Thai basil turkey stir-fry is a vibrant and flavorful dish that packs a punch with its savory, aromatic, and slightly spicy profile. With lean ground turkey as the base, this stir-fry is lighter yet still full of bold, satisfying flavors. Thai basil, garlic, and a combination of soy sauce, fish sauce, and a touch of sugar create the perfect balance of salty, sweet, and umami, making this dish a delightful way to spice up a weeknight dinner.
The stir-fry starts by sautéing garlic, shallots, and chili peppers (if you like some heat) in a bit of oil. As they become fragrant, ground turkey is added to the pan, cooked through, and broken into crumbles. Using turkey not only lightens up the dish but allows the bold Thai seasonings to shine. Once the turkey is browned, the real magic happens when you pour in the sauce mixture. A combination of soy sauce, fish sauce, a dash of sugar, and sometimes lime juice or a bit of tamarind gives the dish its complex flavor profile. The sugar balances the saltiness of the fish sauce, while lime juice adds a refreshing zing.
Thai basil leaves are added toward the end of cooking, just long enough to wilt them slightly. The basil provides a fragrant, slightly peppery note that pairs wonderfully with the savory turkey and sauce. If you can’t find Thai basil, regular basil will work in a pinch, though the unique taste of Thai basil really elevates the dish.
This stir-fry is incredibly versatile and easy to customize. You can toss in additional vegetables like bell peppers, carrots, or green beans for added crunch and color. Serve the stir-fry over steamed jasmine rice or rice noodles to soak up all that delicious sauce. For extra texture, top with chopped peanuts or a drizzle of chili oil.
Thai basil turkey stir-fry is perfect for those craving something fresh, light, and full of flavor. It’s quick to prepare, full of vibrant ingredients, and a great option for meal prepping. The balance of spicy, savory, and sweet, along with the fragrant basil, makes every bite of this stir-fry a mouthwatering experience.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 2 cups Basil leaves torn, fresh
- 1 red bell pepper thinly sliced
- 1 onion thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp ginger minced, fresh
- 2 tbsp gluten-free soy sauce
- 1 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tsp coconut sugar
- 1 tsp chili flakes adjust to taste
- 2 tbsp cooking oil
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix together the gluten-free soy sauce, fish sauce, coconut sugar, and chili flakes. Set aside.
- In a large skillet or wok, heat the cooking oil over medium-high heat.
- Add the minced garlic and ginger, and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add the ground turkey to the skillet and cook until browned and cooked through, breaking it apart with a spoon as it cooks.
- Push the turkey to one side of the skillet and add the sliced onion and red bell pepper to the other side. Sauté for a couple of minutes until the vegetables are slightly softened.
- Pour the sauce mixture over the turkey and vegetables. Stir to combine and coat everything evenly with the sauce.
- Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the torn basil leaves until wilted.
- Serve the Thai Basil Turkey Stir-Fry over cooked rice or cauliflower rice.
- Garnish with additional chili flakes and fresh basil leaves if desired.
- Enjoy your delicious Thai-inspired turkey stir-fry!
I didn’t have fresh basil, so I used dried and it just didn’t taste right. Maybe try to stick with fresh?
Not a fan of turkey, did u even use chicken?? Might try next time just sticking with chicken.
Quick and easy. Made it for my family and they all loved it! Definitely will make again.
Quick and delish! I put it over noodles instead of rice. Yum!
Sounds amazing! Noodles are a great idea! I never thought of that. 😊
I’m not sure this is really Thai. My friend from Thailand wouldn’t recognize it. But it tasted ok.
I think it looks good! But I get your point, it might be a bit different from traditional recipes. Still, as long as it tastes nice, who cares? 😄
This was so yummy! My family loved it and I was impressed at how easy it was to make. Will definitely make again! 😋
I ran out of chili flakes, so I used paprika… not the same! Haha.
I didn’t have fish sauce, used soy sauce only. Still turned out good. 👍
Great job! Soy sauce worked just fine for me too when I tried. Gotta love flexibility in recipes! 🎉
Honestly, I think the fish sauce is really important for the authentic flavor. Soy sauce alone can’t replace it. 😕
Can I use turkey bacon? That’s what I have… also I never heard of basil in Thai food, sounds weird. lol
Turkey bacon? Why not! It should work just fine. And basil is actually used in a lot of Thai dishes, you might like it!
Pretty good but I think it needed something, maybe more sauce? I dunno. Just felt a bit dry.
Didn’t work for me. The turkey was dry and my sauce got burnt. Maybe I did something wrong?
I made this for my kids and they actually ate their veggies! Miracle recipe.
my kids loved this! they never eat turkey but gobbled it up. thanks!
Great recipe! Can’t believe how simple it was to make. Definitely making again.
Looks good! But I can’t eat cilantro. This has basil??? What’s the diff?
Didn’t have onion, used green onions, whatever works!
Super cool dish.
Too spicy for me! You gotta be careful with those chili flakes, man.
Stir fry rice is the best part! And the basil made it smell amazing.
I totally agree! The basil really elevates the dish. I can’t wait to try this with my family!
It was ok but too spicy for me. I think next time I won’t add all the chili flakes.
This was AMAZING! The flavors were so vibrant, I couldn’t believe how good it was!
Really? This was just okay for me. I felt it was a bit bland. Maybe I need to add more chili?
I totally agree! This dish blew my mind too! I’ll be making it again for sure!
This was awesome!! I love Thai food, and this recipe hit the spot.
I dunno, it was kinda bland. I added more chili flakes but still needed something. Maybe more sauce?
Yeah, I feel ya! More sauce could really help bring out the flavors. Maybe try adding a splash of lime juice or a bit of sesame oil next time too! 😊
I didn’t have fish sauce, so I used pickle juice instead… not my best idea. But the turkey tasted good, I guess.
YUM! Kitchen smells so good right now. This is definitely going in my recipe book!
I tried this but the turkey came out kinda dry…maybe I cooked it too long?
Simple ingredients, big taste! My whole family loved it. Thanks for sharing!
Too many steps for me. Can’t we just order takeout??
Isn’t basil supposed to be Italian? Why put it in a Thai dish? Just curious…
Sounds weird to me. I thought you can’t mix cuisines like that. What’s next? Pizza with curry? 😂
Actually, basil is used in a lot of cuisines, including Thai! It’s often called ‘holy basil’ there. Gives the dish a fresh kick! 😊
Not sure about the fish sauce. It was too strong for my kids. Next time, I’ll skip that.
Best stir-fry I’ve ever had! Spicy and full of flavor. Might add more chili flakes next time. 🔥
I messed up and used too much fish sauce… yuck! Ruined it for me. Next time I will follow better!
Wow, this recipe is amazing! The flavors are so fresh and vibrant. Definitely making this again.
I couldn’t find fresh basil, so I used dried. It didn’t taste very good… I think fresh makes a big difference.
I don’t think it makes that much of a difference, honestly. I’ve used dried for other dishes and it was fine. Maybe you just didn’t like the recipe?
I agree! Fresh basil totally changes the dish. I learned that the hard way too. It’s worth the extra effort to find it.
Not bad. I used chicken instead of turkey cause that’s all I had. Still tasty tho.
Super easy and healthy! I had it over cauliflower rice and it was dope. 🌱
I was surprised at how much flavor this dish had! My family loved it! Even my picky eater ate it all!
I’m so glad you and your family loved it! It really is packed with flavor. What did you serve it with?
Very bland. I added more soy sauce and still didn’t like it. Sorry.
I don’t like turkey, I used beef instead and it was still delicious!
Super delicious! Used chicken instead of turkey and it worked just fine. Yummy in my tummy!
This recipe is amazing! The basil really gives it a fresh taste. My family loved it!
I’m so glad you loved it! The fresh basil really makes a difference. Did you serve it with rice? That’s how we always do it!
I dunno, this recipe seems too complicated for me. Why do you need so many ingredients? Can’t you just cook turkey and throw some basil on it?
My kids loved it! They don’t usually eat turkey, but this dish was a hit. Thanks for the recipe!
This was super easy! I added some broccoli and it turned out great. Will make again!
I tried it without the turkey and made it with tofu instead! Still super good.
It was okay, but I don’t think the coconut sugar really added much. Just sayin’.
NO fish sauce for me. Yuck! Can’t handle that taste. Had to skip it.
I totally get it! Fish sauce can be really strong. You can leave it out and still enjoy the dish. Maybe try a bit of extra soy sauce instead?
So good! Love the basil flavor 😍 Definitely making this again!
I’m so glad you loved it! The basil really makes it special, doesn’t it? 😋
This was so good! Flavors were spot on, and I loved the fresh basil. Will make again!
Yuck! Not a fan. The ginger and fish sauce combo was too much for me.
Yup, didn’t enjoy it either. But I guess all recipes ain’t for everyone, right?
I actually love the ginger and fish sauce together! It gives such a unique flavor to the dish. Maybe try it with less fish sauce next time?
Pretty average recipe. Simple but nothing special. The sauce needed more zing.
I totally agree! I added lime juice to mine for an extra kick and it was way better. Maybe try that next time!
I was skeptical about using ground turkey, but this surprised me! Tastes really nice! 5 stars for sure!
I was hesitant too, but ground turkey worked surprisingly well! Great flavor!
Honestly, I still think chicken’s better for stir-fry. Turkey is too dry sometimes!
I had to replace coconut sugar with regular sugar. Still came out fine, I think.