This 10-Minute Thai Basil Beef Is a Dinner I Rely on Weekly

It’s my take on a classic Thai stir-fry.

By
Frank Tiu
Frank Tiu
Frank Tiu
Frank joined the food world as a full-time food video producer at BuzzFeed Tasty NY and is currently a contributor to Simply Recipes.
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Published January 15, 2026
Frank Tiu
close up of a bowl of Beef Krapow bowl with a fried egg

Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu
  • This Thai basil beef recipe delivers bold, satisfying flavors in just 10 minutes.
  • Serve with jasmine rice and a runny fried egg for extra richness.
  • You can easily adjust the spice level by adding or omitting Thai chili peppers.

Beef krapow, or Thai basil beef, is one of my go-to weeknight dinners, especially when I’m in a hurry and craving something flavorful and fast. This Thai classic uses clever ingredients to produce a flavor-packed dish in record time. My version is super quick, easy, and adaptable.

Beef krapow is commonly served over a bed of jasmine rice with a fried egg on top. The rice soaks up all the extra sauce and flavors from the beef. My favorite part is piercing through the beautiful runny yolk as it coats and drips through the cracks of the beef and rice, giving it a creamy consistency.

Easy Tweaks to My Beef Krapow

This recipe is really versatile and adaptable, so if you prefer to use ground pork or ground lamb, you can easily swap it for the ground beef. Ground chicken tends to be a bit too lean for my liking. I love a little bit more fat in my ground meat, so for this recipe I’ve opted for 80/20 ground beef, which helps crisp everything up. Any residual fat will help the fried eggs crisp up nicely, forming a lacy skirt on the outer edges.

Beef Krapow in two bowls

Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

Simple Substitutions

This recipe calls for Thai basil, which has a minty floral aroma that is very distinctively delicious and iconic to this dish. If you cannot find it at your local Asian supermarket, feel free to use sweet basil since it is more readily available. 

The Thai chili peppers, also known as bird’s eye chili, are added at the end for some heat. Adjust the amount of chili to your spice tolerance or omit completely if preferred. If you cannot find Thai chili peppers, you can substitute with another spicy pepper of your choice.

Beef Krapow in a wok with a spatula

Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

Easy Beef Krapow (Thai Basil Beef)

Prep Time 2 mins
Cook Time 8 mins
Total Time 10 mins
Servings 2 to 4 servings
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Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

  • 2 shallots, finely diced

  • 6 garlic cloves, minced

  • 1 pound 80/20 ground beef

  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce

  • 1 tablespoon dark or regular soy sauce

  • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce

  • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar

  • 3 sprigs fresh Thai basil leaves

  • 2 Thai chilies, thinly sliced

  • 2 cups cooked Thai jasmine rice, to serve, optional

  • 2 large eggs, optional

Method

  1. Pan-fry the shallots, garlic and beef:

    Add the oil to a medium to large skillet over high heat and let heat up for 1 minute. Add the shallots and garlic and toss until aromatic but not burnt, about 30 seconds. Add the beef and break it up with a spatula. Stir occasionally until browned, about 6 minutes.

  2. Finish the dish and serve:

    Add the fish sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sugar. Stir until combined. Add the basil leaves and chilies. Stir fry for 30 seconds. Scoop the beef mixture with a slotted spoon over a bed of rice for serving, if desired.

    To serve with fried eggs, leave the residual grease in the pan and adjust the heat to medium. Crack the eggs into the pan and fry until the edges get crispy and the whites are set but the yolks are still liquid. Top the beef stir fry with the eggs.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
417 Calories
27g Fat
11g Carbs
33g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2 to 4
Amount per serving
Calories 417
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 27g 34%
Saturated Fat 8g 42%
Cholesterol 101mg 34%
Sodium 1157mg 50%
Total Carbohydrate 11g 4%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 33g
Vitamin C 5mg 26%
Calcium 64mg 5%
Iron 4mg 22%
Potassium 620mg 13%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.