Spicy Basil Chicken (Pad Kra Pao) Recipe

Spicy Basil Chicken (Pad Kra Pao) Recipe That Wows

Spicy basil chicken ignites a culinary adventure that redefines ordinary meals into extraordinary experiences.

Bold, aromatic flavors dance across your palate with each fragrant bite.

Thai street food culture inspires this remarkable dish that blends heat and herbal complexity.

The perfect balance of spiciness and herbal notes creates a symphony of taste sensations.

Fresh ingredients meld together, promising a quick and satisfying meal that feels like an authentic restaurant experience.

Regional cooking techniques elevate simple chicken into a masterpiece of contemporary Southeast Asian cuisine.

Thai home cooks have long celebrated this beloved recipe for its intense, mouth-watering character.

Spice Up Dinner with Authentic Pad Kra Pao

  • Burst with Bold Flavor: This Thai classic delivers an explosive taste sensation with fiery bird's eye chilies and aromatic basil leaves, creating a punch of spicy and herbaceous notes that dance across your palate.
  • Master Quick Weeknight Cooking: The entire dish comes together in just 15 minutes, making it perfect for busy home cooks who want restaurant-quality meals without complicated techniques or lengthy preparation.
  • Customize Your Spice Level: By controlling the number of chilies, you can easily adjust the heat to suit your personal preference, ensuring everyone from spice novices to heat enthusiasts can enjoy this delectable chicken stir-fry.
  • Elevate Simple Ingredients: With basic pantry staples like chicken, garlic, and basil, this recipe transforms ordinary components into an extraordinary meal that feels like a gourmet experience right in your own kitchen.

Essential Ingredients for Spicy Basil Chicken

Main Ingredients:

Protein:
  • Chicken: Lean protein that serves as the main star of the dish, preferably ground or minced for quick cooking.
  • Eggs: Crispy fried eggs add richness and extra protein to complete the meal.
Aromatics and Herbs:
  • Garlic: Provides deep, robust flavor foundation for the Thai-inspired dish.
  • Bird's Eye Chilies: Authentic Thai chilies that bring intense heat and spicy kick.
  • Basil Leaves: Fresh Thai basil creates signature aromatic and slightly peppery flavor profile.
Sauce and Cooking Components:
  • Vegetable Oil: Neutral oil for high-heat stir-frying with smooth cooking performance.
  • Black Pepper: Adds subtle background heat and mild spiciness to the dish.
Sauce Ingredients:
  • Soy Sauce: Provides salty umami base for the stir-fry sauce.
  • Oyster Sauce: Brings rich, sweet-savory depth to the overall flavor.
  • Sugar: Balances heat and adds slight caramelization to the sauce.
Serving Component:
  • Jasmine Rice: Fragrant Thai rice that perfectly complements the spicy chicken.

Stir Frying Pad Kra Pao Like a Thai Chef

Step 1: Prepare Aromatics

Finely chop garlic cloves and bird’s eye chilies. Set ingredients aside on a cutting board.

Step 2: Create Flavor Base

In a mixing bowl, whisk together:
  • Oyster sauce
  • Soy sauce
  • Fish sauce
  • Sugar

Mix ingredients until sugar dissolves completely.

Step 3: Start Cooking Foundation

Heat wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Pour vegetable oil around pan edges.

Add chopped garlic and chilies. Stir rapidly for 15-20 seconds until fragrant.

Step 4: Cook Chicken

Add ground chicken to pan. Break meat into small crumbles while cooking.

Stir-fry chicken until it transforms from pink to white, approximately 3-4 minutes.

Step 5: Incorporate Sauce

Pour prepared sauce mixture over chicken. Toss and coat chicken thoroughly.

Cook for additional 2-3 minutes until sauce caramelizes and chicken looks glossy.

Step 6: Finish With Herbs

Sprinkle fresh basil leaves and ground black pepper into pan.

Stir quickly for 30-45 seconds until basil wilts slightly.

Step 7: Plate And Serve

Transfer spicy chicken onto steamed jasmine rice.

Top with crispy sunny-side-up egg for extra richness.

Garnish with additional fresh basil leaves if desired.

Kitchen Tricks for Perfectly Spicy Basil Chicken

  • Select Fresh Ingredients: Choose vibrant, aromatic Thai basil leaves and crisp bird's eye chilies for maximum flavor intensity.
  • Control Spice Level: Adjust the number of chilies to match your heat tolerance, removing seeds for milder results.
  • Perfect Chicken Texture: Ensure chicken is minced or chopped finely and cooked quickly over high heat to maintain juiciness.
  • Timing Matters: Add basil leaves at the very end of cooking to preserve their bright green color and fresh, herbal aroma.
  • Serving Suggestion: Top with a crispy fried egg for added richness and traditional Thai street food authenticity.

Preserving Flavor in Leftover Pad Kra Pao

  • Refrigeration: Store leftover Spicy Basil Chicken in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking, keeping it fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
  • Reheating Stovetop: Warm the chicken in a skillet over medium heat, adding a splash of water to prevent dryness and restore its original moisture and flavor.
  • Microwave Option: Heat the chicken in short 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval to ensure even warming and maintain the dish's delicious texture.

What to Serve with Spicy Basil Chicken

  • Pair with Thai Iced Tea: Create a cool, sweet contrast to the spicy chicken by serving a classic Thai iced tea. The creamy, sugary beverage perfectly balances the heat and helps soothe your palate.
  • Match with Cucumber Salad: Prepare a light, refreshing cucumber salad with a tangy vinegar dressing. Its crisp texture and cooling properties will complement the intense flavors of the spicy basil chicken.
  • Serve with Crisp Lager: Select a cold, light Thai or Asian-style lager beer. The beer's clean, crisp profile cuts through the dish's richness and helps temper the spiciness, creating a harmonious dining experience.
  • Add Fresh Lime Wedges: Squeeze fresh lime juice over the dish just before eating. The bright, citrusy notes will enhance the herbs and add a zesty layer that elevates the overall flavor profile of the spicy basil chicken.

Put a Spin on Pad Kra Pao with New Ingredients

  • Veggie Power Version: Replace minced chicken with firm tofu or mixed vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, and mushrooms for a vegetarian-friendly option. Adjust cooking time to ensure vegetables are tender yet crisp.
  • Seafood Splash: Swap chicken with fresh shrimp or squid for a delightful ocean-inspired variation. Seafood cooks faster, so reduce stir-frying time to prevent overcooking.
  • Protein Punch: Use ground turkey or lean beef instead of chicken for a different protein profile. These meats have similar cooking characteristics and will absorb the spicy sauce beautifully.
  • Green Herb Remix: Experiment with different fresh herbs like Thai basil, mint, or cilantro to create unique flavor combinations. Each herb will bring a distinctive taste to the classic dish.
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Spicy Basil Chicken (Pad Kra Pao) Recipe

Spicy Basil Chicken (Pad Kra Pao) Recipe


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4.5 from 12 reviews

  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 2 1x

Description

Spicy basil chicken, a beloved Thai street classic, delivers bold flavors with tender chicken and aromatic herbs. Fiery chili peppers and fresh basil create a quick, satisfying meal that instantly transports dinner tables to bustling Bangkok streets.


Ingredients

Scale

Proteins:

  • 350 g (12 ounces) Chicken mince (thigh/breast)
  • 2 Eggs

Aromatics and Herbs:

  • 1 cup Basil leaves (Thai Holy Basil/Sweet/Italian Basil)
  • 45 Cloves Garlic
  • 45 Bird’s eye chilies
  • ¼ teaspoon Black pepper

Sauces and Oil:

  • 1 tablespoon Vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon Light soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Oyster sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Fish sauce
  • ½ teaspoon Dark soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Brown/white sugar

Instructions

  1. Prepare your mise en place by finely dicing garlic cloves and Thai bird’s eye chilies, creating a flavor foundation for the dish.
  2. Craft the aromatic sauce by blending ingredients in a mixing bowl, ensuring a harmonious flavor profile that will enhance the chicken.
  3. Ignite a pan over medium heat, introducing a subtle layer of vegetable oil to create a sizzling cooking surface.
  4. Toss the delicate garlic pieces into the pan, allowing them to release their fragrant essence for a brief moment before introducing the fiery chilies.
  5. Introduce minced chicken to the pan, vigorously stirring and transforming its appearance from raw to a tantalizing golden hue.
  6. Pour the prepared sauce over the chicken, enabling it to caramelize and coat each morsel with an intense, complex flavor.
  7. Culminate the cooking process by folding fresh basil leaves and a whisper of black pepper into the mixture, creating a vibrant, aromatic finish.
  8. Present the spicy basil chicken atop a pristine bed of steamed jasmine rice, crowning the dish with a crispy fried egg for textural contrast.

Notes

  • Master the art of high-heat stir-frying to achieve the signature glossy and caramelized texture of authentic Thai street food.
  • Choose fresh Thai basil leaves for the most genuine flavor, as dried or sweet basil won’t deliver the same vibrant taste profile.
  • Bird’s eye chilies pack intense heat, so adjust the quantity based on personal spice tolerance for a perfectly balanced dish.
  • Ensure the chicken is cooked quickly over medium-high heat to maintain its tenderness and prevent drying out.
  • Crispy fried eggs add a luxurious richness that complements the spicy and aromatic chicken, creating a truly satisfying meal.
  • Serve immediately after cooking to preserve the basil’s bright green color and maximum flavor intensity.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Dinner, Lunch
  • Method: Frying
  • Cuisine: Thai

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2
  • Calories: 480
  • Sugar: 6 g
  • Sodium: 1500 mg
  • Fat: 24 g
  • Saturated Fat: 4 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 30 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 38 g
  • Cholesterol: 220 mg
David Bennett

David Bennett

Founder & Head Recipe Developer

Expertise

Culinary Nutrition​, Recipe Development​, Nutritional Counseling​, Food Science​

Education

Johnson & Wales University

  • Degree: Bachelor of Science in Culinary Nutrition
  • Focus: Blending culinary arts with nutritional science to create health-focused cuisine.

Certified Nutrition Specialist® (CNS®)

  • Credential: Advanced certification in personalized nutrition therapy. ​

David Bennett is the lead recipe creator and nutrition expert at HealthyChoices.org, your friendly space for tasty meals that nourish body and mind. 

With a Culinary Nutrition degree from Johnson & Wales University and a Certified Nutrition Specialist® credential, David pairs practical nutrition with delicious cooking, creating recipes you’ll crave daily. 

At Healthy Choices, David shares easy, nutritious dishes and smart cooking tips to make healthy eating something everyone can enjoy, with no complicated diets needed.

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