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4.5 from 12 votes

Healthy Thai Basil Beef

A paleo friendly healthy version of classic Thai Basil Beef (Pad Gra Prow) made gluten-free, soy-free, and refined sugar-free. Easy to whip up any night of the week in 30 minutes or less!

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 3 Servings
Calories: 421 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Thai

Ingredients

For the Thai Basil Sauce
  • ¼ cup coconut aminos*
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp fish sauce
  • 2 Tbsp rice vinegar
  • 2 tsp Sriracha to taste
  • 2 tsp toasted sesame oil
  • 2 tsp tapioca flour**
For the Basil Beef:
  • 1 Tbsp avocado oil
  • ½ medium-sized yellow onion sliced
  • 1 small red bell pepper cut into matchsticks
  • 1 pound ground beef***
  • 5 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 large jalapeño sliced, optional****
  • 1 cup fresh basil chopped

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Stir together the ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl or measuring cup until everything is well-combined.
  2. Heat the avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the skillet is hot, add the sliced onion and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the sides of the onion begin showing some color.
  3. Scoot the onion off to the side and place the ground beef in the center of the skillet. Allow it to brown for 2 minutes before breaking it up into smaller pieces using a spatula or wooden spoon. 
  4. Stir in the bell pepper, garlic, and jalapenos until well-incorporated and the garlic is fragrant, about 1 to 2 minutes.
  5. Pour the sauce into the skillet and stir well. Bring everything to a full boil and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened and the vegetables have reached your desired level of doneness, about 2 to 3 minutes.
  6. Stir in the fresh basil.
  7. Serve the Thai Basil Ground Beef over steamed white rice, jasmine rice, brown rice, rice noodles, stir fry noodles, or cauliflower rice for a low carb option.

Notes

  • *If you aren’t soy-free, use 2 tablespoons of soy sauce or liquid aminos plus 2 tablespoons of brown sugar or pure maple syrup to replace the coconut aminos.
  • **You can also use gluten-free all-purpose flour, cornstarch, or arrowroot flour.
  • ***I use lean ground beef that has 10% fat or less. If you prefer your food less greasy like me, stick with 10% or lower fat content. If you love rich foods, feel free to use 85/15 or 80/20. 
  • ****Remove the seeds of the jalapeno for a mild dish, or omit it altogether. To make spicy Thai Basil Beef, include the jalapeno seeds, use 2 jalapenos, or add more red chili paste to the sauce.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1(of 3) Calories 421kcal (21%) Carbohydrates 18g (6%) Protein 32g (64%) Fat 23g (35%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 13g (26%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 3Servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 421

% Daily Value*

Serving 1(of 3)
Calories 421kcal 21%
Carbohydrates 18g 6%
Protein 32g 64%
Fat 23g 35%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 13g 26%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.