By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on October 3, 2026
Serves 4
346 cal · 20 min
Thai Basil Beef
Recipe GLPR7f1918e701a1f6
Rate this recipe
Average rating: 3.8 (1)
A vibrant Thai-inspired ground beef stir-fry infused with aromatic Thai basil, fresh chilies, and a balanced blend of savory fish sauce and bright lime juice. This quick and flavorful main course comes together in just 20 minutes with diced shallots, bell pepper, and garlic, delivering authentic Southeast Asian taste without dairy or heavy oils.
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Ingredients
1 lb Ground beef
2 medium Shallots, diced
1 large Red bell pepper, diced
4 clove Garlic cloves, chopped
2 whole Bird's eye chilies, thinly sliced
2 tbsp Fish sauce
1 tbsp Palm sugar
1 whole Lime, juice and zest
1 cup Thai basil, fresh
2 whole Green onions, thinly sliced
Directions
Heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until no longer pink and the internal temperature reaches 160°F, about 5–7 minutes. Drain any excess moisture and set aside.
In the same skillet over medium-high heat, add the diced shallots, garlic, and sliced bird's eye chilies. Stir-fry for about 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
Add the diced red bell pepper and continue stir-frying for 2–3 minutes until slightly softened.
Return the cooked ground beef to the skillet. Stir in the fish sauce and palm sugar, combining well for about 1 minute.
Remove from heat and stir in the fresh Thai basil, lime juice, and lime zest until evenly distributed.
Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with sliced green onions. Serve immediately.
Comments
Thai basil and bird's eye chilies force a special trip to an Asian market—neither Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Publix, Walmart, ALDI, nor Kroger stock these reliably in Charlotte. The rest of the ingredients are standard and budget-friendly, keeping per-serving cost low around $2–$2.50, but the 20-minute time omits prep work; realistically allow 10 extra minutes for shallot and pepper dice plus chili seeding. The dish reheats poorly, turning dull and separated overnight, so it suits a same-night dinner for a hungry family that can eat it fresh off the pan. Fish sauce and palm sugar are specialty items too, though slightly easier to source than the basil.
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