The Best Easy Beef Thai Basil Stir Fry Recipe - Takeout style Thai basil beef stir fry recipe that tastes just like it's from your favorite Thai Food Restaurant but takes less time than driving to pick it up!
If you love Thai basil from your local Thai food restaurant, you'll LOVE this super easy and addictive recipe - and it even works in all sorts of healthy eating plans, including the keto and paleo diet!
This Thai basil beef stir fry recipe is fantastic for busy weeknights - it goes from fridge to your dining room table in under 15 minutes, and makes fabulous meal prep since it reheats well and makes delicious leftovers you can take to work or eat for lunch the next day!
This recipe is naturally gluten free, low carb, and can work into a paleo or keto diet or paleo diet - but is full of flavor that the whole family loves.
If you are following a strict keto diet, please look over my keto considerations in the post below.
Just Take Me To The Recipe!
If you’d rather skip my (very helpful, i think) tips and tricks, essential cooking info, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the recipe – simply click the "skip to recipe" button in the top left corner, or scroll to the bottom of the page where you can find the printable recipe card.
What is Thai Basil
Thai Basil is a spicy, minty herb similar to basil - with a bit more flavor and kick than standard basil.
Thai Basil (or Holy Basil) used to be hard to find at most grocery stores, but is now a lot more widely available.
Where Can You Buy Thai Basil
Thai Basil/Holy Basil can be found at many grocery stores (our local Kroger and Safeway stores in rural Northern Colorado almost always have Thai Basil in stock in the produce department), and almost always available without fail at Whole Foods.
If your local stores don't seem to have it in stock, pop into a local Asian Foods market, and you should be able to find it - or you can always order it online from Amazon.
Look for Thai Basil in your grocer's produce department with fresh boxed herbs - sometimes it will be set out in the non refrigerated area next to tomatoes.
Can You Use Basil Instead of Thai Basil
This recipe is definetely better with Thai (or Holy) Basil, but if you can't find any fresh Thai Basil or Holy Basil, regular fresh basil leaves can be used in a pinch.
The dish will not have quite the same flavor (you can toss in a clove and a spring of fresh mint for a closer flavor profile) but will still be incredibly delicious.
Tips To Perfect Stir Fry Beef
Beef is both one of the easiest and hardest meats to stir fry - if it is cooked wrong, it can be rubbery, soft, and a bit tough to chew.
When cooked right, it is fabulous in stir fried dinners!
To cook your beef perfectly, there are a couple easy tips and tricks to help you get perfect stir fried beef every time.
Use the right pan
To stir fry beef under the best conditions, the right pan is essential.
I prefer a wok or a very large, heavy pan that conducts heat well and gets very hot.
To see my favorite naturally nonstick mineral pan, click here.
Preheat the pan
Before adding oil or beef, heat pan to scorching hot for best results.
When you add oil into pan it should instantly become thin and shimmery and ready for your beef.
Cook hot and fast
Beef is best str fried as hot and quick as possible - slowly cooking beef in a stir fry will cause it to boil instead of stir fry, making the meat tougher to chew and soggier feeling.
Don't crowd the pan
Crowding your pan reduces the heat, which makes beef cook slower. If you don't have a large pan, stir fry the beef in batches and remove from heat, then cook vegetables, then add them both back together to finish cooking with sauces for best results.
Slice beef thinly
Thinly sliced beef works the best in stir fry recipes. While I prefer to buy very thinly sliced beef, you can always ask your butcher for even more finely sliced beef - or try to slice your own by lightly freezing a raw steak and slicing by hand.
Is Thai Basil Beef Low Carb
This easy delicious Thai Basil Beef is an easy low carb and keto meal that works into any healthy eating plan as it is naturally gluten free, and can be made low carb with a couple of easy swaps.
Keto Thai Basil Beef Recipe Adaptations
Thai Basil Beef is a naturally low carb recipe, but there are a couple of easy adjustments you can make to adapt this recipe into an even lower carb profile.
Skip the sugar
The sugar in this recipe is optional to taste more like takeout - if you're preparing this to fit into a keto diet, skip the sugar.
Check Your Fish Sauce
Fish sauce is a fabulous flavor addition to dishes on a keto recipe - IF - the fish sauce is made from simply fish and salt.
Check our fish sauce closely to find fish sauce without any sugar or additives.
Check Oyster Sauce Ingredients
Oyster sauce should be low in carbs if made without sugars and additives - check the label of your oyster sauce to be sure you're buying one without added sugars.
Swap Vegetables
Reduce the amount of onion and add celery instead.
Other Easy Takeout Inspired Recipes You'll Love:
If you love this delicious Thai Basil Beef Stir Fry recipe, be sure to check out some of my other favorite Chinese, Japanese, and Thai food restaurant copycat recipes - simply click the links below to find each easy printable recipe:
10 Minute Pan Seared Thai Chili Scallops Recipe
The Best Easy Kung Pao Shrimp Recipe
Panda Express Black Pepper Chicken Copycat Recipe
Easy Beef Thai Basil Recipe
If you love this recipe much as I do, please write a five star review, and be sure to help me share on facebook and pinterest!
CONNECT WITH SWEET C’S!
Be sure to follow me on social media, so you never miss a post!
Facebook | Twitter | Youtube | Pinterest | Instagram
Only have 30 minutes to get dinner on the table? Sign up for my 30 minute dinner plans direct to your inbox!
Find and shop my favorite products in my Amazon storefront here!
The Best Easy Thai Basil Beef Stir Fry Recipe
The Best Easy Thai Basil Beef Stir Fry Recipe - Takeout style Thai basil beef stir fry recipe that tastes just like it's from your favorite Thai Food Restaurant but takes less time than driving to pick it up!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 2 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 1 lb beef, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon chile, chopped
- ½ onion, sliced
- ¼ cup thinly sliced carrots in 1" strips
- 1 small zucchini, sliced thin in 1" strips
- ¼ cup snow pea pods
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 cup fresh thai basil leaves
- 2 stems lemongrass, sliced
- 8 oz cremini mushrooms, sliced
- 1 ½ tablespoon oyster sauce
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1 tsp thai chili garlic sauce
- 1⁄2 tablespoon sugar
- 1⁄2 teaspoon white pepper
- green onions, chopped
Instructions
- Heat wok with oil, add garlic and chiles.
- Add beef and stir fry for 3-4 minutes.
- Add onions, vegetables, and basil, stir for 2 minutes.
- Add remaining sauce: oyster sauce, fish sauce, sugar, and white pepper.
- Stir fry until cooked (about 5 minutes), add green onions at the end and let wilt, then remove from heat.
- Serve immediately with steamed rice, cauliflower rice, or in a large bowl on it's own.
Nutrition Information
Serving Size
4Amount Per Serving Calories 402Total Fat 28gSaturated Fat 9gSodium 1035mgCarbohydrates 10gFiber 1gSugar 2gProtein 22g
Sweet C's Favorites
If you love this recipe and want to check out some of our biggest reader hits, check out the following family friendly favorites below!
Sweet C's Favorite Recipes
Favorite recipes from Sweet Cs Designs
One Pot Cheesy Taco Skillet
One Pot Cheesy Taco Skillet– this easy, delicious, veggie packed beef taco skillet meal is quick and great for a budget- as well as a low carb diet! Easy cheesy beef taco skillet dinner that is perfect for burrito bowls, salads, skillet tacos, and more with tons of hidden vegetables that kids will eat!
The Best Ribeye Roast Recipe
The Best Ribeye Roast Recipe - easy and delicious boneless ribeye roast with a crunchy crust and tons of juicy ribeye flavor with almost no work - this recipe is perfect for even beginner cooks!
The Best Easy Air Fryer French Fries Recipe
The Best Easy Air Fryer French Fries Recipe - delicious, crispy and crunchy french fries that taste just like your favorite restaurant - but a healthier french fry you can feel good about serving your family.
The Best Baked Garlic Pork Tenderloin
This is the Best Baked Garlic Pork Tenderloin recipe ever... incredibly easy, delicious, and bursting with Italian garlic butter flavors the whole family loves! An easy pork tenderloin dinner in under an hour - great for meal prep and makes amazing leftovers for a healthy, low carb keto or paleo diet eating plan, too!
The Best Easy Broiled Lobster Tails Recipe
This 10 Minute Perfect Broiled Lobster Tails Recipe is the quickest, tastiest, and easiest way to cook lobster tails- get perfect oven broiled lobster tails every time! The best of the recipes to lobster tail in the oven for a restaurant style lobster tail dinner in under 10 minutes.
One Pot Hamburger Cabbage Soup
Hearty and extremely delicious, this one pot hamburger cabbage soup is easy to make and always a huge hit! Simple ingredients for a family favorite soup everyone loves!
Easy Baked Pork Chops Recipe
Easy Baked Pork Chops Recipe - the best easy baked pork chops ever in under 20 minutes with simple ingredients! Your family will beg for these pork chops all the time!
The Best Baked Garlic Pork Chops Recipe Ever
The Best Baked Garlic Pork Chops Recipe Ever is the best oven baked pork chop recipe ever - perfect rich, tender, juicy garlic baked pork chops that are incredibly easy and restaurant quality. With tons of tips for juicy baked pork chops, how to bake pork without drying it out, and how long to bake pork chops for perfectly tender pork!
Lemon Garlic Parmesan Baked Chicken Wings Recipe
Lemon Garlic Parmesan Baked Chicken Wings Recipe - delicious easy keto oven baked chicken wings with a rich garlic parmesan flavor and tons of lemon!
Baked Ranch Chicken Thighs
Easy, crunchy, delicious Baked Ranch Chicken Thighs are a super simple one pot baked chicken thigh recipe everyone loves - bursting with ranch flavor in only five ingredients! Low carb, mess free, a deliciously crunchy crust, in a huge family favorite that is sure to make anyone a fan of chicken thighs in under 40 minutes!
Leave a Reply