Thai basil chicken fried rice (Kao Pad Kaprao Gai) is a light and tasty recipe that is quick to make. The subtle peppery taste of holy basil combined with umami flavors from the sauces and seasoning makes this recipe a perfect comfort meal for everyone!
I’ve made countless batches of Thai basil fried rice over the years—teaching it in cooking classes and preparing large portions for families in need, new moms, and dinner parties. The bold aroma and slight spiciness from Thai holy basil give this dish its signature kick, making it a standout among fried rice varieties.
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Why this Thai Basil Chicken recipe works
- It's quick and easy to assemble and takes less than 30 minutes!
- It's flavorful! It's a perfect first dish to introduce to your kids, friends, or family new to Thai food. It's light and delicious at the same time!
- The protein is adaptable! You can add it to your favorite meat, such as pork, beef, duck, shrimp, or tofu.
- It doesn't have to be spicy! Use as little or as much chili peppers as you prefer!
- This recipe is also a great dish to make for a potluck or dinner party.
Thai Basil Rice Ingredients
Ingredients notes & substitutions for making Thai basil chicken fried rice (Kao Pad Kaprao Gai).
- Garlic. Use anywhere from 3-5 garlic cloves for this recipe. It adds an incredible fragrance.
- Thai chilies. I used bird's eye chilies. Use as much or as little as you prefer for your spice level. Jalapenos or serrano peppers work well, too, as substitutes. If you don't like spicy food, use sliced bell peppers instead.
- Shallot. Use any onion as a substitute. Purple, white, and sweet onions will work fine for this recipe.
- Oil. Use high smoking point oil only. Avocado, canola, or vegetable oil are great for this recipe.
- Chicken breast. Chicken thighs work, too, for this recipe. Substitute any protein if preferred. Pork, beef, turkey, and duck work great. Tofu and shrimp also work but take less time to cook these lighter proteins.
- Eggs. You can lightly whisk your eggs before scrambling them in the pan for easier and quicker cooking. Cooked Thai jasmine rice. The type of rice used for Thai basil fried rice is very important. Use leftover or day-old jasmine rice instead of fresh rice. Check the kitchen notes below for more tips on the rice used for Thai fried rice.
- Oyster sauce. It adds a delicious umami flavor to the fried rice. I used the Thai brand for my oyster sauce.
- Fish sauce. Each fish sauce brand has its own level of saltiness. Adjust as needed with the one you have.
- Rice vinegar, fresh lime juice, or apple cider vinegar. Lemon juice also works. The citrus flavor helps round out the sweet and salty flavors of the fried rice.
- Sugar. Use white, brown, monk fruit, or palm sugar.
- Ground white pepper. White peppers add a unique flavor to the dish. It adds an extra depth of flavor that is hard to achieve with black pepper. For more flavors, use whole ground pepper-crush it to powder form first before use!
- Holy basil. Thai holy basil is typically the go-to basil for stir-fry dishes in Thailand. The holy basil has a pop of flavor with peppery and cinnamon-like tastes. These are difficult to find in my local Asian market. You can use Thai basil as a substitute if holy basil isn't available. Read more about the different herbs used in Thai cooking here.
How to make Thai basil chicken fried rice
Step 1. Mix oyster sauce, fish sauce, rice vinegar, white pepper, and sugar. Set aside until ready.
Step 2. Heat a wok, large skillet, or pan on medium-high heat. Fry the minced garlic, Thai chilis, and shallot.
Step 3. Add the chicken to the pan and cook for 4-5 minutes until lightly golden brown, stirring often.
Step 5. Add the oyster sauce mixture to the chicken and stir well.
Step 7. Then, use the spatula to evenly spread the fried rice over the pan surface, making it as flat as possible to "dry out the rice" so it's not mushy.
Step 4. Move the chicken to the side of the pan, add more oil to the pan, then the eggs, and scramble lightly.
Step 6. Add the rice and stir everything together in a pan.
Step 8. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Add the holy basil and stir well together one last time. Turn the heat off, and it's ready!
Garnishing options
Add lime wedges, sliced red chilies, fresh basil, sliced cucumbers, red pepper flakes, or ground white pepper. If you are feeling adventurous, try Thai chili paste as well—it's more spicy!
Pad Kaprao Tips
- Leftover rice is best for fried rice recipes. This means cooked rice from a day or two before. Day-old rice has less moisture, so it's less likely to get mushy in the pan when cooked.
- If you forget to cook your rice ahead of time, here are some quick tips: One, use less water when cooking rice in the rice cooker or pot. Two, scoop out your freshly cooked rice, spread it out in a baking pan, and leave it at room temperature for at least one hour while you prep the ingredients.
- White rice is best for this fried rice recipe, though brown rice will work, too.
- If you can not find Thai or holy basil, use Italian sweet basil instead, but add up to ½ cup extra to make up for the earthy basil flavors. Basil is the star ingredient that gives this recipe the unique taste of fried rice. Don't skip out! (:
- Holy basil is commonly used in Thai cuisine. It is light green and has fuzzy stems with smaller, narrow leaves. It adds a lightly spicy and sweet flavor to this rice dish. The Thai name for holy basil is "Bai Kapraw," the same name used for the wildly popular Thai Spicy basil chicken.
- Sauces. In Thai cooking, fish sauce is used more than soy sauce, commonly used in Chinese cooking. If you don't use fish sauce, it's ok to substitute soy sauce. The flavors will be different, more like a Chinese fried rice recipe. It will still taste good! Use Thai light soy sauce if possible and not dark soy sauce.
Basil Fried Rice Thai FAQs
Yes! You absolutely can. To make this fried rice a vegetarian version, use tofu or tempeh instead of meat and soy sauce instead of fish sauce.
Yes. Fried rice is great as leftovers. It can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
There are some differences between Thai fried rice and Chinese fried rice. Thai fried rice uses fish sauce and seasoning sauce (Golden Mountain sauce) to season the rice, while Chinese fried rice often uses soy sauce for flavoring. Also, Thai fried rice uses fragrant Thai jasmine rice, while Chinese fried rice uses long-grain white rice.
More popular Thai recipes you'll love
- Tom Yum fried rice
- Bacon-wrapped grilled Enoki mushrooms
- Green curry fried rice
- Pineapple fried rice.
- Thai green curry
- Spicy Thai basil chicken (Pad Krapow Gai)
- Thai chili garlic paste
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Basil Thai Chicken Fried Rice (Pad Kaprao)
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4
- Diet: Low Fat
Description
Thai basil chicken fried rice (Kao Pad Kaprao Gai) is a light and tasty recipe that is quick to make. The subtle peppery taste of basil combined with umami flavors from the sauces and seasoning makes this recipe a perfect comfort meal for everyone!
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons oil, divided. More if necessary. Use vegetable, canola, coconut, or avocado oil. No olive oil.
- 2 tablespoons garlic, minced
- 1-5 Thai chilis, minced. Use as needed for spice level preference.
- ⅓ cup shallot, thinly sliced
- 10 ounces chicken breast, thinly sliced
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups cooked Thai jasmine rice
- 2/12 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 ½ teaspoons rice vinegar, fresh lime juice, or apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ½-1 teaspoon ground white pepper, adjust as needed for spice level preference
- 1 cup fresh holy basil, leafy parts
Instructions
- The first step, mix the stir-fried sauce in a small bowl: oyster sauce, fish sauce, rice vinegar, white pepper, and sugar. Set aside until ready.
- On medium-high heat, heat a wok, large skillet, or pan. Add oil 2 tablespoons of oil. Once hot, add minced garlic, Thai chilis, and shallot. Fry until fragrant and light golden brown, less than 30 seconds.
- Add the chicken to the pan and cook for 4-5 minutes until lightly golden brown. Stir often. Add 1-2 tablespoons of water if the pan looks too dry or the chicken sticks to the pan too much. Reduce the heat to medium if necessary, then turn it back when adding the rice.
- Move the chicken to the side of the pan, add the rest of the oil to the pan, and use more if your pan is dry. Crack the eggs and scramble until done—around 2 minutes or so.
- Add the sauce mixture to the chicken and stir well.
- Add the rice and stir everything together in a pan.
- Then use the spatula to evenly spread the fried rice over the pan surface, making it as flat as possible to "dry out the rice" so it's not mushy. Let it cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes until you hear some light popping sound. This technique is especially helpful in reducing moisture using fresh rice rather than day-old rice.
- Taste your fried rice and season with more fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, and chilis if you want more heat. Add the holy basil and stir well together one last time. Turn the heat off, and it's ready! Enjoy!
Notes
- Leftover rice is best for fried rice recipes. This means cooked rice from a day or two before. Day-old rice has less moisture, so it's less likely to get mushy in the pan when cooked.
- Quick tips if you forget to cook your rice ahead of time. Use less water when cooking rice in the rice cooker or pot. Two, scoop out your freshly cooked rice, spread it out in a baking pan, and leave it at room temperature for at least one hour while you prep the ingredients.
- White rice is best for this fried rice recipe, though brown rice will work too.
- If you can not find holy or Thai basil, use Italian sweet basil instead, but add up to ½ cup extra to make up for the earthy basil flavors. Holy basil is the star ingredient that gives this recipe the unique taste of fried rice. Don't skip out! (:
- Holy basil is commonly used in Thai cuisine. They are light green and have fuzzy stems with smaller narrow leaves. They add a lightly spicy and sweet flavor to this rice dish. The Thai name for holy basil is "Bai Kapraw" or "Tulsi".
- Sauces. In Thai cooking, fish sauce is used more than soy sauce, which is commonly used in Chinese cooking. If you don't use fish sauce, it's ok to substitute soy sauce. The flavors will be different, more like a Chinese fried rice recipe. It will still taste good! Use Thai light soy sauce if possible and not dark soy sauce.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 15
- Category: Fried rice
- Method: Stir fry
- Cuisine: Thai
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Ashley Stoll says
You have convinced me to not skip the Thai basil! It's usually an ingredient I don't buy or only have Italian on hand so thank you for the encouragement. Makes all the difference
Suwanee says
So delighted to hear!! (:
Lizie says
Wow! This THAI BASIL CHICKEN FRIED RICE is SO GOOD! I love the basil taste. You knocked this one out of the park, Suwanee!!