Stir-Fried Thai Basil Beef with Sweet Peppers and Jasmine Rice

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

A quick Thai stir-fry combining tender ground beef, colorful sweet peppers, and fresh basil for an aromatic, savory dish served over fragrant jasmine rice. This Thai-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs ground beef (85% lean), sweet red bell pepper, sliced thin, sweet yellow bell pepper, sliced thin for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 550 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 (85% lean)
• 1 medium sweet red bell pepper, sliced thin
• 1 medium sweet yellow bell pepper, sliced thin
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup fresh Thai basil leaves
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp fish sauce
• 1 tsp brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp red chili flakes
• 1 cup jasmine rice, uncooked
• 1 1/4 cups water
• 2 stalks green onions, sliced

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

Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse 1 cup jasmine rice under cold water until water runs clear. Combine rice with 1 1/4 cups water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed and rice is tender. Remove from heat and let stand covered.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
3. Step 3: Add 1 lb ground beef to the skillet. Break up with a spatula and cook for 5-6 minutes until browned and cooked through.
4. Step 4: Stir in 1 sliced red bell pepper and 1 sliced yellow bell pepper, cooking for 3-4 minutes until slightly softened but still crisp.
5. Step 5: Add 3 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp fish sauce, 1 tsp brown sugar, and 1/4 tsp red chili flakes. Stir well and cook for another 2 minutes until sauce thickens and coats the beef and peppers.
6. Step 6: Remove skillet from heat and stir in 1 cup fresh Thai basil leaves and 2 sliced green onions until basil wilts.
7. Step 7: Fluff cooked jasmine rice with a fork and serve the stir-fry spooned over the rice.