Servings
Font
Back
0 from 528 votes

Thai Basil Beef

This quick and easy Thai Basil Beef recipe takes less than 30 minutes to prepare and is so delicious! It's made with ground beef (or steak) and a homemade Thai basil sauce that's easy to customize to your preferred spice level. 

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 5
Calories: 295 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Thai

Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 shallots , chopped
  • 8 cloves garlic , minced
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh ginger , minced
  • 1 red bell pepper , thinly sliced
  • 1.5 lbs lean ground beef*
  • 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon fish sauce
  • 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1.5 Tablespoons oyster sauce*
  • 2 or 3 Tablespoons chili paste with garlic*
  • 3/4 cup low-sodium beef broth
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1.5 cups holy basil leaves* , chopped
  • 3 green onions chopped, for garnish
  • 5 cups hot cooked rice

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. In a wok or large skillet over medium high heat, add the oil, shallots, garlic, ginger and bell peppers and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
  2. Push the veggies off to the side and add the ground beef, breaking it up into small pieces as it cooks. (I like to use a meat chopper to break up the meat in very small pieces.)
  3. In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar, fish sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce, chili paste, cornstarch, beef broth, and water and add to the pan. Simmer for 5-10 minutes
  4. Add the basil and stir. Serve over hot steamed rice, with chopped green onion on top.

Notes

  • *Nutritional info does not include rice.
  • Oyster Sauce: You could substitute hoisin or use more soy sauce.
  • You could substitute hoisin or use more soy sauce.
  • Basil: Holy basil is recommend, but Thai basil or sweet basil could be substituted.
  • Meat: Use ground chicken, ground pork, or extra firm tofu (and vegetable broth) to make it vegetarian. Flank steak would also taste delicious in this recipe. Slice it thinly, against the grain.
  • Use ground chicken, ground pork, or extra firm tofu (and vegetable broth) to make it vegetarian. Flank steak would also taste delicious in this recipe. Slice it thinly, against the grain.
  • Chili Sauce: Substitute sriracha hot sauce in place of the Asian Garlic Chili Paste.
  • Vegetables: Use any color bell pepper and add more vegetables if you like. Try shredded carrot, thinly sliced zucchini, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, or mushrooms.
  • Use any color bell pepper and add more vegetables if you like. Try shredded carrot, thinly sliced zucchini, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, or mushrooms.
  • Rice: Use any kind of rice you like, or make it low carb and serve it in a lettuce wrap!
  • Use any kind of rice you like, or make it low carb and serve it in a lettuce wrap!
  • Add a fried egg on top!
  • Gluten-free Adaptations: use gluten-free soy sauce.
  • Make Thai Basil Chicken

Nutrition Information

Calories 295kcal (15%) Carbohydrates 11g (4%) Protein 34g (68%) Fat 13g (20%) Saturated Fat 4g (20%) Polyunsaturated Fat 4g Monounsaturated Fat 4g Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 84mg (28%) Sodium 1854mg (77%) Potassium 818mg (23%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 5g (10%) Vitamin A 1219IU (24%) Vitamin C 45mg (50%) Calcium 59mg (6%) Iron 4mg (22%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 5Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 295

% Daily Value*

Calories 295kcal 15%
Carbohydrates 11g 4%
Protein 34g 68%
Fat 13g 20%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g 24%
Monounsaturated Fat 4g 20%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 84mg 28%
Sodium 1854mg 77%
Potassium 818mg 17%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 5g 10%
Vitamin A 1219IU 24%
Vitamin C 45mg 50%
Calcium 59mg 6%
Iron 4mg 22%

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