Thai Basil Chicken

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.
• Garlic Cloves: You can use fresh garlic or minced garlic in this recipe. If you use minced, 1/2 teaspoon of minced garlic equals about 1 clove.
• 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.

1. 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.
2. Add Veggies: Add the minced garlic, shallots, and peppers. Stir fry until fork tender but still crisp.
3. Whisk Sauce: To make the sauce, combine the soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, and brown sugar in a bowl. Whisk to combine.
4. Add Sauce: Add the sauce and stir fry until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken.
5. 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.
6. Enjoy: Serve immediately with rice. Garnish with fresh basil leaves. Enjoy!