Thai Basil Chicken

5 from 1 vote

Thai basil chicken, or pad kra pao, is a classic Thai stir fry dish that is fragrant with the aroma of basil with an added kick from Thai chilis. It's a classic Thai dish loved by Thai locals and it's popularity has spread throughout the Western world as well.

Prep Time15

Cook Time15

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Thai

Servings:

Calories: 310kcal

Author: Clara

Ingredients

Stir Fry Sauce

1 clove Garlic
2 teaspoon Soy sauce
2 teaspoon Oyster sauce
1 teaspoon Dark soy sauce
1 tsp Fish sauce

Chicken and Rice

6 oz Chicken thigh (Boneless, skinless)
¼ Onion
1-2 Thai chilis (Adjust based on spice tolerance)
1 Egg
Black pepper and salt (To taste)
Thai basil (Can substitute with regular basil)

Instructions

Begin by cooking the rice if using according to the package directions.
Gather the chicken and marinade ingredients. Cut the chicken into small bite-sized pieces. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
Prepare the garlic and onion by mincing them. Then spray a skillet with cooking spray and sauté the vegetables. Begin to add in the chicken pieces in a single layer. Cook for about 3-4 minutes on each side while stirring the vegetables around consistently to avoid overcooking and burning anything.
Once the chicken looks about done and the vegetables have softened, add in the stir fry sauce and mix with the chicken and vegetables thoroughly. Use water if needed to help deglaze the skillet.
When the stir fry look well mixed together, turn the heat to low and add in the Thai basil. Stir until the leaves begin to wither and you'll know that the basil is done. Remove from pan and enjoy your delicious and healthy Thai basil chicken!

Notes

Substitutions and Variations

Ground chicken meat – You can also opt to use ground chicken instead of chicken thigh pieces

Thai Basil substitutions – Basil can also be used to substitute Thai basil

Expert Tips

Add basil at the end – To optimize the flavor of the dish, add the basil at the end and let it cook in the residual heat of dish.

Add an egg – To complement the umami flavors of the dish, serve with an egg.

Nutrition