Thai Basil Ground Beef Stir-Fry | CookOS

Thai Basil Ground Beef

Name: Thai Basil Ground Beef Stir-Fry
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Thai
Ingredients: 5 cloves garlic, finely minced; 2 Thai chilis, thinly sliced; 1 tbsp dark soy sauce; 1 tbsp light soy sauce; 1 tbsp fish sauce; 1 tbsp oyster sauce; 1 tsp granulated sugar; 1 tbsp neutral oil; 1 lb ground beef; 1 cup fresh Thai basil leaves; cooked rice, for serving; 1 fried egg, for garnish

Thai Basil Ground Beef is a savory stir-fried ground beef dish cooked with garlic, Thai chilis, and fish sauce, finished with fresh Thai basil and served over rice. This quick weeknight meal comes together in under 15 minutes.

🌍Thai 🏷️Thai basil beef 🏷️Ground beef 🏷️Stir-fry 🏷️Spicy Savory

About·Privacy·Terms

🏷️

0:00

-0:00

Disabled

Auto

0.25x

0.5x

0.75x

Normal

1.25x

1.5x

1.75x

i.am.never.fullonTikTok

Total

15 min

Servings

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$23–$38

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok · by i.am.never.full

0:00

-0:00

Disabled

Auto

0.25x

0.5x

0.75x

Normal

1.25x

1.5x

1.75x

i.am.never.fullonTikTok

Ingredients

5 cloves garlic, finely minced
2 Thai chilis, thinly sliced
1 tbsp dark soy sauce
1 tbsp light soy sauce
1 tbsp fish sauce
1 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tsp granulated sugar
1 tbsp neutral oil
1 lb ground beef
1 cup fresh Thai basil leaves
cooked rice, for serving
1 fried egg, for garnishoptional

12 Ingredients

Delivery in as fast as one hour.^*

Prices vary by store

^*Service fees apply. Instacart^® and the Instacart logo are registered trademarks of Maplebear Inc. d/b/a Instacart.

Instructions

1
Finely mince the garlic and thinly slice the Thai chilis.
2
In a small bowl, combine the dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, and sugar. Mix well to dissolve the sugar.
3
Heat oil in a wok or large pan over medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic and sliced chilis and stir-fry until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
4
Add the ground beef to the pan. Use a spatula to break it apart and cook until it is mostly browned.
5
Pour the prepared sauce over the beef and continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens and coats the meat.
6
Add the fresh Thai basil leaves and toss until they are just wilted. Immediately remove the pan from the heat.
7
Serve the Thai basil beef over a fresh bowl of rice.
8
Optionally, garnish with a fried egg.

Was this recipe helpful?

Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Mince garlic finely and slice chilis thin so they distribute evenly and cook quickly throughout the beef.
Cook ground beef over medium-high heat and break it into small pieces as it browns to avoid clumping and ensure even cooking.
Add fresh Thai basil in the final 30 seconds off heat to preserve its delicate anise-like aroma and bright flavor.
Balance the sauce by tasting as you go—if too salty, add a pinch of sugar; if too sweet, add a splash more soy or fish sauce.

Substitutions

Dark soy sauce → regular soy sauce (slightly less depth)
Fish sauce → soy sauce or tamari (different umami profile)
Thai basil → holy basil or Italian basil (flavor shift but still tasty)
Ground beef → ground pork or chicken (cooks in similar time)

Storage & make-ahead

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a skillet over medium heat and add fresh Thai basil just before serving.

Common Questions

Can I substitute regular basil for Thai basil?

Regular basil works in a pinch but lacks the anise-like flavor of Thai basil. Thai basil delivers the authentic taste—if unavailable, use holy basil as a closer substitute.

What can I use instead of fish sauce?

Soy sauce or tamari can replace fish sauce 1:1, though the umami depth will differ slightly. Worcestershire sauce is another option for a different but complementary flavor.

How do I know when the ground beef is cooked through?

Break the beef into small pieces as it cooks and stir frequently. It's done when no pink remains and the meat is fully browned, usually 5–7 minutes over medium-high heat.

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes, cook the beef mixture and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a skillet and add fresh Thai basil just before serving to preserve its flavor.