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Thai Basil Chicken Stir Fry

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This Thai Basil Chicken Stir Fry is a quick, 20-minute weeknight dinner packed with bold, authentic Thai flavors. Juicy chicken, fragrant garlic, chilies, and fresh Thai basil come together in a savory-sweet sauce for a meal that’s better than takeout.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound (about 450 grams) chicken breast or thigh, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup fresh Thai basil leaves, packed (about 25 grams)
  • 4–5 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 2–4 red Thai bird’s eye chilies, finely sliced (to taste)
  • 1 medium shallot, thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
  • 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon fish sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1–2 tablespoons neutral oil (canola or grapeseed)
  • Optional: 1 cup sliced bell pepper, green beans, or baby corn
  • Cooked jasmine rice, for serving

Instructions

  1. Slice chicken breast or thigh into thin bite-sized strips. Optionally, marinate with 1 teaspoon light soy sauce and 1 teaspoon oil for extra tenderness.
  2. Pound together garlic and chilies in a mortar and pestle to form a rough paste, or finely chop them together.
  3. In a small bowl, mix oyster sauce, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, fish sauce, and sugar until sugar dissolves. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
  4. Heat a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Add neutral oil. When hot, add garlic-chili paste and shallot. Stir-fry for 30 seconds until fragrant, but do not brown the garlic.
  5. Add sliced chicken to the pan. Spread in a single layer and sear for 1 minute. Stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until cooked through and golden. If using veggies, add now and cook for another 2 minutes until crisp-tender.
  6. Pour sauce over chicken and toss to coat. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until sauce thickens and glazes the chicken. Add a splash of water if too dry.
  7. Turn off heat and add Thai basil leaves. Toss until wilted but still bright green, about 20 seconds.
  8. Serve immediately over hot jasmine rice. Garnish with extra chilies and basil if desired.

Notes

Prep all ingredients before cooking, as stir fry moves quickly. Adjust chilies for desired spice level. For gluten-free, use gluten-free soy and oyster sauces. Add extra veggies or swap protein as desired. Leftovers keep well for up to 3 days in the fridge.

Nutrition

Keywords: Thai basil chicken, stir fry, weeknight dinner, quick Thai recipe, spicy chicken, easy stir fry, Asian chicken, Thai chicken, basil chicken, healthy dinner

Find it online: https://hungermind.com/thai-basil-chicken-stir-fry-recipe-easy-20-minute-weeknight-dinner/