One-Pot Spicy Thai Basil Beef Stir Fry
A quick and flavorful one-pot stir fry combining ground beef, bold Thai basil, and a spicy-sweet sauce served over jasmine rice. This thai-inspired beef ready in about 25 minutes pairs pound ground beef, 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 450 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
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 4 cloves garlic cloves, minced
- 1 small red Thai chili, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 cup packed fresh Thai basil leaves
- 4 cups cooked jasmine rice
- 2 stalks green onions, sliced
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add 1 pound ground beef and cook, breaking up with a spatula, for 5-6 minutes until browned and cooked through.
- Step 2: Add 4 minced garlic cloves and 1 thinly sliced small red Thai chili to the pan, stirring for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Step 3: Stir in 2 tablespoons fish sauce, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, and 1/4 cup water. Let the sauce simmer for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Step 4: Remove from heat and fold in 1 cup packed fresh Thai basil leaves until wilted.
- Step 5: Serve the spicy basil beef over 4 cups cooked jasmine rice and garnish with sliced green onions from 2 stalks.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does One-Pot Spicy Thai Basil Beef Stir Fry 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 One-Pot Spicy Thai Basil Beef Stir Fry?
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 from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in One-Pot Spicy Thai Basil Beef Stir Fry?
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 Stir Fry 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 Stir Fry?
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.
