Quick Meals Thai Basil Beef Stir Fry with Chilies and Garlic
A fast and fragrant stir fry of ground beef with fresh Thai basil, fiery chilies, and garlic, perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner. This thai-inspired beef ready in about 25 minutes pairs ground beef, loosely packed fresh Thai basil leaves, minced garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 520 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 cup, loosely packed fresh Thai basil leaves
- 5, minced garlic cloves
- 3, thinly sliced red Thai chilies
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- 1 small, sliced white onion
- 2, chopped green onions
- 4 cups, for serving steamed jasmine rice
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large wok or skillet over high heat until shimmering.
- Step 2: Add 5 minced garlic cloves and 3 thinly sliced red Thai chilies; stir fry for 30 seconds until fragrant but not burnt.
- Step 3: Add 1 lb ground beef, breaking it apart with a spatula; cook for 5-6 minutes until browned and cooked through.
- Step 4: Stir in 1 small sliced white onion and cook for 2 minutes until softened.
- Step 5: Pour in 3 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp fish sauce, and 1 tsp brown sugar; stir well and cook for an additional 2 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the beef.
- Step 6: Remove from heat and fold in 1 cup loosely packed fresh Thai basil leaves and 2 chopped green onions, tossing until basil wilts.
- Step 7: Serve immediately over 4 cups steamed jasmine rice for a quick, flavorful meal.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Quick Meals Thai Basil Beef Stir Fry with Chilies and Garlic 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 Quick Meals Thai Basil Beef Stir Fry with Chilies and Garlic?
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 Quick Meals Thai Basil Beef Stir Fry with Chilies and Garlic?
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 Quick Meals Thai Basil Beef Stir Fry with Chilies and Garlic 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 Quick Meals Thai Basil Beef Stir Fry with Chilies and Garlic?
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.
