Thai Stir-Fry · thai cuisine

Holy Basil Chicken Stir-Fry (Pad Kra Pao)

Name: Holy Basil Chicken Stir-Fry (Pad Kra Pao)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 60 min
Cuisine: Thai
Ingredients: 300g minced chicken (or pork); 5 garlic cloves, 3–8 Thai chillies (to taste); 1 tbsp oyster sauce, 1 tbsp light soy, 1 tsp dark soy, 1 tsp fish sauce, 1 tsp sugar; Large handful holy basil leaves; Neutral oil, steamed rice, 2 fried eggs

Screaming-hot pan, holy basil last, fish sauce until it smells right. Egg on rice optional but recommended.

By Hasnain Khan · Tested in a home kitchen · Updated 2026-08-10

⏱ 20 min 👤 2 servings 🔥 Mild ⭐ 4.9 / 5

Recipe card

Prep20 min

Cook40 min

Total60 min

Yield2 servings

Rating4.9 / 5

Calories320

CuisineThai

CourseThai Stir-Fry

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Why this recipe works

Pad kra pao is what you cook when you are hungry and impatient in the best way. High heat, minced meat, garlic-chilli paste, a hit of sauces, and a mountain of holy basil that wilts into peppery perfume. Thai holy basil (kra pao) is sharper than Thai sweet basil — if you can only find Italian basil, the dish still tastes good, just different. The fried egg with crispy lace edges is not optional in my house.

Expert kitchen tips

A teaspoon of water in the wok helps sauces coat if things look dry.
Do not cook basil for long or it turns black and bitter.

Ingredients

300g minced chicken (or pork)
5 garlic cloves, 3–8 Thai chillies (to taste)
1 tbsp oyster sauce, 1 tbsp light soy, 1 tsp dark soy, 1 tsp fish sauce, 1 tsp sugar
Large handful holy basil leaves
Neutral oil, steamed rice, 2 fried eggs

Step-by-step method

Pound or mince garlic and chillies into a rough paste.
Heat a wok until smoking. Add oil, then garlic-chilli; stir seconds until fragrant.
Add mince; stir-fry until cooked and a little browned. Add sauces and sugar; toss.
Kill the heat, fold in holy basil until just wilted.
Serve over rice with a crispy-edged fried egg.

💡 My tip from testing this at home: fry the egg in plenty of hot oil so the edges lace and crackle — that textural contrast is part of the dish.

Estimated nutrition

About 320 calories per serving (based on 2 servings). Values are estimates for home cooks and vary by brands, oil used, and portion size — not lab-analysed.

Serving ideas & leftovers

Serve hot, taste for seasoning at the table, and store leftovers in an airtight container once cool. Most of these dishes reheat gently on the stove with a splash of water, stock, or the dish’s own sauce so the texture stays kind.

This recipe is original CookMe editorial content for home cooks. Nutrition varies by brands and portions. If you have allergies, check every label. CookMe may display ads via partners such as Mediavine; see our Privacy Policy and Advertising Disclosure.