Thai Basil Chicken is a quick and easy chicken dinner that is bursting with fresh flavors. Bell peppers, fresh basil, and a unique blend of sauces make this chicken so crave-able!
Chicken dinners are a common thing at my house. Chicken is inexpensive, easy to cook, and a great way to fill bellies on a budget. If you are looking for more chicken dinner inspiration, you’ve got to try this simple Crockpot Tuscan Chicken, this amazing Baked Honey Sesame Chicken, and this Cashew Chicken.
Thai Basil Chicken Recipe
Are you getting tired of the same old flavors when it comes to your chicken meals? This Thai basil chicken recipe takes just 30 minutes and is so full of flavor you won’t believe it’s chicken breast! Of course you can use whatever part of the chicken you prefer. I love the taste of this dish so much, especially served with jasmine rice or coconut rice. It’s just as good as a Thai restaurant, for less than half the cost!
When you order this dish at a Thai restaurant, it’s called Pad Krapow Gai. This dish is made with red bell peppers, but you can serve it with other vegetables like air fryer frozen broccoli or garlic edamame. You can add a fried egg to make this dish extra filling and flavorful. It’s basically a chicken stir fry so add whatever you think would taste good! The more you add to the pan, the more flavors combine to make a delicious dish.
Ingredients
This Thai basil chicken is a simple recipe that you really can’t get wrong. These ingredients are simple and straightforward. If you can get the ingredients from an Asian market, the dish will taste much more traditional. You can find the measurements below in the recipe card.
- Chicken Breasts: You can use chicken thighs, or even ground turkey instead.
- Canola Oil: You can use vegetable oil instead. This is for cooking the chicken and veggies.
- Shallot: They are a subtle flavor but add so much flavor to the chicken.
- Red Peppers: Sweet bell peppers are the perfect thing to make with the chicken.
- Thai Chili, or Serrano Pepper: A little heat really takes this dish to the next level! I think it tastes great with Thai chili or serrano chilis, so grab whatever you can find and it will be perfect.
- Soy Sauce: This is a fermented soy bean sauce that is salty and so full of flavor.
- Oyster Sauce: This is a sweet and salty sauce made mostly from oyster juices.
- Fish Sauce: Fish sauce has a little fish flavor, but mostly it is salty and very umami.
- Brown Sugar: A little brown sugar makes the sauce the perfect consistency and helps balance the sweetness.
- Thai Basil: Thai holy basil is the type of basil that you will want to grab. You should be able to find it at your local Asian market.
Recipe for Thai Basil Chicken
I love how simple it is to make this Thai basil chicken. If you have a wok, this is a great recipe to make in it. It also works great in a skillet or cast iron pan. Whatever you use, make sure to heat the oil first before adding the chicken. Basil is a really fragile ingredient, so make sure you add it in after turning off the burner.
- Cook Chicken: Add the oil to the wok and heat over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken for 3-5 minutes until almost cooked through.
- Add Veggies: Add the minced garlic, shallots, and peppers. Stir fry until fork tender but still crisp.
- Whisk Sauce: To make the sauce, combine the soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, and brown sugar in a bowl. Whisk to combine.
- Add Sauce: Add the sauce and stir fry until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken.
- Add Basil: Turn off the heat and toss in the basil, reserving a few leaves for garnish. The heat will soften and wilt the basil leaves.
- Enjoy: Serve immediately with rice. Garnish with fresh basil leaves. Enjoy!
Tips for Making Thai Basil Chicken
Making Thai basil chicken is really simple and so delicious. Here are a few tips for making this dish authentic and just the way you and your family like it!
- Ground Turkey: This dish is often made with ground turkey. Use ground turkey or ground chicken instead of chicken breast. You can also make a ground beef dish (Thai Basil Beef) using the same ingredients and it’s amazing!
- Sourcing Ingredients: This dish will taste more authentic if you get the ingredients from an Asian market. It can also be really fun to explore new marketplaces other than your regular grocery store. You will find lots of fresh produce and ingredients you can’t get anywhere else!
- Add More Spice: This dish is traditionally spicy. If you want to add more spice, you can add more chili peppers. If you really want to turn up the heat, include the seeds. If you are on the other end and don’t want this dish spicy, you can leave out the spicy peppers.
Storing Leftovers
Thai basil chicken makes great leftovers because it reheats really easily and tastes just as amazing a few days later. Here is how to store your leftovers.
- In the Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
More Thai Recipes
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Easiest Pad Thai
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Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao)
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Slow Cooker Thai Peanut Chicken
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Thai Peanut Sesame Noodles
Thai Basil Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 1 shallot, chopped
- 1/2 cup red peppers, sliced
- 1 Thai chili or serrano pepper, chopped
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1/4 cup oyster sauce
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 cup Thai basil
Instructions
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Add the oil to the wok and heat over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken for 3-5 minutes until almost cooked through.
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Add the minced garlic, shallots, and peppers. Stir fry until fork tender but still crisp.
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To make the sauce, combine the soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, and brown sugar in a bowl. Whisk to combine.
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Add the sauce and stir fry until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken.
-
Turn off the heat and toss in the basil, reserving a few leaves for garnish. The heat will soften and wilt the basil leaves.
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Serve immediately with rice. Garnish with fresh basil leaves. Enjoy!
