Quickly whip up your new favorite Asian dish, Thai Basil Chicken. 20 minutes of total prep and cooking is a great added bonus!
This Pad Kra Pao is loaded with salty, sticky, sharp, and spicy, featuring the star ingredient – 'holy' basil.
Don't miss our other popular stir fry recipes like Lo Mein and Drunken Noodles.
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Ingredients
- Sauces - I like to use low-sodium sauces to keep this on the healthier side. If this is not available, dilute soy sauce with water.
- Chicken - ground chicken, turkey, or delicious tempeh.
- Basil - Holy Basil or Thai Basil? Either works. Thai basil has a hint of spice and licorice, visually distinct. Holy Basil offers a peppery, clove flavor, originally used in this dish, but any fresh and fragrant basil, like lemon basil or regular basil, is suitable.
- Hot peppers - I recommend mild peppers or a mix of 1 hot and 1 mild. Traditionally, bird's eye chili is used, but any hot pepper works as a substitute for its heat.
- Hot sauce - Use Sriracha, Frank's, Valentina, or my preference—milder garlic chili sauce for a pleasant garlicky kick.
- Garlic - Garlic is a must in this dish!
The full recipe and ingredients can be found in the recipe card below this post.
Instructions
Begin by finely chopping garlic and green chilies or use a garlic press.
Heat oil in a nonstick pan or wok over medium-high heat. Add onions or shallots, sauté for a few minutes, then add garlic and green chili.
Ensure sufficient oil for fragrance.
After 30 seconds, add ground meat.
Cook chicken until no longer pink, ensuring it stays juicy without overcooking.
Add sauces, red chili, and basil to the cooked mixture.
Stir until basil wilts, maintaining vibrant color. If it's too dry, add water for more sauce.
Serve over steamed rice with a fried egg for irresistible creaminess.
Don't forget a squeeze of lime juice or a lime wedge on the side.
Tips
- Avoid overcooking, especially the basil leaves. Once added, remove the stir fry from heat and stir until the basil leaves wilt. That's it!
- Seasonings - Skip additional salt, pepper, or seasoning for both the dish and rice.
- More flavors - green beans and bell peppers, finely chopped. Boost the flavor with optional mushroom stock powder, a common Thai basil stir fry addition. Diced mushrooms also make a great alternative.
- Fried Egg Thai style - Thai eggs are REALLY fried. For an authentic touch, use generous oil for sunny-side-up eggs. Heat until very hot, crack eggs, and pour hot oil over each while cooking. In my Thai Basil Chicken recipe, I chose sunny-side-up eggs with less oil.
Storing Leftovers
- To Store. Refrigerate for 2-3 days.
- To Reheat. When reheating in a skillet over medium-low heat, add vegetable or meat broth, or water if the sauce becomes dry and sticky.
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Recipe
Thai Basil Chicken (Pad Kra Pao)
INGREDIENTS
Thai Basil Stir Fry
- ½ cup brown onion or shallot, diced or shallots roughly chopped
- 8 oz ground chicken
- 5 garlic cloves
- ½ cup Thai basil or regular basil, see notes
- 1 medium red chili, chopped roughly
- 1 medium mild hot green pepper,, chopped
- Avocado oil for cooking
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon light soy sauce, gluten-free if needed
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce low sodium if possible and gluten-free if using
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup or 2 teaspoon liquid honey
- 1 teaspoon garlic chili sauce or sriracha, or other hot sauce, see notes
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
For serving
- 1 cup uncooked rice for serving
- 2-3 stalks of green onion for garnish
- More basil leaves
- Sesame seeds
- Prawn crackers
- 2 fried eggs
INSTRUCTIONS
- Begin by finely chopping garlic and green chilies or use a garlic press.
- Heat oil in a nonstick pan or wok over medium-high heat. Add onions or shallots, sauté for a few minutes, then add garlic and green chili. Ensure sufficient oil for fragrance.
- After 30 seconds, add ground meat. Cook chicken until no longer pink, ensuring it stays juicy without overcooking.
- Add sauces, red chili, and basil to the cooked mixture.
- Stir until basil wilts, maintaining vibrant color. If it's too dry, add water for more sauce.
- Serve over steamed rice with a fried egg for irresistible creaminess.
VIDEO
NOTES
- To Store. Refrigerate for 2-3 days.
- To Reheat. When reheating in a skillet over medium-low heat, add vegetable or meat broth, or water if the sauce becomes dry and sticky.
- For the hot sauce - you can also use something like Valentina or Franks Red Hot.
ADD YOUR OWN PRIVATE NOTES
NUTRITION
FAQs
Thai basil features a peppery-licorice or anise flavor, distinguishing it from regular basil (Italian basil), which has a sweeter taste.
Basil, with essential oils and antibacterial properties, supports anti-inflammatory conditions and kidney cleansing. The acetic acid in basil helps expel kidney stones through urine, promoting overall well-being.
It’s very simple! Pad Krapow means beef, pork, or chicken stir-fried with garlic, chilies, and holy basil.
Serve Thai basil dishes with steamed rice and fried eggs for added creaminess that complements the peppery, spicy flavor. It also pairs well with noodles, pasta, or lentils.
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Julia | The Yummy Bowl
Make this Thai Basil Chicken spicy or not so much, the main flavor comes from the sauces and the delicious holy basil 🙂
B
There’s a difference between Thai basil and holy basil. Holy basil doesn’t really smell like anise. It’s more like regular basil, black pepper, and aged cheese. Couldn’t find it anywhere so I had to grow my own. If I’m not mistaken “pad” means to stir fry, “krapow” means holy basil. Pad krapow
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
great point, there is difference indeed, but personally, the difference is quite minimal in terms of end flavor.
Michelle
This was so good! I used a red bell pepper and a serrano pepper instead but my whole family loved it. It's going into the rotation!
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
thank you so much Michelle!
Michelle
This recipe is so delicious! I made a couple substitutions: I used 2 Thai chilis, chicken breast sliced really thin and added broccoli and carrots. Served over coconut rice. The kids went back for seconds and asked that we have it again, success! Thank you.
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
I love it! thank you!
Kate
This was simply delicious and so easy to make! Mine looked (almost) as good as your beautiful photos too! Will make again for sure!
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
that's amazing! Thank you Kate!
Gianne
The flavors were perfectly balanced and the chicken was tender and juicy. The basil added a refreshing kick to the dish.
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
thank you Gianne!
Sky
This sounds delicious! I can't wait to try it this spring when I have holy basil growing in the garden!
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
thats awesome! Enjoy Sky!
Ned
This combo was perfect and I totally loved the slight kick of heat. Thank you so much for this awesome recipe!
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
glad you loved it Ned!
Dannii
the flavours in this were amazing. Such a great new way to use chicken.
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
glad you liked it Dannii!
Anna
Recipe said “other hot sauce, see notes” for the sauce, but alas, no notes on hot sauce. Just FYI
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
added more info!