Thai Basil Chicken – Better than takeout, make this recipe at home in under 20 minutes. Flavorful, healthy and lighter than traditional restaurant versions, this recipe is sure to be a hit with your family.
I love Thai restaurants and can eat basil chicken any time of the day, but I never make it at home. especially It’s the perfect stress-free weeknight dinner, and it’s more flavorful and healthier than your average fast food. Plus, the garlic, Thai basil, and chili peppers make everything even tastier.
Before I started my blog, I used to use these flavors in my cooking as often as I could. Not anymore. Need to diversify? But the unique flavor of Thai basil, with its anise-like flavor, keeps bringing me back again and again.
Is Thai basil chicken spicy?
Generally, Thai food is quite spicy. This Thai Basil Chicken recipe is quite spicy, but definitely on the mild side. Instead of super hot red peppers, I add Sriracha sauce and chili flakes, so even a sous chef can enjoy it. However, if you like it hotter, you can add more chili sauce or hotter red peppers.
Materials needed
- oil – Vegetable oils work well because they have a high smoke point, but you can also use bland-tasting oils such as canola or peanut oil.
- seasoning – Onion and garlic provide the perfect flavor base, while Sriracha sauce and red pepper flakes add depth of flavor and just the right amount of heat without being too overpowering.
- chicken – For convenience, I prefer skinless, boneless chicken breasts, but chicken thighs or ground chicken will also work.
- sauce – The combination of fish sauce, soy sauce and sugar gives this dish its unique spicy, sweet, savory and umami flavours.
- Thai Basil The leaves exude a fresh, tangy flavor with a hint of licorice, but if you can’t find it at your local grocery store, you can substitute sweet basil or Italian basil and your dishes will be amazing.
How to make Thai Basil Chicken
- Rice – If you are serving this dish with rice, start cooking the rice before cooking the chicken.
- seasoning – Heat oil in a wok or saucepan, swirling the oil around to distribute it evenly, then add the onion, garlic, Sriracha sauce and chili flakes and stir fry for 2-3 minutes until fragrant. Be careful not to burn.
- chicken – Add chicken and cook until no longer pink and slightly browned (7-10 minutes), adding a little water if necessary to prevent burning.
- sauce – Add brown sugar, fish sauce and soy sauce. Simmer until sauce thickens and chicken is cooked through.
- basil – Finally, add the basil leaves and mix. When the leaves have wilted, turn off the heat.
- serve – Serve on a serving plate with rice for an authentic Thai meal.
Variation Ideas
- Protein exchange. Substitute turkey, shrimp, pork, tofu or your favorite protein for the chicken.
- Add vegetables. Add chopped red peppers, fresh mushrooms, snow peas, broccoli or baby corn for extra nutrition and color.
- Get hooked! Add toasted cashews to your dishes or garnish with a sprinkling of roasted peanuts for a crunchy treat.
- Fried RiceA great way to use leftovers is to make Thai Basil Chicken Fried Rice: just chop all the ingredients finely, melt the butter in a frying pan, add the leftover rice and chicken, add a little soy sauce and heat through.
- Pad KhrapovThis similar dish uses Thai holy basil instead of regular basil, and dark soy sauce, kidney beans, and ground meat or chicken make it taste closer to the authentic recipe.
Tips and Tricks
- For an extra special touch, lightly fry some basil until crisp and use as a garnish.
- This recipe comes together quickly, so have everything prepped before you begin.
- High heat is key to creating a flavorful stir fry, so make sure your oil is hot enough before you start stir frying.
Preliminary steps
Thai basil chicken cooks in no time once the prep is complete, although you can do most of the prep work yourself. 1 day agoChop the chicken, onion and garlic finely and store in separate containers in the refrigerator.
If you are adding vegetables to the dish, you can wash and chop them the day before and store them in the fridge. Bring the meat to room temperature and then cook according to the instructions.
How to serve and store
Served over fluffy rice, this Thai basil chicken is absolutely delicious, and adding some crushed peanuts and fresh mango makes it even more special.
Leftovers store easily and are delicious the next day too – transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. 5 daysThis dish can also be stored for a long time. 3 months in the freezerPlace container in refrigerator to thaw before reheating.
To reheat, place leftovers in a skillet over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, or you can microwave in 2-3 minute increments.
A perfect side dish for Thai basil chicken
Thai basil chicken with a rich aroma jasmine or Basmati riceFresh and colorful Pineapple cucumber salad A perfect match with flavorful chicken.
Wine PairingSpicy dishes go well with sweet wines, such as an off-dry Riesling or Gewurztraminer, but a slightly sweet Pinot Gris would also be good.
More quick, easy and delicious chicken recipes to try
- Tuscan Chicken
- Orange Chicken
- Chicken Pasta Bake
- Chicken Fajitas
- Fiesta Chicken Casserole
See how it’s made
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”pqXm6Rpd” upload-date=”2019-04-25T13:50:56.000Z” name=”Thai Basil Chicken” description=”Thai Basil Chicken-Make this takeout at home in less than 20 minutes. It’s insanely flavorful, healthier, and lighter than the takeout version and guaranteed hit with the family.”]
This blog post was published in January 2015 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos and videos.
