their vibrant green color and releasing their distinctive aromatic oils.
8. If the mixture appears dry, introduce a small amount of water (2-or 30-45 milliliters) to create a light, glossy sauce that coats the chicken.
9. Plate the aromatic chicken over steamed jasmine rice, crown with a perfectly crisp fried egg, and garnish with thinly sliced green onions, additional fresh basil leaves, and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds.
10. Serve immediately with crisp prawn crackers alongside, ensuring the dish is enjoyed at the peak of its temperature and flavor.

Notes

• Discover the vibrant world of Thai street food with this quick and spicy chicken stir-fry that brings Bangkok’s bustling markets right to your kitchen.
• Chop ingredients super fine to ensure even cooking and explosive flavor distribution throughout the dish.
• Skip traditional measurements and trust your taste buds by adjusting sauces to create a personalized balance of sweet, salty, and fiery notes.
• Fresh Thai basil is the game-changer, transforming an ordinary chicken dish into an authentic, aromatic experience that tingles every sense.
• Leftovers taste even better the next day as the flavors continue to meld and intensify, making this a perfect meal-prep option for busy home cooks.
• Pro tip: Use a scorching hot wok or skillet to achieve that coveted restaurant-style char and prevent the chicken from becoming soggy.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Stir-Frying
• Cuisine: Thai

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 2
• Calories: 380 kcal
• Sugar: 6g
• Sodium: 720mg
• Fat: 20g
• Saturated Fat: 3g
• Carbohydrates: 28g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 26g
• Cholesterol: 120mg