Sautéed Shrimp with Spicy Thai Basil Sauce
Tender shrimp quickly sautéed and tossed in a vibrant, spicy Thai basil sauce bursting with garlic, chili, and fish sauce. This Thai-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 17 minutes, pairs large shrimp, vegetable oil, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 210 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, peeled and deveined large shrimp
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 4 cloves, finely chopped garlic cloves
- 3, thinly sliced red Thai bird chilies
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- 1 cup, packed fresh Thai basil leaves
- 2, sliced on the diagonal green onions
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Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add 4 finely chopped garlic cloves and 3 thinly sliced red Thai bird chilies; sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant but not burnt.
- Step 2: Add 1 pound peeled and deveined large shrimp to the skillet in a single layer. Cook for 2 minutes without stirring, then flip and cook 1-2 more minutes until shrimp are pink and opaque.
- Step 3: Stir in 2 tbsp fish sauce, 1 tbsp light soy sauce, and 1 tsp brown sugar, cooking for an additional minute until the sauce thickens slightly and coats the shrimp.
- Step 4: Remove the pan from heat and fold in 1 cup packed fresh Thai basil leaves and 2 sliced green onions, tossing gently until the basil wilts from the residual heat.
- Step 5: Serve immediately over steamed jasmine rice or as a flavorful appetizer.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Sautéed Shrimp with Spicy Thai Basil Sauce 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 Sautéed Shrimp with Spicy Thai Basil Sauce?
Refrigerate in a covered airtight container for up to 3–4 days (FDA FoodKeeper guideline for cooked fish). Store any fresh salsa or citrus-based garnish in a separate container — it keeps for up to 2 days. Freeze cooked fish (without fresh garnishes) for up to 3 months; thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat gently at 275°F until just warmed through to preserve texture.
Can I substitute ingredients in Sautéed Shrimp with Spicy Thai Basil Sauce?
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 Sautéed Shrimp with Spicy Thai Basil Sauce 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 Sautéed Shrimp with Spicy Thai Basil Sauce?
Thai 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.
