Thai Basil Chicken

This easy Thai Basil Chicken is the perfect quick dinner! You will get an explosion of flavor in just 20 minutes with this keto chicken recipe.

What is Thai Basil Chicken?

Thai Basil Chicken is a classic Thai dish that can be found in numorous restaurants and from street vendors. It’s most often made with ground chicken or very finely chopped chicken. It’s covered with a delicious sauce and traditionally includes, as you can probably guess from the title, Thai basil.

Do I have to use Thai basil?

While you will get an amazing, unique flavor from Thai basil, you can still enjoy this meal with substitutes. Thai basil has a peppery flavor with notes very similar to star anise. If you’re using a substitute like sweet basil or holy basil, you may miss out on this… But it’s still a delicious meal! If you want to replicate the missing flavor, you could add a bit more pepper and a touch of ground anise, but it’s not necessary.

Thai Basil Chicken Ingredients

Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll need for this recipe. Find exact measurements in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.

• Sauce ingredients: Oyster sauce, Fish sauce, Soy sauce, Brown sugar monk fruit sweetener, and Water. If you can’t have oyster sauce, hoisin sauce is a good alternative (but it has more carbs, so calculate that in). Worcestershire sauce is a good alternative for fish sauce. Coconut aminos can be used instead of soy sauce. I haven’t used any other keto sweeteners, but I believe any brown sugar substitute would work fine.
• Avocado oil – Use your preferred cooking oil.
• Chicken thighs – Boneless and skinless, cut into bite-sized pieces. Feel free to use chicken breast or tenderloins if you prefer–This will lower the fat content, but be careful to not overcook.
• Vegetables: Red pepper (diced), Shallots (sliced), Thai chilis (deseeded & chopped fine), Garlic (minced), Thai basil (thinly sliced), and Scallions (sliced; optional garnish). If you can’t find Thai chilis, replace with just one Serrano pepper. Any color bell pepper can work, I just really love red.

How to Make Thai Basil Chicken Low-Carb?

This quick low-carb chicken recipe is SO simple! It’s quick and easy enough for beginners–Here’s a step-by-step guide to prove it!

Prep Ingredients

First, mix up all the sauce ingredients–Either whisk them together in a bowl or pour them all in a jar and shake. Set this aside for now while the flavors meld. Prep the remaining ingredients by chopping up the chicken, pepper, shallots, and garlic.

MEAL PREP TIP: You can make the sauce and cut your chicken, pepper, and shallots up to 2-3 days ahead of time. Mince your garlic fresh (or use the jarred version) for the best flavor. Store all ingredients in their own bag or airtight container in the fridge.

Saute Veggies

Grab a large non-stick skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Once it’s hot, add in your oil. Once it’s hot enough to shimmer, add in your diced red pepper and cook for 2 minutes. Stir to prevent burning, then mix in the shallots, garlic, and chilis. Cook another 2 minutes, stirring often to keep things cooking evenly.

Saute Chicken

Add the chicken to the pan and stir it all together. Continue cooking for about 7-8 minutes or until mostly cooked through. Make sure to occasionally stir or toss chicken to prevent sticking and promote even cooking.

Simmer in Sauce

Pour the sauce over the chicken and simmer for 3-5 more minutes until the chicken is well coated and cooked through. If you’re not sure when the chicken is ready, you can use a meat thermometer (you want it to reach 165 to be safe). Finally, turn off the heat, remove the pan from the heat, and then mix in your sliced basil. You don’t want it to wilt too much, just enough to soften them.

What to Serve with Thai Basil Chicken

Sprinkle some chopped scallions over the top of your chicken for a fresh, crunchy garnish. You can eat this on its own, over salad greens, in lettuce cups, or with some cauliflower rice. If you need to stretch the meal further, consider adding some Sesame Green Beans or a Cucumber Salad on the side. These Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts are an AMAZING appetizer with a delicious sauce… Highly recommend trying it out!!

Storage Instructions:

It’s best to let the food completely cool to room temperature before sealing it in a closed container. This gives the best taste and texture to your leftovers. This will keep 3-4 days in the fridge in an airtight container. Package individual portions separately for easy lunch packing in the morning.

Can you freeze Thai Basil Chicken?

Yes, this recipe is simple to freeze for longer storage! Allow it to cool completely first, then transfer to a freezer bag. Freeze flat to save space (and to make thawing quicker), then enjoy within 3 months. Thaw slowly (overnight in the fridge preferably) to keep the best texture.

NOTE: The peppers and basil WILL be a bit mushier the second time around. That’s just how the cells handle the freezing and reheating process. The flavor is still amazing! To add some crunch back, consider topping with crushed nuts or serving with crisp lettuce cups.

Reheating Instructions:

The best way to reheat this recipe is with either the stovetop or the microwave. The stovetop will help add a bit of crispness back into the peppers–Simply warm a pan on medium heat, then add in your leftovers. Toss for 4-5 minutes or until chicken is warmed through.

The quickest option is in the microwave. I recommend reheating on 50% power in 1-minute increments, stirring between blasts for even reheating.

If you like this one-pan meal, you have to try these easy keto dinners!

• Easy Thai Chopped Chicken Salad – We love the crunch from the radishes and snap peas! This recipe is super flavorful and perfect for using up cooked chicken!
• Asian Chicken Zoodles – The delicious sesame chicken is SO juicy and tender… This healthy meal is one you actually want to repeat! It’s great when you want something light.
• Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken – In just 15 minutes, you can make an amazing meal that works well for busy evenings. You could easily serve it with cauliflower rice to bulk it up!
• Thai Chicken Collard Wraps – This is one of our favorite lunches! The collard greens hold up great when made ahead, and the peanut dipping sauce is too good.
• Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps – The peanut, soy, and sesame sauce that covers the chicken for this healthy meal is unbelievably simple and delicious. Crunchy lettuce adds the perfect texture.