Thai Basil Beef is a super easy one-skillet meal loaded with tender, juicy beef and absolutely bursting with flavor! This easy dinner recipe is perfect for a healthy weeknight meal the whole family will love.

Looking for more Thai recipes? Try my Pad Thai, or my Thai Chicken Satay. Both are ready in less than 30 minutes!

overheat picture of Thai Basil Beef in skillet with wooden spoon

Save this Recipe

Enter your email to get it straight in your inbox! Plus, receive new recipes weekly!

    Thai Basil Beef

    The first time I had this Thai beef and basil dish I instantly fell in love with Thai basil. It’s not as sweet as regular basil and has a minty / licorice flavor to it. It’s absolutely delicious!

    The sauce that the steak and peppers get tossed in is rich, sweet, salty, and very flavorful! It’s quite a simple sauce, made up of light and dark soy sauce, brown sugar, fish sauce, and oyster sauce. It really ties this whole Thai Basil Beef recipe together!

    This Thai Basil Beef recipe comes together in minutes. The beef gets marinated for 30 minutes while I am prepping the rest of the ingredients. You can marinate for longer if you have time! This can also be marinated the morning of! When I’m ready to cook, I fry the flank steak in a hot pan over high heat. This cooks the steak quickly and provides a nice sear on the outside. Then, I remove the steak from the pan and sauté the red bell pepper, green onions, and garlic until they are just starting to get soft. I return the steak to the pan along with the sauce, and lastly, fold in the Thai basil so it doesn’t wilt too much.

    Authentic Thai Beef in skillet

    Ingredients

    The full ingredient list and measurements are listed in the printable recipe below.

    Stir fry

    • Flank Steak: I like using flank steak in this recipe however skirt steak or ground beef can also be used.
    • Cornstarch: Helps to sear the steak and thicken up the sauce.
    • Soy Sauce: This adds saltiness and seasoning to the steak, as well as helping to make it tender. Make sure to use low sodium soy sauce so you can keep the saltiness down.
    • Vegetables: Red bell pepper, green onion, and garlic: These vegetables add flavor as well as a pop of color!
    • Thai basil leaves: The star of the dish! Thai basil brings a herby freshness to this recipe. You can find thai basil at Asian Grocery stores. I typically purchase mine from the local farmers market. Feel free to substitute mint or regular basil if you cant find fresh thai basil.

    Sauce

    • Soy sauce: I used both dark and light soy sauce to add seasoning and richness to the dish. If you can’t find dark soy sauce simply substitute regular low sodium soy sauce.
    • Fish sauce: This is used in all kinds of Asian cuisine! It adds a hint of fishiness, along with sweetness and some acidity, as it is fermented.
    • Oyster sauce: Despite the name, it doesn’t actually taste fishy! It’s salty and sweet, with a hint of earthiness.
    • Brown sugar: A touch of brown sugar adds a caramelized sweetness to this Thai basil Beef recipe and really brings all the flavors together.

    How to make Thai Basil Beef Stir Fry

    1. Marinate beef: In a medium bowl add the sliced beef, water, cornstarch, and soy sauce. Toss to coat. Marinate the beef for 30 minutes. This will help make it SUPER tender!
    tossing flank steak in soy sauce and cornstarch
    1. Sear beef: Secondly, heat the oil in a large skillet over high heat. Remove the beef from the marinade and sear the beef until just browned, 2-3 minutes. When it’s ready, remove it from the pan and set aside.
    searing flank steak in hot skillet
    1. Saute veggies: Add the red pepper and green onion to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes or until tender, and then add in garlic and cook for an additional minute.
    sautéing red bell peppers, green onions and minced garlic in large skillet
    1. Simmer: Return the beef back to the pan along with the sauce. Cook until thickened, 2-3 minutes.
    simmering thai beef in sauce
    1. Fold in the Thai basil: And cook until it’s just wilted. Serve immediately with green onions and sesame seeds if desired.
    folding in Thai Basil to the sauce

    What to serve with Thai Basil Beef

    Here are a few tried and true side dishes that I love:

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where can I buy Thai Basil?

    I get Thai basil from my local Asian grocery store. Some grocery stores also sell it, and if you have a green thumb, it’s pretty easy to grow at home!

    I can’t find any Thai basil. What can I use instead?

    If you can’t find Thai basil, fresh mint or regular Italian basil would work in this Thai Basil Beef recipe. It won’t be the same flavor but will still be delicious!

    Is it freezer-friendly?

    Yes! I love making a double-batch to freeze for later. Freeze this Thai basil beef dinner for up to 4 months in the freezer. Then, when you’re ready to eat, thaw the frozen food completely before heating it up on the stove.

    Storage Instructions

    • Store: Leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
    • Reheat: To heat up the leftovers, simply add everything into a saucepan on the stove and heat it over a medium heat until it is warmed through.
    Overhead thai beef with sliced bell peppers, sesame seeds and green onions

    More take-out inspired beef recipes you will love:

    Recipe

    Thai Basil Beef

    5 from 12 votes
    Thai Basil Beef is a super easy one-skillet meal loaded with tender, juicy beef and absolutely bursting with flavor! This easy dinner recipe is perfect for a healthy weeknight meal the whole family will love.
    Prep Time: 40 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes
    Serves 4
    Rate Print

    Save this Recipe

    Enter your email to get it straight in your inbox! Plus, receive new recipes weekly!

      Ingredients 

      • 1 pound flank steak, sliced in thin strips against the grain
      • 1 teaspoon water
      • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
      • 1 teaspoon low sodium soy sauce
      • 1 tablespoon oil
      • 1 whole red bell pepper, thinly sliced
      • 1 whole green onion, sliced (green and white parts)
      • 3 cloves garlic, minced
      • 1 cup Thai basil leaves, can sub mint or regular Italian Basil if you are in a pinch

      Sauce

      Instructions

      • In a medium bowl add beef, water, cornstarch and soy sauce. Toss to coat. Marinade for 30 minutes.
      • Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Remove the beef from the marinade and sear the beef until just browned, 2-3 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside.
      • Add the red pepper and green onion to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes or until tender. Add in garlic and cook for an additional minute.
      • Combine the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and whisk to combine.
        Add the beef back to the pan along with the sauce. Cook until thickened, 2-3 minutes.
      • Fold in the Thai basil and cook until it’s just wilted. Serve immediately with green onions and sesame seeds if desired.

      Nutrition Information

      Calories: 237kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 26gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 68mgSodium: 1101mgPotassium: 513mgFiber: 1gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 1280IUVitamin C: 40.3mgCalcium: 43mgIron: 2.3mg

      Did You Make This?

      I’d love to hear your feedback! Leave a review and make sure to share your pictures on social media! Don’t forget to follow @thechefsavvy.

      Leave a Review Follow Chef Savvy