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This Thai Basil Chicken recipe is a simple and delicious meal made in 30 minutes or less with ground chicken and veggies cooked in a flavorful sauce.
Making Thai Basil Chicken is faster than take-out.
I make Thai Basil Chicken on days when we want something amazing for dinner but don't have a lot of time to cook. It's easy, healthy and satisfies my Thai-food craving every time.
Try to use Thai basil if you can, with purple stems and a spicy licorice-anise flavor (found at an Asian supermarket), otherwise Sweet basil will work (you know, the kind used in pesto dishes and caprese salad).
Thai food is my weakness, and if you love it too, you must try my versions of Pad Thai, Panang Curry and Drunken Noodles.
How to make Thai Basil Chicken:
Sauté Veggies and Cook Chicken: In a large skillet or wok heat oil over medium high heat (I love this oil sprayer/pourer) then sauté shallots, bell peppers, garlic, and ginger for 3 minutes. Push to the side of the pan and add ground chicken, cooking over high heat, breaking into small pieces as it cooks (I use a meat chopper).
Add Sauce: Stir together brown sugar, soy sauce, chili sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, cornstarch, chicken broth, and water. Add to pan and cook for 3 minutes. Stir in basil.
Serve Thai basil chicken stir fry over steamed jasmine rice or white rice.
Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions:
To Make Ahead: Make the sauce and chop all of the vegetables in advance.
To Freeze: Before adding basil, store in a freezer safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, reheat in a skillet, and then add basil.
Thai Basil Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoon olive oil
- 2 shallots, , thinly sliced
- 6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1 Tablespoon fresh ginger, , minced
- 1/2 bell pepper, , thinly sliced
- 1 pound ground chicken, , lean, diced chicken breast or ground turkey
- 2 teaspoon light brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon fish sauce, (or substitute hoisin sauce)
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce, (64g)
- 1 Tablespoon oyster sauce
- 2 Tablespoons Asian Garlic Chili Sauce, or Sambal Oelek, more or less to taste, for heat
- ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth, (114g)
- 1/4 cup water, (57g)
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 2/3 cup fresh basil leaves
- Cooked Jasmine rice, , for serving
Instructions
- Sauté veggies: In a wok or large skillet over medium high heat, add the oil. Once hot but not smoking, add shallots, garlic, ginger, bell peppers (and any other veggies) and fry for 3 minutes.2 Tablespoon olive oil, 2 shallots, 6 cloves garlic, 1 Tablespoon fresh ginger, ½ bell pepper
- Add chicken: Push veggies off to the side. Turn heat to high and add ground chicken, breaking into small pieces as it cooks.1 pound ground chicken
- Sauce: In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar, fish sauce, soy sauce, chili sauce, oyster sauce, cornstarch, chicken broth, and water then add to the pan. Cook for 3 minutes.2 teaspoon light brown sugar, 1 Tablespoon fish sauce, ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce, 1 Tablespoon oyster sauce, ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth, ¼ cup water, 1 teaspoon cornstarch, 2 Tablespoons Asian Garlic Chili Sauce
- Serve: Add the basil then stir-fry until wilted. Serve over hot cooked rice.2/3 cup fresh basil leaves, Cooked Jasmine rice
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I originally shared this recipe February 2015. Updated July 2020 and April 2025.
Absolutely stellar recipe! It’s so tasty!!!! Will definitely be making this again!
so good!
Instead of ground chicken,can I use diced thigh meat
Yes! Just make sure to cook until the chicken is done!
Very tasty! A definite keeper recipe. I replaced some of the water when making the rice with coconut milk for added flavor. Next time I think I’ll add diced water chestnuts to the veggie mix.
Yummm! I added more hot garlic sauce and basil for my taste and it was great!!
I also steamed my chicken breasts in my instant pot which sped up the cooking in my pan with the veggies.
Will definitely make this again!
Absolutely delicious and such a flexible recipe. Also liked that it was all one dish, so little clean up!
I made this recipe for dinner tonight and it was DELICIOUS! Very tasty and easy to make… thanks for sharing! 🙂
My family absolutely loved it. Even my 9 year old enjoyed it. Thank you so much for this recipe.
Thinking about making the Thai basil chicken. Could you leave out the oyster sauce or maybe substitute something? Love all the recipes I’ve tried from here. Thanks!
Sure, try substituting hoisin sauce.
Another hit and family favorite! Thanks for all the great recipes.
So tasty! Thanks for a great recipe!