I’ve lost track of the days. Sometimes I think Tuesdays are Fridays. Being at home doesn’t bother me because I work from home regularly (even before the pandemic) but it’s the non-social aspect that makes this extrovert struggle just a bit.
And also not being able to just hop in my car and go to a store or to run an errand.
I digress — let’s chat about this basil beef stir fry! It’s one dish I can safely say that I’ve made countless times during this quarantine because it’s so easy and delicious!
Basil Beef Stir Fry
As you search the web for new recipes to try, I hope you give this basil beef stir fry a chance! It hardly takes any time at all to put together. A little backstory on this recipe:
The flavors and ease of my Korean beef recipe inspired this recipe.
I love the sauce that was used in the Korean beef (and quite frankly many of you do too as it’s one of the trending recipes to date!) but I decided to change it up slightly for the basil beef stir fry. There are also other ingredients added into give the dish more flavor and color.
As with many of my recipes, this one is another quick and flavorful one. There is nothing more disappointing than making a recipe and then having it fall flat on flavor so I can guarantee you that this won’t!
What kind of ground beef can I use?
I’ve used 85/15, 80/20, and even 90/10 – it is whatever you prefer.
Can I add other vegetables to it?
Yes, you can. I thought about adding string beans to it, as another option.
Can I use another ground meat?
Yes, definitely. Ground turkey or ground chicken would work well here too but I do enjoy the heartier flavor of ground beef so I would say if you can, use ground beef.
If you love the Asian-inspired flavors, then this basil beef stir fry is one to try!
Other Asian-inspired recipes
Basil Beef Stir Fry
Servings are adjustable but please note that results, timing, and cookware may vary when adjusting servings.
Ingredients
- 1 pound 85/15 ground beef
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1/2 large yellow onion, sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 large handfuls of fresh basil leaves
For the sauce
- 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- 5 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons fish sauce
- 2 teaspoons sambal oelek (chili paste)
- 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together ingredients for sauce and set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown and break up ground beef into small pieces with a wooden spoon. Add the bell pepper, onion, and garlic. Cook until ground beef is cooked through and vegetables are tender, about 7 minutes.
- Add in the basil leaves then pour in the sauce. Toss to combine and let simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Remove from heat and enjoy over a bowl of white rice!
M
Monday 11th of January 2021
How much fresh basil is a large handful? It comes in 2 and 5 ounce containers at my local grocery store. How much should I use? Thanks
Julie Chiou
Thursday 14th of January 2021
i would say use the 2 ounces!
Hannah Lockhart
Wednesday 3rd of June 2020
22 weeks pregnant and this meal nailed my craving!! So simple and so delicious. Yum yum yum. Thank you!
Julie Wampler
Thursday 4th of June 2020
nice!! thank you!!
Andrea Burke
Thursday 28th of May 2020
Have made this twice now and it is so delicious, fast and easy! Wouldn’t mind if the sauce came out a bit thicker though, any tips?
Julie Wampler
Monday 1st of June 2020
Add a bit of cornstarch or arrowroot powder to the sauce prior to adding it to the skillet
Abby
Friday 17th of April 2020
Looks amazing! I make your "Korean Beef" alllll the time, this looks like a yummy step up :-) I LOVE fresh basil.