• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Mikha Eats
  • Recipe Index
  • Summer Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • About
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • TikTok
menu icon
go to homepage
  • All Recipes
  • Picnic
  • About
  • Resources
  • Subscribe
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • All Recipes
    • Picnic
    • About
    • Resources
    • Subscribe
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • ×
    • Chicken Adobo in a black pan topped with green onions and black peppercorns.
      Adobong Manok | Easy Chicken Adobo Recipe
    • Black pan full of garlic noodles topped with grated cheese and green onions.
      Best Asian Garlic Noodles Recipe
    • White bowl and silver spoon with rice and tomato egg stir-fry topped with green onions.
      Easy Chinese Egg Tomato Stir Fry Recipe
    • Panful of Rabokki with ramen noodles, rice cakes, and hard-boiled eggs.
      Rabokki | Tteokbokki Ramen
    • Glossy udon noodles coated in soy-based sauce with steak & veggies.
      Easy Beef Yaki Udon Noodle Recipe
    • Hand pouring matcha into a glass mason jar of strawberry matcha latte on a wood plate.
      Strawberry Matcha Latte Recipe
    • Silver spoon drizzling teriyaki sauce on rice plate of chicken and broccoli.
      Easy Teriyaki Chicken Recipe
    • Silver spoon drizzling on nuoc cham sauce over lemongrass chicken rice bowl with cucumbers & carrots.
      Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken Thighs Recipe
    • Slice of mango float on a white & browned rimmed plate with a silver spoon.
      Filipino Mango Graham Float
    • Miso salmon on a bed of white rice and steamed spinach in a black bowl.
      Air Fryer Miso-Glazed Salmon
    • Two glasses of avocado smoothie with gold wide straws on a wooden plate in the kitchen.
      Vietnamese Avocado Smoothie - Sinh To Bo
    • White oval plate with Kalbi topped with sesame seeds & green onions on a white table.
      Korean Marinated Flanken Short Ribs - Kalbi
    Home » Recipes » 30-Minutes or Less

    Thai Chili Basil Chicken | Thai Basil Chicken Recipe

    Published: May 22, 2021 · Modified: Jul 12, 2021 by Mikha S. · This post may contain affiliate links

    Sharing is caring!

    4 shares
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Email
    • WhatsApp
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Thai basil chicken with rice and fried egg on a blue plate.

    Thai Chili Basil Chicken, also known as Pad Kra Pao Gai, is sweet, savory, and SO simple to make at home! With just a few ingredients, you can have one of the most beloved Thai street food dishes made right in the comfort of your home. Best of all, this quick and easy meal will be ready faster than any food delivery!

    The Star Ingredient for Thai Chili Basil Chicken: Holy Basil

    Thai holy basil is different from Thai basil. The Thai holy basil has been described as peppery and licorice-like flavors. Thai basil, on the other hand, can have more of an anise flavor. It does lack the pepperiness that holy basil has though.

    Holy basil can be challenging to find, even at Asian markets! So, if you get lucky and get your hands on some holy basil for this recipe, bravaaa! If, however, you can’t seem to find it anywhere, don’t sweat it! Thai basil is much more accessible and can be used as a substitute. Even Italian basil would work! 

    The flavors will be slightly different, but still absolutely delicious, nonetheless.

    Thai basil chicken with rice and fried egg on a blue plate.

    Get More with Less

    Thai Basil Chicken isn’t an incredibly saucy dish. The ingredients for the sauce are simple and commonly used Asian condiments. However, when they’re combined, they create such a bold intense flavor. It could even be overwhelming if it was drenched in the sauce! 

    Instead, the chicken soaks up most of the flavor and the veggies are lightly coated in it as well. Every bite is just bursting with a smoky savory flavor! AND what I love most about this dish is that it can satisfy my craving for Thai street food in 30 minutes or less. If that’s not winning, I don’t know what is.

    If you’re ready for a quick and healthy meal from the streets of Thailand, try this Thai Chili Basil Chicken recipe! Then, let me know how it goes! Which kind of basil did you use in your dish and how did it turn out? Let me know in the comments below!

    Let's Get Cooking!

    Subscribe to my Goody-Packed Newsletters stuffed with time-saving tips, game-changing cooking tools, & first access to new recipes that makes life easier & more delicious! Get them straight to your inbox so you never go hangry 😉

    For drool-worthy step-by-step videos, follow along @MikhaEats on Instagram & Tiktok - and don't forget to tag @MikhaEats for a chance to be featured!

    Thai basil chicken with rice and fried egg on a blue plate.

    Thai Chili Basil Chicken

    Author: Mikha S.
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Asian, Thai
    This Thai Chili Basil Chicken is sweet, savory, and has a nice crunch from fresh green beans. This popular Thai dish is quick and easy to make at the comfort of your own home!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 20 minutes mins
    Total Time: 25 minutes mins
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 239 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    Sauce:

    • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
    • 2 teaspoons fish sauce
    • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
    • 1 teaspoons dark soy sauce
    • ¼ cup chicken broth or water

    Ingredients:

    • 2 shallots finely diced
    • 7 garlic cloves minced
    • 3 - 5 Thai chilies thinly sliced (adjust to your level of spice)
    • 1 pound ground chicken*
    • ½ cup green beans cut into 2-inch pieces (can sub. with long beans)
    • 1 cup holy basil*

    Instructions
     

    • In a bowl, combine the sauce ingredients. Set aside.
    • Heat a wok or large pan on medium-high heat. Add about a tablespoon of oil then the shallots. Cook until lightly golden. Add in garlic and Thai chilies and cook for another 30 seconds, or until soft and fragrant.
    • Add in ground chicken. Break up the meat and cook until 80% done (you should still see a little pink in the meat).
    • Pour in the sauce mixture and cook for another 2 - 3 minutes, or until meat is cooked through and most of the sauce is absorbed.
    • Add the green beans and cook until tender. Turn off heat and toss in holy basil until it wilts. Serve on a side of steamy hot rice or cauliflower rice and enjoy!
    Last Step: Please tap to leave a rating & comment sharing how you liked the recipe! This helps us create high-quality content for you & a food-loving community where we can all learn from each other 🙂

    Notes

    • Oyster Sauce: Oyster sauce has an explosion of flavor! It's thick in consistency and adds sweet and salty flavors.
    • Fish Sauce: Fish sauce may be pungent in scent for first-time users, however, don't let that deter you! It blends deliciously with the rest of the ingredients to create a depth of flavor along with its saltiness.
    • Soy Sauce / Dark Soy Sauce: Both types of soy sauces bring different elements to the dish. Light or regular soy sauce adds saltiness and can be easily accessible at grocery stores. Dark soy sauce adds a deep rich color and can be found at local Asian markets or Amazon. If you can't find dark soy sauce, keep in mind that your Thai Basil Chicken will come out lighter in color.
    • Basil: Holy basil can be challenging to find, even in Asian markets. If you can find it, great! If not, don't sweat it. Thai basil is much more accessible and can be used as a substitute. Even Italian basil could work. The flavor profile of the dish will be slightly different depending on which you use, but will be so delicious nonetheless!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 75gCalories: 239kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 24gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 99mgSodium: 4239mgPotassium: 788mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 484IUVitamin C: 20mgCalcium: 69mgIron: 2mg

    Exact calculations may vary. For the most accurate nutritional information, use your preferred nutrition calculator, actual ingredients, and quantities used for the recipe. Please consult with your physician or registered dietitian if more precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.

    Mikha using chopsticks to eat a bowl of noodles.

    HEY, I'M MIKHA!

    ...A fellow food lover who believes anyone can whip up a delicious meal - no matter your skill level! These quick & easy Asian recipes will help you transform simple ingredients into a drool-worthy meal for you & the people you love most - without spending all day in the kitchen.

    Now come on - Grab a seat & let's eat!

    • YouTube
    • Instagram
    • TikTok
    • Pinterest

    More About Me →

    Fresh Hot Bites!

    • Peanut noodles in a white bowl with chopsticks and topped with green onions and crushed peanuts.
      Spicy Peanut Sauce Noodles
    • Silver spoon scooping chili oil with bits of garlic and chili from pan.
      Homemade Garlic Chili Oil Recipe
    • Square plate of miso mushrooms garnished with chopped chives.
      Miso Mushrooms (with Soy Sauce)
    • Chopsticks holding a piece of spicy garlic edamame.
      Spicy Edamame with Garlic

    ⭐ Comments

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Mikha eating spicy noodles from a bowl.

    HEY FRIEND, I'M MIKHA!

    ...A fellow food lover who believes anyone can whip up a delicious meal - no matter your skill level! These quick & easy Asian recipes will help you transform simple ingredients into a drool-worthy meal for you & the people you love most - without spending all day in the kitchen.

    Now come on - Grab a seat & let's eat!

    More About Me →

    Follow for More
    Drool-Worthy Content!

    YouTube
    Pinterest
    TikTok
    Instagram

    Picnic & Grill

    • White oval plate with Kalbi topped with sesame seeds & green onions on a white table.
      Korean Marinated Flanken Short Ribs - Kalbi
    • Vermicelli bowl with lemongrass chicken and other toppings and nuoc cham on the side.
      Vietnamese Vermicelli Rice Noodle Salad with Chicken
    • Picking up Vietnamese shrimp summer roll.
      Vietnamese Shrimp Salad Rolls with Peanut Sauce
    • Chicken satay skewers on a blue plate with cucumber slices and peanut sauce.
      Easy Chicken Satay Recipe
    • Ribs slathered in bbq sauce on a parchment-lined baking tray.
      Gochujang Ribs
    • Charred shishito peppers with thin lemon slices on a white plate.
      Charred Shishito Peppers

    Popular Recipes

    • Eggplant tofu stir-fry topped with sesame seeds & green onions in a white bowl.
      Stir Fry Eggplant Tofu
    • Closeup of Hawaiian garlic shrimp with rice.
      BEST Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp Recipe
    • Lifting chili oil garlic noodles with chopsticks.
      EASIEST Chili Oil Garlic Noodles
    • Holding two halves of Japanese egg salad sandwiches with chives sprinkled on top.
      Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich (Tamago Sando)
    • Baking pan of sushi bake with green onions and nori.
      Immitation Crab Sushi Bake
    • Chopsticks holding a piece of spicy garlic edamame.
      Spicy Edamame with Garlic

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Quick Links

    Explore Recipes

    Shop Kitchen Essentials

    About Mikha

    Privacy Policy

    Accessibility Statement

    Keep in Touch!

    Get in Touch!

    Subscribe

    Pinterest

    Instagram

    Tiktok

    Mikha Eats is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

    Copyright © 2022 MIKHA EATS