Spicy Stir-Fried Beef with Chilies and Basil

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-08 · Updated 2026-07-08

A fiery stir-fry featuring thin slices of beef tossed with fresh chilies and fragrant basil leaves, highlighting regional spice combinations. This Thai-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs flank steak, vegetable oil, fresh red chilies 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, thinly sliced against the grain flank steak
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 3, sliced fresh red chilies
• 3, minced garlic cloves
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp fish sauce
• 1 tsp brown sugar
• 1/2 cup fresh Thai basil leaves
• 2, sliced diagonally green onions
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

The wok we’d stir-fry this in → Best Woks for 2026: Carbon Steel, Nonstick & Flat-Bottom Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large wok or skillet over high heat until shimmering. Add 1 lb thinly sliced flank steak and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until browned but still tender.
2. Step 2: Add 3 sliced fresh red chilies and 3 minced garlic cloves to the wok. Stir-fry for 30 seconds until fragrant.
3. Step 3: Stir in 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp fish sauce, and 1 tsp brown sugar. Cook for 1 minute until the sauce thickens and coats the beef.
4. Step 4: Toss in 1/2 cup fresh Thai basil leaves and 2 sliced green onions. Stir quickly for 30 seconds until basil is wilted and fragrant.
5. Step 5: Season with 1/4 tsp black pepper, remove from heat, and serve immediately with steamed rice.