Quick Stir-Fried Garlic Shrimp with Chili and Basil
A fast and fragrant Asian stir-fry featuring tender shrimp, garlic, chili, and fresh basil leaves for a vibrant, spicy dinner. This asian-inspired seafood ready in about 17 minutes pairs large shrimp, peeled and deveined, vegetable oil, garlic cloves, thinly sliced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 220 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 large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1 red Thai chili, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- 1/2 cup fresh Thai basil leaves
- 2 green onions, sliced
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat until shimmering. Add 5 thinly sliced garlic cloves and 1 thinly sliced red Thai chili, stir-frying for 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
- Step 2: Add 1 lb peeled and deveined large shrimp to the skillet. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until the shrimp turn pink and opaque.
- Step 3: Stir in 2 tbsp fish sauce, 1 tbsp light soy sauce, and 1 tsp brown sugar. Continue cooking for another minute until the sauce thickens slightly and coats the shrimp.
- Step 4: Remove from heat and toss in 1/2 cup fresh Thai basil leaves and 2 sliced green onions, stirring gently until the basil wilts. Serve immediately with steamed jasmine rice or noodles for a quick, spicy meal.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Quick Stir-Fried Garlic Shrimp with Chili and Basil take to make?
Total time is about 17 minutes (10 min prep + 7 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 Stir-Fried Garlic Shrimp with Chili and Basil?
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 vegetable oil from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Quick Stir-Fried Garlic Shrimp with Chili and Basil?
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 Stir-Fried Garlic Shrimp with Chili and Basil 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 Stir-Fried Garlic Shrimp with Chili and Basil?
Asian seafood 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.
