One-Pot Spicy Thai Basil Beef
A quick one-pot dish featuring ground beef stir-fried with fresh Thai basil and spicy chilies, served over steamed jasmine rice. This thai-inspired beef ready in about 30 minutes pairs pound ground beef (80% lean), tablespoons vegetable oil, garlic cloves, minced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 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 pound ground beef (80% lean)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 4 cloves garlic cloves, minced
- 3 chilies Thai bird’s eye chilies, chopped
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 teaspoon dark brown sugar
- 1 cup fresh Thai basil leaves
- 2 cups jasmine rice
- 3 cups water
Instructions
- Step 1: Rinse 2 cups jasmine rice under cold water until water runs clear. Add rice and 3 cups water to a medium pot, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed and rice is tender.
- Step 2: While rice cooks, heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat until shimmering.
- Step 3: Add 4 minced garlic cloves and 3 chopped Thai bird’s eye chilies to the skillet, sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant but not burnt.
- Step 4: Add 1 pound ground beef and cook, breaking up with a spatula, for 6-8 minutes until browned and cooked through.
- Step 5: Stir in 3 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon fish sauce, and 1 teaspoon dark brown sugar, cooking for 2 minutes until sauce thickens slightly and coats the beef.
- Step 6: Remove from heat and fold in 1 cup fresh Thai basil leaves, stirring until wilted and aromatic.
- Step 7: Serve the spicy Thai basil beef immediately over the cooked jasmine rice.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does One-Pot Spicy Thai Basil Beef take to make?
Total time is about 30 minutes (10 min prep + 20 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 One-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 pound ground beef (80% lean) from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in One-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 One-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 One-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.
