Stir-Fried Chicken with Chilies and Basil

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-20 · Updated 2026-06-20

A vibrant stir-fry featuring tender chicken bites cooked with fresh chilies and fragrant basil leaves, delivering a perfect balance of heat and aroma. This Thai-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs boneless chicken thighs, vegetable oil, garlic cloves 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, cut into 1-inch pieces boneless chicken thighs
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 3 minced garlic cloves
• 4 sliced thin bird's eye chilies
• 2 tbsp fish sauce
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 cup fresh basil leaves
• 1/4 tsp white 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 wok or large skillet over high heat until shimmering.
2. Step 2: Add 3 minced garlic cloves and 4 sliced bird's eye chilies, stir-frying for 30 seconds until fragrant but not burnt.
3. Step 3: Add 1 lb chicken thigh pieces and stir-fry for 5-6 minutes until the chicken turns opaque and starts to brown.
4. Step 4: Stir in 2 tbsp fish sauce, 1 tbsp soy sauce, and 1 tsp sugar, cooking for another 2 minutes until the sauce slightly thickens.
5. Step 5: Toss in 1 cup fresh basil leaves and 1/4 tsp white pepper, stirring quickly until the basil wilts and releases aroma, about 1 minute.
6. Step 6: Remove from heat and serve immediately with steamed rice.