Sautéed Thai Basil Beef with Garlic and Chilies
Quickly stir-fried ground beef infused with fragrant Thai basil, garlic, and spicy chilies, perfect over steamed rice. This thai-inspired beef ready in about 25 minutes pairs ground beef, vegetable oil, garlic cloves, minced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 460 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
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 4 cloves garlic cloves, minced
- 3 Thai bird's eye chilies, sliced thin
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 1 tsp white sugar
- 1 cup fresh Thai basil leaves
- 1 small white onion, thinly sliced
- for serving steamed jasmine rice
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat until shimmering. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and 3 thinly sliced Thai bird's eye chilies, stir-frying for about 30 seconds until fragrant but not burnt.
- Step 2: Add 1 lb ground beef to the skillet, breaking it up with a spatula, and cook for 5-6 minutes until browned and no longer pink.
- Step 3: Stir in 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp fish sauce, 1 tbsp dark soy sauce, and 1 tsp white sugar; cook for another 2 minutes, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens and coats the beef.
- Step 4: Mix in 1 small thinly sliced white onion and 1 cup fresh Thai basil leaves, stir-frying for 1 minute until the basil wilts and onions soften slightly.
- Step 5: Serve immediately over steamed jasmine rice, spooning extra sauce over the top.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Sautéed Thai Basil Beef with Garlic and Chilies 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 Sautéed Thai Basil Beef with Garlic and Chilies?
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 Sautéed Thai Basil Beef with Garlic and Chilies?
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 Thai Basil Beef with Garlic and Chilies 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 Thai Basil Beef with Garlic and Chilies?
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.
