Stovetop Thai Basil Beef Stir Fry

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-13 · Updated 2026-05-13

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A quick and aromatic stir fry featuring ground beef, fresh Thai basil, and a savory-spicy sauce perfect over steamed rice. This Thai-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs ground beef, vegetable oil, garlic cloves, minced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 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.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 15 min Serves 4 Thai cuisine 420 cal/serving

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Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
2 tbsp vegetable oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 small red chili, thinly sliced
2 tbsp fish sauce
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp brown sugar
1 cup, loosely packed fresh Thai basil leaves
2 stalks green onions, sliced

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Instructions

Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and 1 small thinly sliced red chili, sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant but not burnt.
Step 2: Add 1 lb ground beef to the skillet, breaking it apart with a spatula. Cook for 6-8 minutes until browned and no pink remains.
Step 3: Stir in 2 tbsp fish sauce, 1 tbsp soy sauce, and 1 tsp brown sugar. Cook for 2 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly and coat the beef.
Step 4: Remove from heat and fold in 1 cup loosely packed fresh Thai basil leaves and 2 sliced green onions until the basil wilts and releases aroma. Serve immediately with steamed jasmine rice.