Quick Stir-Fried Thai Basil Pork with Bell Peppers
A fragrant and colorful Thai stir-fry with ground pork, fresh basil, and crunchy bell peppers, cooked in a savory sauce for a fast and flavorful meal. This Thai-inspired meal-prep recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs ground pork, vegetable oil, 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 pork
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 4 minced garlic cloves
- 1 medium, thinly sliced red bell pepper
- 1 medium, thinly sliced green bell pepper
- 2 thinly sliced, optional bird’s eye chilies
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tsp light brown sugar
- 1 cup, packed fresh Thai basil leaves
- 3 cups cooked, for serving white rice
- for serving lime wedges
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Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and 2 thinly sliced bird’s eye chilies (if using), stir-fry for 30 seconds until aromatic.
- Step 2: Add 1 pound ground pork, breaking it apart with a spatula, and cook for 5-6 minutes until browned and cooked through.
- Step 3: Stir in 1 medium thinly sliced red bell pepper and 1 medium thinly sliced green bell pepper, cooking for 3-4 minutes until the peppers are slightly tender but still crisp.
- Step 4: Add 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon fish sauce, and 1 teaspoon light brown sugar, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens slightly and coats the pork and vegetables.
- Step 5: Remove from heat and stir in 1 packed cup fresh Thai basil leaves until wilted and fragrant.
- Step 6: Serve immediately over 3 cups cooked white rice with lime wedges on the side for squeezing.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Quick Stir-Fried Thai Basil Pork with Bell Peppers 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 Stir-Fried Thai Basil Pork with Bell Peppers?
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 pork from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Quick Stir-Fried Thai Basil Pork with Bell Peppers?
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 Thai Basil Pork with Bell Peppers 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 Thai Basil Pork with Bell Peppers?
Thai meal prep 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.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Perfect for meal prep, and the basil was fresh.
- ★★★★★
Loved it! My family devoured it.
- ★★★★☆
Took longer than expected because I had to cut the bell peppers small, but the flavor was great.
