Savory spicy chicken with basil and rice
Thai Basil Ground Chicken Bowls
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
12 min
Total Time
22 min
Servings
4
4 servings
Difficulty
Easy
Cost
Budget
$
Thai Basil Ground Chicken Bowls
Savory spicy chicken with basil and rice
Ground chicken cooked with garlic, chiles, and basil for a fast Thai-inspired bowl that delivers a lot of flavor quickly.
10m
Prep Time
12m
Cook Time
22m
Total Time
4
Servings
Easy
Difficulty
Budget $
Cost
Sarah Chen
(Updated )
This is the kind of dinner you make when you need speed but still want something vivid. Ground chicken cooks quickly, basil adds lift, and the sauce gives the bowl just enough sweetness and heat.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 to 2 chiles, minced
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- 1 cup basil leaves
- Cooked rice for serving
HeatTool
Test Kitchen Pick
Wok
Helpful Tool
Why a wok helps here
High-heat cooking gets easier when the pan can move food quickly without steaming it. That is the real advantage for stir-fries like this one.
This recipe benefits most from faster heat response and more tossing room.
- Keeps vegetables and proteins from steaming
- Makes quick sauce reduction easier
A flat-bottom wok is the most useful upgrade if you cook stir-fries more than once in a while.
Shop wok options for this recipeInstructions
- 1
Cook the garlic and chiles briefly in a hot skillet.
- 2
Add the ground chicken and cook until browned and broken up.
- 3
Stir in the soy sauce, fish sauce, and brown sugar.
- 4
Fold in the basil just until wilted.
- 5
Serve over rice.
Serving Suggestions
Ways to Serve This Dish
Serve over steamed jasmine or sticky rice
Pair with a side of pickled vegetables or kimchi
Add a drizzle of sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds for extra flavor
Substitutions
Fish sauceExtra soy sauce
The dish loses some depth but still tastes good
Ground chickenGround turkey
Turkey is slightly less rich but very close
DepthPantry
Test Kitchen Pick
Fish Sauce
Helpful Pantry Staple
Why the fish sauce matters
This dish leans on fish sauce for a lot of its savory depth, so the bottle you use has more impact than most pantry upgrades.
This is one of the few ingredients here that noticeably changes the final dish.
- Builds the backbone of the sauce
- Useful well beyond this recipe
A better bottle makes a real difference here and pays off across Vietnamese and Thai cooking.
Shop fish sauce for this recipeTips & Storage
Pro Tips
Thai basil is best, but regular basil still works very well.
A fried egg on top makes the bowl even more satisfying.
Storage
Refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Reheating
Reheat the chicken and serve with fresh rice.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving (1 serving without rice) · 4 servings
Calories280
LowModerateHigh
A moderate-calorie serving · based on a 2,000 cal daily diet
Protein25g
Carbohydrates7g
Fat15g
Fiber1g
Sugar4g
Sodium760mg
Nutritional values are approximate and may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I use turkey?
- Yes. Turkey works similarly and stays lean.
- How spicy should it be?
- That is up to you. Start with one chile if you want more control.
About Sarah Chen
Sarah Chen is a professional recipe developer and food editor with over a decade of experience in test kitchens and food media. She trained at the Culinary Institute of America before spending six years developing and testing recipes for national food publications, where she honed her ability to translate restaurant techniques into approachable home cooking. At RecipePool, Sarah leads recipe development, ensuring every dish is tested at least three times for clarity, accuracy, and genuine deliciousness. When she is not in the kitchen, she is browsing farmers markets and collecting vintage cookbooks.
View all recipes →Some product links on this page may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate RecipePool earns from qualifying purchases.
You Might Also Like
Thai
Thai Peanut Tofu Noodle Salad
A cold noodle salad with tofu, crunchy vegetables, and a creamy peanut dressing that holds up well for meal prep or warm-weather dinners.
35 min
Easy
French
French Salmon en Papillote
A parchment-baked salmon dinner with lemon, shallots, and herbs that feels elegant without demanding much hands-on work.
33 min
Easy
Italian
Italian Tuna and White Bean Pasta
A pantry-friendly Italian-style pasta with tuna, white beans, capers, lemon, and olive oil that tastes much brighter than its ingredient list suggests.
28 min
Easy
Korean
Korean Crispy Tofu Rice Bowls
A rice bowl with crisp tofu, cool cucumbers, and a spicy-sweet gochujang sauce that keeps every bite balanced.
40 min
EasyJapanese
Japanese Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs
Tender chicken meatballs coated in a glossy teriyaki glaze for an easy dinner that also holds up well in lunch containers.
40 min
Easy
Japanese
Japanese Pork and Cabbage Stir-Fry
A simple Japanese-style stir-fry of thin pork, cabbage, and ginger that comes together quickly and works especially well over rice.
27 min
Easy