Description
Whipping up Thai Basil Chicken turns an ordinary weeknight into a spicy flavor adventure that’ll make your taste buds dance. Crispy chicken gets tossed with fragrant basil and chili peppers, creating a quick and delicious meal that brings restaurant-quality excitement right to your dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 500g (1 lb) boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Cooking Base:
- 1 tablespoon neutral oil (vegetable or canola)
Aromatics and Flavor Enhancers:
- 5 cloves garlic
- 2 red Thai chilies
- ½ small onion
Sauces and Seasonings:
- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon fish sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
Herbs:
- ½ cup Thai basil leaves
Instructions
- Grab 500g (1 lb) boneless chicken thighs and slice them into tiny uniform cubes, roughly ½-inch pieces so they’ll cook quickly and absorb maximum seasoning.
- Pour 1 tablespoon neutral oil into a large wok or skillet. Heat to medium-high (375°F) and toss in 5 minced garlic cloves and 2 thinly sliced Thai chilies, stirring rapidly for 30 seconds until their aroma fills your kitchen.
- Introduce the chopped chicken to the hot pan, spreading pieces evenly. Sauté for 5-7 minutes, continuously moving them to achieve golden-brown edges and complete internal cooking at 165°F.
- Drizzle 2 tablespoons oyster sauce, 1 tablespoon each of light and dark soy sauce, 1 teaspoon fish sauce, and 1 teaspoon sugar across the sizzling chicken. Mix thoroughly to coat each morsel.
- Slide ½ thinly sliced small onion into the pan, stirring for an additional 1-2 minutes until onions turn translucent and slightly softened.
- Remove pan from heat and immediately fold in ½ cup loosely packed Thai basil leaves, allowing their vibrant flavor to bloom in the residual warmth.
- Transfer your aromatic creation onto jasmine rice and crown with a crispy fried egg if desired, creating a complete meal bursting with authentic Thai flavors.
Notes
- Choose chicken thighs for richer flavor and more tender meat compared to chicken breast.
- When stir-frying, ensure your skillet or wok is super hot so the chicken browns nicely and develops deep caramelization.
- Fresh Thai basil makes a significant difference, so grab it from an Asian market if possible instead of substituting regular basil.
- For a low-carb version, replace jasmine rice with cauliflower rice and skip the sugar to make the dish more keto-friendly.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 9 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Thai
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 215 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg