We have an easy lunch idea for you that combines tangy & warming flavors of Thai food with fresh and vibrant basil. Our Thai Chicken Basil meal prep recipe is simple to make but looks and tastes like a restaurant-quality takeout meal!
Besides tasting amazing, this restaurant-quality meal can be made in 10 minutes! Add your favorite steamed veggies, and if you’d like, a whole grain like rice or quinoa.
How long will Thai Basil Chicken last for?
When properly stored, Thai chicken basil will last for up to 4 days. Store your lunch meal prep in a shallow airtight container to keep maximum freshness.
Can Thai Basil Chicken be frozen?
Yes, you can freeze Thai chicken basil for up to 6 months. You can store the meal in a freezer-friendly dish, or divvy it up into separate freezer bags.
Thai Basil Chicken Meal Prep Ingredients:
1 ½ pounds chicken, minced (or use ground chicken)
3 tablespoons sesame oil
¼ cup Thai shallots, minced
2 tablespoons garlic, minced
2-3 Thai bird chilis (can sub sriracha chili sauce)
½ cup coconut aminos*
3 tablespoons honey or date syrup
1-2 tablespoons fish sauce
¼ cup chicken broth
1 teaspoon arrowroot
2 cups Thai basil** (sometimes called holy basil)
How do you make Thai Basil Chicken?
Making Thai Chicken Basil is super simple! You will have a delicious and nutritious lunch in less than 30 minutes from now.
Start by heating your sesame oil in a skillet on high heat. Add shallots, garlic, and chilies to the oil and stir for two minutes. When you get a good whiff of the flavors coming together, you know it’s time to add the ground chicken. Stir in and break up the chicken on high heat. Then add the coconut aminos, fish sauce, and honey. Grab a small bowl for the arrowroot powder and chicken broth. Stir them together, but don’t worry about the powder and flour coming together perfectly right now. They will come together and create a nice glaze in a heated pan. Now add the arrowroot powder and broth mixture to the pan with your ground chicken, deglaze, and stir. Add the basil leaves and heat for 30 seconds. You’re ready to add this deliciously fragrant chicken on top of your rice and enjoy!
How to portion Thai Basil Chicken?
Divide steamed rice into four MPOF meal prep or glass containers. Top your rice with Thai chicken basil and vegetables.
More Thai meal prep recipes:
Tasty Thai Chili Garlic “Noodles”
Thai Chili Tofu Sheet Pan Meal Prep
Thai Sweet Chili Pork Tenderloin Meal Prep
Gluten Free Thai Peanut Stir Fry Meal Prep
20 Minute Paleo Thai Almond Butter Turkey Meatballs
Other tips for making Thai Basil Chicken:
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If you want to chop the basil leaves up, do so by stacking five leaves at a time. Then roll them into a cigar-looking form and chop.
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Cooking this for dinner? Pair it with a glass of French white wine.
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You can top white, brown, or Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice with Thai basil chicken.
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Add mixed vegetables for a more nutritional meal.
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds Chicken Breast
- 3 tbs sesame oil
- 1/4 cup Thai shallots
- 2 tbs Minced Garlic
- 2-3 Thai Bird Chilis
- 1/2 cup Coconut Aminos
- 3 tbs Honey
- 1-2 tbs fish sauce
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 1 tsp arrowroot
- 2 cups fresh Thai Basil
Instructions
- Add sesame oil to a skillet on high heat. Add shallots, garlic, and chilis, and stir fry for 2 minutes to soften and infuse the oil with their flavors.
- Add the chicken, and break up, continuing to stir fry on high heat.
- Add the coconut aminos, honey, and fish sauce, and stir to combine.
- In a small bowl, Add arrowroot powder to the chicken broth and stir (don’t worry about it combining - it will combine when heated in the pan).
- When most of the liquid in the pan has evaporated, push the chicken to the edge of the pan, and deglaze the pan with the chicken broth-arrowroot mix (meaning, scrape the flavorful coating off the bottom of the pan. Stir quickly to mix together the sauce, and then coat the chicken with the sauce.
- Add the whole basil leaves, and stir fry for about 30 seconds to allow them to wilt.
- Serve over rice or other whole grain, with steamed vegetables, if desired.
