This quick and easy Thai Basil Beef is made with ground beef and a homemade Thai basil sauce and can be thrown together in less than 30 minutes! You will be amazed at the authentic taste.

I love to make International cuisine at home that tastes even better than take-out, like this easy homemade Pad Thai, Korean Ground Beef and Thai Chicken Skewers.

Thai Basil Beef

Whenever I’m eating out at a Thai restaurant my go-to dish is usually Thai Basil Beef, (also called Pad Gra Prow on Thai restaurant menus). I was excited to develop this recipe at home because it’s made with ground beef, which I usually have on hand, making it practical and inexpensive for a weeknight dinner at our house. I have always loved the flavors of Thai food, and pride myself on making some of my favorite Thai recipes from scratch.

What do you need to make Thai Basil Beef?

• vegetable oil
• garlic, shallots, bell pepper, ginger
• lean ground beef
• brown sugar
• fish sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce, Asian garlic chili paste
• beef broth
• water
• cornstarch
• Thai basil leaves*
• cooked Jasmine rice, for serving

How to make Thai Basil Beef

1. Cook the veggies.In a wok or large skillet over medium high heat add the oil, shallots, garlic, ginger and bell peppers and fry for 3 minutes. Push the veggies off to the side.
2. Add ground beef.  Turn the heat to high and add the ground beef, breaking it up into small bits with a spoon. (I like to spoon the cooked ground beef into my food processor and pulse it barely a few times to break it into really small pieces).
3. Make the sauce.In a small bowl stir together the brown sugar, fish sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce, cornstarch beef broth and water and add to the pan. Cook for 2 minutes.
4. Add the basil and stir-fry until wilted.
5. Serve over hot cooked rice.

Is Thai Basil the same as regular basil?

Thai basil and regular basil (also called sweet basil) are different. Thai basil has a spicy licorice-anise flavor and is not as common to find in the states as sweet basil. A good place to find Thai basil is at your local Asian or International foods market.

Substitution ideas:

Instead of ground beef: You could use ground chicken or ground pork, or even tofu. Flank steak would also taste delicious in this recipe. Slice it thinly, against the grain.

Instead of Oyster Sauce: You could use more soy sauce.

Instead of Red Bell Pepper: you could use any other color bell pepper, or shredded carrot, or thinly sliced zucchini. You could add more vegetables like mushrooms and bean spouts.

Asian Chili Paste: you could substitute sriracha hot sauce.

Jasmine Rice: Use any kind of rice you like, or skip the rice and serve them in a lettuce wrap!