Instant Pot Spicy Thai Basil Beef
Quickly cooked ground beef infused with aromatic Thai basil and a spicy, savory sauce, made easy in the Instant Pot. This thai-inspired beef ready in about 25 minutes pairs ground beef, vegetable oil, minced garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 4, minced garlic cloves
- 1 tsp red chili flakes
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 cup, loosely packed fresh Thai basil leaves
- 2, sliced diagonally green onions
- for serving steamed jasmine rice
Instructions
- Step 1: Set the Instant Pot to 'Sauté' mode and heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and 1 tsp red chili flakes, sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Step 2: Add 1 lb ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook for 5 minutes until browned and no pink remains.
- Step 3: Stir in 3 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp fish sauce, 1 tbsp brown sugar, and 1/4 cup water. Mix well to combine.
- Step 4: Seal the Instant Pot lid and set to 'Manual' high pressure for 5 minutes. When done, perform a quick release.
- Step 5: Open the lid and stir in 1 cup fresh Thai basil leaves and 2 sliced green onions until wilted and fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Step 6: Serve immediately over steamed jasmine rice.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Instant Pot Spicy Thai Basil Beef take to make?
Total time is about 25 minutes (10 min prep + 15 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Instant Pot Spicy Thai Basil Beef?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep ground beef from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Instant Pot Spicy Thai Basil Beef?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Instant Pot Spicy Thai Basil Beef for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Instant Pot Spicy Thai Basil Beef?
Thai beef like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
