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Thai Basil Chicken (Pad Krapow Gai)

A quick and spicy Thai street food dish made with ground chicken and fresh basil, served over steamed rice.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Asian, Thai
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 lb ground chicken (or thinly sliced chicken breast)
  • 1-2 pieces eggs (optional, for serving)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2-3 pieces Thai bird’s eye chilies, chopped (adjust to desired spice level)
  • 1 small onion, sliced (optional)
  • 1 piece red bell pepper, thinly sliced (optional)
  • 1 cup fresh Thai basil leaves (preferably Thai sweet basil, but regular basil works too)
  • 2 tbsp fish sauce
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp oyster sauce
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup water or chicken broth (to help create sauce)
  • as needed Steamed rice (for serving)

Method
 

Preparation
  1. In a small bowl, combine the fish sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sugar. Stir until the sugar is dissolved and set aside.
  2. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
Cooking
  1. Add the ground chicken (or sliced chicken breast) to the skillet and cook, breaking it up into small pieces, for about 5-7 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked and lightly browned.
  2. Add the minced garlic and chopped Thai chilies to the skillet. Stir-fry for about 1 minute, until fragrant.
  3. If using onion and red bell pepper, add them now and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, until they begin to soften.
  4. Pour the prepared sauce over the chicken mixture, adding water or chicken broth to help create a bit of sauce. Stir to coat the chicken and vegetables evenly in the sauce. Let it simmer for 1-2 minutes to allow the flavors to combine.
  5. Stir in the fresh basil leaves and cook for 1-2 minutes, until they wilt and become fragrant.
Serving
  1. In a separate pan, heat a little oil over medium heat and fry eggs sunny-side up or to your desired doneness.
  2. Serve the Thai Basil Chicken over steamed rice. Top with a fried egg (if desired) and extra fresh basil for garnish.

Notes

Use fresh Thai basil if you can; it has a peppery, spicy flavor that fits the dish. Adjust chilies to match your heat tolerance. Taste the sauce before adding basil and adjust fish or soy sauce if needed.