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These colorful Thai Basil Beef and Lemongrass Rice Bowls are full of Thai flavors and made so simply. The beef (or use chicken) is cooked in a sweet Thai basil chili sauce until caramelized around the edges, then added to bowls of lemongrass rice. A fresh, bright, carrot and pepper salad is spooned overtop. The bowl is then finished with flavorful Thai basil, sesame seeds, and peanuts for a balance of spicy, sweet, and savory flavor. Altogether, these bowls are so delicious, plus quick to make.
I’m back at it with another summer bowl recipe, and this one is extra special. This is a recipe I made back in 2014, but I’ve continued to make it on repeat. At this point, it’s such a Gerard family staple, we all love it!
Anytime my brothers are home visiting I end up making this at least once. They love that it’s kind of like take-out, but healthier. And I always make it just spicy enough for their tastes, but with a kick of sweetness too.
Honestly, I mostly love this recipe because it’s so darn easy! If I have all the vegetables prepped, it takes 20 minutes from start to finish.
I make this year-round, but it’s on weekly rotation throughout the summer since we grow so much sweet Thai basil and peppers!
Make the rice
The first thing I make is the rice since it actually takes the longest to cook. For this dish, I love to use lemongrass. Lemongrass is such a star ingredient that’s so underused. When cooked, it has a subtle citrusy, lemony flavor with a little mintiness in there too.
It’s a very light refreshing flavor and I love cooking it into the rice. The lemongrass really complements the basil.
I cook the rice in coconut milk for a creamy, coconut flavor along with lemongrass paste and Thai jasmine rice. Simply let the rice steam while you prepare the beef.
Make the salad and beef
To add color and extra flavor, I made a quick salad with carrots, peppers, and lots of fresh green onions. I kept the dressing simple with a bit of fish sauce, lime, and honey. Then I tossed it all together and let the dressing soak into the veggies, almost like pickling them.
For the beef, I used ground beef, garlic, and ginger cooked together with lots of sweet Thai chili sauce and Thai basil. You can easily use whatever you enjoy here, chicken, pork or even tofu would be great.
If you’re having trouble finding Thai basil, traditional Italian basil works in a pinch!
Since most store-bought sweet Thai chili sauce is full of sugar, I like to make my own chili sauce. I use a mix of honey, chili paste, a touch of ketchup, and then some garlic, ginger, and lime!! It’s really easy to mix up if you’re looking for a healthier sauce option.
Then just put everything together. Load the bowls with rice, beef, lots of salad, roasted peanuts, toasted sesame seeds, and plenty of garden-fresh Thai basil.
These bowls come together so quickly and have so much flavor, which you know we love! And I really appreciate all the color – best kind of recipe!
Looking for other quick weeknight dinners? Here are some favorites:
Chili Crisp Chicken Mango Cucumber Rice Bowl
30 Minute Caramelized Shallot Beef Ramen Noodles
Healthier Homemade One Pot Hamburger Helper
Coconut Popcorn Chicken with Sweet Thai Chili Lime Sauce
30 Minute Sticky Thai Meatballs with Sesame Noodles
Better Than Takeout Sweet Thai Basil Chicken
Spicy Chipotle Honey Salmon Bowls
Lastly, if you make these Thai Basil Beef and Lemongrass Rice Bowls, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
20 Minute Thai Basil Beef and Lemongrass Rice Bowls.
Servings: 4
Calories Per Serving: 494 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Watch the How-To Reel
Ingredients
Salad
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 bell pepper, sliced
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce or tamari
- 2 teaspoons honey
Beef
- 1 pound lean ground beef (or chicken or pork)
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
- black pepper
- 1/3 cup tamari or soy sauce
- 1/3 cup sweet Thai chili sauce (homemade in notes)
- 2 cups Thai or sweet Italian basil, chopped
- sesame seeds and peanuts, for serving
Instructions
- 1. To make the salad. Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Toss well and set aside.2. To make the beef. In a large skillet, cook the beef with black pepper over medium heat, breaking up the meat as it cooks until browned, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and ginger and cook another minute. Add the tamari, sweet Thai chili sauce, and 1 cup of fresh basil. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook until the sauce coats the beef, 3-5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining basil. 3. Divide the rice and beef between bowls. Add the salad to the bowl. Top with peanuts, sesame seeds, and fresh basil. Enjoy!
Lemongrass Rice
- 1. Add 1 can coconut milk and 1/3 water to a medium-sized pot. Bring to a low boil. Add in 1 1/2 cups jasmine rice and 1 tablespoon lemongrass paste. Stir to combine. Place the lid on the pot and turn the heat down to the lowest setting possible. Allow the rice to cook ten minutes on low and then turn the heat off completely. Let the rice sit on the stove, covered, for another 15-20 minutes (don't take any peeks inside!). 2. After 15-20 minutes remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork. Note that rice can cook differently for everyone, this is just what works for me.
Notes
Homemade Sweet Thai Chili Sauce: Mix 1/3 cup honey, 2 tablespoons ketchup, 1-2 tablespoons chili sauce, 2 teaspoons lime zest, 2 tablespoons lime juice, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 2 teaspoons tamari or soy sauce, 1 tablespoon grated ginger, and 1 clove grated garlic in a glass jar. Shake or stir well. Use as directed.
(had to leave one of these original photos, for memories!!)
See, even my picky littlest brother, Red, was all over this one. Now that is rare.
This post was originally published on July 21, 2022
Omg this was so delicious!!! I’m needed some better ground beef options. SO glad I found this!
Hi Kylie,
Happy Wednesday!? Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am so glad it was a tasty one! xxT
I made this last night and it was delicious! I actually couldn’t find Thai basil at my local grocery store, so I used a combination of cilantro and Italian basil, and it was great! Definitely recommend making then homemade Sweet Thai Chili Sauce, it was amazing!
Hey Melissa,
Fantastic! Thanks for sharing your feedback and what worked well for you, I am so glad this dish was enjoyed! xxT
My family and I loved this so much! So easy to throw together and the flavors are soooo delicious. Added some pickled red onion I had on hand. Another winner – thank you, Tieghan!
Hi Lindsey,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe out, I am so glad it was enjoyed!! Happy Wednesday! xT
Very flavorful meal, however it turned out too salty.
I used a premium fish sauce, probably should cut in half.
Hi Adriana,
Thanks for giving the recipe a try, sorry to hear you found it salty. I would definitely try using low sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos next time. I hope this helps! xx
This recipe was delicious. I substituted a combination of ground pork and ground turkey for the beef, and was light on the sweet Chili sauce to make it more kid friendly. It was a huge hit. Thank you!
Hi Monika,
Awesome! Thanks so much for trying this recipe, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! Have a great Wednesday! xx
This is an awesome recipe. We loved it and will definately make it again. Thanks.
Hi Lisa,
Happy Wednesday!? Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am so glad it was a tasty one! xxT
Would any of these items freeze well after being cooked (excluding the salad items)? looking to get some freezer meal ideas and thought the ground beef is a good start. Not sure about the rice though?
Hey there,
Sure, you could freeze the beef, I probably wouldn’t freeze the rice though. I would check out my freezer friendly meals sections for some better options:
https://fett-weg.today/recipes/?_recipe_meal=freezer-friendly
I hope this helps!! xx
This was amazing! My husband usually gets mad when I look at recipes in the middle of the night due to insomnia, but not this time! Definitely going into our regular rotation. I’m going to try it with tofu crumbles next time for a plant based meal.
Hey Heather,
LOL so glad your husband enjoyed this recipe! Sure, I bet tofu would also be great!! Have a great week! xx
I slightly modified this based on what I had at home. I used coconut aminos in place of the soy sauce and also used some cucumbers in the salad instead of tomatoes. I made it with ground turkey but I’m sure it would be amazing with other proteins as well. This is definitely something I would make again and I am looking forward to the leftovers tomorrow.
Hey Jen,
Thanks for making this recipe and sharing what worked well for you, I’m glad to hear it was enjoyed! xT
This was so so good, like restaurant quality good. Maybe the best HBH recipe I have made so far and I own all your cookbooks. Followed the recipe as stated and it came out perfect! Rice and the pickled carrot salad are a must! Loved the peanuts for crunchy texture. Thanks for all you do to bring amazing fresh ideas to our table. Cheers!
Hey Lesley,
Wow!! Thank you so very much:) Love to hear that you enjoyed this one, thanks for making it and so many others! xTieghan
Absolutely amazing flavor and comes together quickly. Couldn’t find lemongrass paste locally so will order some online and will add that when I make it next time.
Hey Debbie,
Fantastic! Thanks for making this recipe, so glad it was easy to make and tasty! xTieghan
This was absolutely delicious! Definitely making it again and again. And it really was quick and easy to make.
Hey Deb,
Thanks for your comment! So glad to hear that this dish was a winner, thanks a lot for giving it a go! ?xTieghan
Absolutely delicious!
Thanks so much Jen!!
This was delicious! I subsituted mushrooms instead of ground beef for a vegetarian option and it was a great alternative!
Hey Samantha,
Such a great idea! Thanks for making this dish and sharing your veggie option:) Love to hear that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Absolutely delicious and a total hit with my teenagers. My daughter actually said, “mom, you’ve elevated your cooking”!
Hey Nomita,
LOL love this!! So glad both you and your kids enjoyed the recipe, thanks for making it:) xTieghan