Stir-Fried Thai Basil Beef with Chilies and Garlic

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

A spicy and aromatic Thai stir-fry featuring tender ground beef cooked with fresh garlic, bird’s eye chilies, and fragrant holy basil leaves. This Thai-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 20 minutes, pairs ground beef, vegetable oil, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 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
• 6, finely chopped garlic cloves
• 3, thinly sliced bird’s eye chilies
• 2 tbsp fish sauce
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp dark soy sauce
• 1 tsp white sugar
• 1 cup fresh holy basil leaves
• 2, chopped green onions

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. Add 6 finely chopped garlic cloves and 3 thinly sliced bird’s eye chilies, stir-frying for 30 seconds until fragrant but not burnt.
2. Step 2: Add 1 lb ground beef and stir-fry for 5 minutes, breaking up the meat with a spatula until fully browned and starting to crisp on the edges.
3. Step 3: Stir in 2 tbsp fish sauce, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp dark soy sauce, and 1 tsp white sugar. Cook for 1 minute until the sauce thickens and coats the beef.
4. Step 4: Remove from heat and toss in 1 cup fresh holy basil leaves and 2 chopped green onions, stirring just until the basil wilts and releases its aroma. Serve immediately over steamed jasmine rice.