Recipe Details

One-Skillet Creamy Thai Basil Chicken

Main Dishes
Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp. 

    vegetable oil

  • 1 

    small red bell pepper, seeds and ribs removed, thinly sliced

  • 1 

    large shallot, halved and thinly sliced

  • 3 

    garlic cloves, minced

  • 1 lb. 

    ground chicken, preferably a mix of dark and light meat

  • 1 

    Thai bird's eye chile, seeds removed and thinly sliced, or 1/2 serrano chile, chopped

  • Pinch of ground white pepper 

  • 4 oz. 

    green beans, cut crosswise into 1/2" pieces

  • 3 tbsp. 

    oyster sauce

  • 1 tbsp. 

    fish sauce

  • 2 tsp. 

    packed light brown sugar

  • 1 c. 

    packed fresh Thai basil leaves

  • 1 1/4 c. 

    jasmine rice

  • 1 1/4 c. 

    unsweetened full-fat coconut milk

  • 1 1/4 c. 

    water

  • 1 tbsp. 

    fresh lime juice

  • Kosher salt

Description

  1. Step 1In a large straight-sided skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil. Add bell pepper, shallot, and garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Increase heat to high and add chicken, chile, and white pepper. Cook, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon and stirring occasionally, until chicken is just cooked through and any liquid is absorbed, 3 to 5 minutes. 
  2. Step 2Add green beans, oyster sauce, fish sauce, and brown sugar and stir to combine. Cook, stirring frequently, until green beans are crisp-tender, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in basil until just wilted, about 20 seconds. Scrape chicken mixture into a large bowl. 
  3. Step 3Return skillet to medium-high heat and cook rice, stirring constantly, until very lightly toasted, about 30 seconds. Pour in milk, water, lime juice, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to low. Gently simmer until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed, 16 to 18 minutes. Fluff rice with a fork and return chicken mixture to skillet, spooning over rice. Cover and cook until chicken mixture is heated through, about 1 minute more.