Thai Basil Chicken Fried Rice (Printable)

Fragrant Thai-style fried rice with tender chicken, holy basil, and chilies for a quick, spicy meal.

# What You Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 14 oz boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, thinly sliced

→ Rice

02 - 4 cups cooked jasmine rice, preferably day-old

→ Vegetables & Herbs

03 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 2–3 Thai red chilies, finely sliced
06 - 1 cup holy basil leaves
07 - 1 medium red bell pepper, sliced

→ Sauces & Seasonings

08 - 2 tbsp soy sauce
09 - 1 tbsp oyster sauce
10 - 1 tbsp fish sauce
11 - 1 tsp sugar
12 - ½ tsp white pepper
13 - 2 tbsp vegetable oil

→ Garnish

14 - Lime wedges
15 - Sliced cucumber

# Directions:

01 - Heat the vegetable oil in a large wok or skillet over high heat.
02 - Add the garlic and chilies; stir-fry for 30 seconds until fragrant.
03 - Add the sliced chicken and cook until it turns opaque, about 3–4 minutes.
04 - Stir in the onion and bell pepper; cook for another 2 minutes.
05 - Add the cooked jasmine rice, breaking up any clumps with a spatula.
06 - Pour in the soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, sugar, and white pepper. Toss everything together until the rice is evenly coated and heated through.
07 - Remove from heat, fold in the holy basil leaves, and stir until just wilted.
08 - Serve immediately, garnished with lime wedges and sliced cucumber.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The holy basil transforms ordinary fried rice into something that tastes like it came from a street vendor in Bangkok
  • It comes together in under 20 minutes, making it perfect for those nights when takeout feels too far away
  • Everything cooks in one pan, which means maximum flavor and minimum cleanup
02 -
  • Cold, day-old rice is absolutely crucial. Warm, fresh rice will steam instead of fry, turning your dish into a sticky mess
  • Have all ingredients prepped before you start cooking. Once you begin, everything moves too fast for chopping
  • Holy basil wilts almost instantly. Add it at the very end, off the heat, to preserve its fresh, peppery flavor
03 -
  • Cook in batches if your wok is small. Crowding drops the temperature and causes steaming instead of frying
  • Taste and adjust the seasoning before adding the basil. Once the herbs go in, the flavor profile is set
  • Have your serving platter ready. This dish is best eaten immediately, while the rice still has that perfect texture
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