Thai Basil Chicken
A fast skillet version of pad krapow with ground chicken, garlic, chiles, basil, and a salty-sweet sauce.
Plan and shop
Save this recipe for real-life cooking
Build a local shopping list or place this recipe into a weekly meal plan. No account is required.
Illustrated cooking guide
Step-by-step visual method
A polished English infographic for the whole cooking flow, paired with the full written recipe below for detail and SEO.
Written method
Instructions
Read through once, then cook at your own pace with the illustrated guide above.
- 1
Stir soy sauce, fish sauce, and brown sugar together for the sauce.
- 2
Cook garlic and chiles in oil until fragrant.
- 3
Add ground chicken and break it into small pieces as it browns.
- 4
Stir in green beans and sauce; cook until the beans are crisp-tender.
- 5
Fold in basil and serve over rice with a fried egg.
Cook notes
Tips
Add basil at the very end so it stays fragrant.
Use a hot pan to brown the chicken instead of letting it steam.
Cook smarter
Helpful notes
Practical storage, serving, swap, and troubleshooting notes for a better first try.
Storage Tips
- Store chicken and rice separately for up to 3 days.
- Reheat the chicken in a skillet and fry a fresh egg when serving.
Substitutions
- Use ground turkey, pork, or crumbled tofu instead of chicken.
- Use snap peas or bell pepper instead of green beans.
What to Serve With
- Serve with cucumber slices to cool the heat.
- Add lime wedges and extra basil at the table.
Common Mistakes
- Do not cook basil for several minutes or its flavor will disappear.
- Do not skip the rice; the sauce is intentionally bold and salty.
Recipe FAQ
Can I make Thai basil chicken less spicy?
Yes. Use one chile, remove the seeds, or replace chiles with a small spoonful of chili garlic sauce.
Can I use regular basil?
Yes. Thai basil is more aromatic, but Italian basil still makes a tasty dinner.
Kitchen tools
Helpful Tools for This Recipe
A light, editable placeholder for future partner recommendations. No real affiliate links are enabled yet.
Wok
Helpful for stir-fries, fried rice, and fast high-heat noodle dishes.
Rice cooker
Good for steady rice, grains, and meal-prep bowls.
Blender
Helpful for smooth sauces, soups, marinades, and purees.
Skillet
Useful for browning, quick sautes, and weeknight one-pan cooking.
Chef knife
A basic prep tool for vegetables, herbs, aromatics, and proteins.
Some links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate or partner, we may earn from qualifying purchases when enabled. Read the Affiliate Disclosure.
Cook along weekly
Want more illustrated recipes like Thai Basil Chicken?
Join the World Recipe Letter for global home-cooking ideas and visual recipe guides.
Join the World Recipe Letter
Get 5 illustrated recipes every week.
No account needed. Unsubscribe when email delivery is connected.
Cook next
You might also like
More flavors from the same country or nearby pantry style.
Pad Thai
Rice noodles tossed with tamarind sauce, shrimp, egg, tofu, peanuts, and lime.
Thai Green Curry
A coconut green curry with chicken, eggplant, bamboo shoots, basil, and fragrant paste.
Mango Sticky Rice
Sweet coconut sticky rice served with ripe mango and toasted sesame.