Sautéed Thai Basil Chicken with Chilies and Garlic
A vibrant stir-fried Thai chicken dish featuring fresh basil, fiery chilies, and aromatic garlic, capturing authentic street food flavors. This thai-inspired chicken ready in about 20 minutes pairs ground chicken, fresh Thai basil leaves, garlic cloves, minced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 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 chicken
- 1 cup fresh Thai basil leaves
- 4 cloves garlic cloves, minced
- 3 chilies bird's eye chilies, sliced
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tsp dark soy sauce
- 1 tsp palm sugar or brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp white pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and 3 sliced bird's eye chilies, sautéing for 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
- Step 2: Add 1 lb ground chicken to the wok, breaking it apart with a spatula. Stir-fry for 4-5 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and starting to brown on the edges.
- Step 3: Stir in 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp fish sauce, 1 tsp dark soy sauce, 1 tsp palm sugar, and 1/4 tsp white pepper. Cook for 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly and coats the chicken.
- Step 4: Remove from heat and fold in 1 cup fresh Thai basil leaves, stirring until they wilt but remain vibrant green. Serve immediately with steamed jasmine rice.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Sautéed Thai Basil Chicken with Chilies and Garlic take to make?
Total time is about 20 minutes (10 min prep + 10 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 Chicken 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 chicken from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Sautéed Thai Basil Chicken 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 Sautéed Thai Basil Chicken 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 Sautéed Thai Basil Chicken with Chilies and Garlic?
Thai chicken 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.
