Easy Thai Basil Chicken Stir Fry (Pad Krapow Gai) Ready in 20 Minutes
There's a reason Thai basil chicken, also known as Pad Krapow Gai, is one of the most popular street food dishes in Thailand. It's incredibly simple, packed with bold flavors, and comes together in less time than it takes to order takeout!
Servings 6 servings
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 1 pound ground chicken or finely chopped chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 5 cloves garlic finely minced
- 3 to 5 dried red chilies cut into small pieces
- 1 small shallot thinly sliced (optional, but adds sweetness)
- 1½ cups fresh Thai basil leaves loosely packed
For the Sauce
- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons dark soy sauce
- 1½ teaspoons fish sauce
- 2 teaspoons light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon honey adds a subtle caramelized sweetness
- 2 tablespoons chicken broth or water
- ½ teaspoon toasted sesame oil optional for extra depth
Optional Garnishes
- Crispy fried egg
- Thinly sliced green onions
- Sesame seeds
- Lime wedges
- Steamed jasmine rice
Instructions
- Whisk all of the sauce ingredients together in a small bowl and set aside.
- Finely dice the onion, chop the green beans, mince the garlic, and cut the dried red chilies into small pieces.
- Heat oil in a large skillet and sauté the onion and green beans until slightly tender. Remove them from the skillet and set aside.
- Add a little more oil to the same skillet, cook the ground chicken until browned, then stir the onion and green beans back in.
- Pour in the sauce, add the dried red chilies, and stir until everything is well coated. Turn off the heat and mix in the Thai basil until wilted.