Flavorful Thai Basil Chicken Recipe Easy Spicy Pad Krapow Gai Guide
A quick and easy Thai Basil Chicken (Pad Krapow Gai) recipe that delivers bold, spicy, and savory flavors with fresh Thai basil and fiery chilies. Perfect for busy weeknights and packed with authentic taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Thai
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground chicken (lean, preferably fresh)
- 1 cup loosely packed fresh Thai basil leaves
- 4–5 garlic cloves, minced
- 2–4 bird’s eye chilies, finely chopped (adjust to heat preference)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (can substitute peanut oil)
- 1 ½ tablespoons fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- ½ teaspoon white sugar
- Optional: Fried egg for serving
Instructions
- Mince the garlic and finely chop the bird’s eye chilies. Pick the Thai basil leaves off the stems and set aside. (Prep time: 5-7 minutes)
- Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering and just starting to smoke.
- Add the minced garlic and chopped chilies. Stir constantly for 30 seconds to 1 minute until fragrant but not burnt.
- Add the ground chicken, crumbling it into the pan. Stir-fry vigorously, breaking up lumps, for 5-7 minutes until no longer pink and slightly browned.
- Pour in 1 ½ tablespoons fish sauce, 1 tablespoon light soy sauce, 1 tablespoon oyster sauce, and ½ teaspoon sugar. Stir well and taste to adjust seasoning if needed.
- Remove from heat and toss in the Thai basil leaves. Stir for 30 seconds until wilted but still fresh.
- Serve immediately over steamed jasmine rice with an optional fried egg on top.
Notes
Use fresh Thai basil for authentic flavor; substitute bird’s eye chilies with serrano or jalapeño for milder heat. Avoid overcooking basil to keep aroma fresh. Splash water or broth if chicken starts to stick or dry out. Adjust chili quantity to taste. Ground turkey or pork can be used as protein alternatives. For vegetarian version, use tofu or tempeh and replace fish sauce with soy sauce or tamari.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 cup of chick
- Calories: 350400
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 900
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 10
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 30
Keywords: Thai basil chicken, Pad Krapow Gai, spicy chicken recipe, Thai recipe, quick dinner, stir-fry chicken, authentic Thai food