Stir-Fried Thai Basil Beef with Sweet Peppers and Jasmine Rice
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 ready in about 35 minutes pairs ground beef (85% lean), garlic cloves, minced, fresh Thai basil leaves 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 cloves 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
Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Step 6: Remove skillet from heat and stir in 1 cup fresh Thai basil leaves and 2 sliced green onions until basil wilts.
- Step 7: Fluff cooked jasmine rice with a fork and serve the stir-fry spooned over the rice.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Stir-Fried Thai Basil Beef with Sweet Peppers and Jasmine Rice take to make?
Total time is about 35 minutes (10 min prep + 25 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 Stir-Fried Thai Basil Beef with Sweet Peppers and Jasmine Rice?
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 beef (85% lean) from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Stir-Fried Thai Basil Beef with Sweet Peppers and Jasmine Rice?
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 Stir-Fried Thai Basil Beef with Sweet Peppers and Jasmine Rice 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 Stir-Fried Thai Basil Beef with Sweet Peppers and Jasmine Rice?
Thai beef 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.
