Thai Beef Bowl Recipe with Coconut Rice

Sweet with a little bit of kick, this Thai Beef is an easy weeknight dinner that comes together in about 45 minutes and feeds the whole family.

Pin

Beef is one of my favorite meats to cook with as it is usually easily available and so many varieties of dishes can be made from it.

This Thai Beef is just one of our favorites.

I love Thai food, not saying that this is authentic Thai, but this was a recipe that I learned how to make many years ago, and we haven’t stopped making it since.

It is sweet and spicy at the same time, with the addition of the cayenne pepper, which is what really helps set off the spice, but it is absolutely not overly spicy, and you can absolutely cater it to your needs.

This is also a fun and unique dish to serve to any guests, and can easily be doubled for a fun “take out” night, which we love having themed dinners.

This Thai Beef is a really great option if you want to keep things easy and under an hour, but also be filling and fun at the same time.

1. Served over a fun coconut rice it gives a nice complement of flavors.
2. This can be doubled to serve more people.
3. The spice level can be catered to your taste.

• Coconut milk
• Water
• Jasmine rice
• Ground beef
• Red bell pepper
• Garlic paste
• Low sodium soy sauce 
• Lime juice
• Light brown sugar
• Thai chili sauce
• Cayenne pepper
• Carrot
• Fresh basil
• Red pepper flakes
• Cucumber, for garnish
• Scallions, for garnish

Pin

Jump to:

• WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:
• INGREDIENTS NEEDED (SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR THE FULL RECIPE CARD):
• HOW TO MAKE THAI BEEF:
• FAQ: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS RECIPE:
• CAN I MAKE THIS SPICY OR LESS SPICY?
• CAN I USE ANOTHER MEAT?
• DO I HAVE TO USE JASMINE RICE?
• ANY ADDITIONS?
• ANY SUBSTITUTIONS?
• HOW TO STORE:
• DANA’S TIPS AND TRICKS:
• Thai Beef Bowl Recipe with Coconut Rice

Rice:

1. Boil water and coconut milk in a medium saucepan.
2. Rinse the rice until the water runs clear.
3. When water and coconut milk is at a full boil, add rice.
4. Cover and turn to medium-low heat for 15 minutes.
5. Remove from the heat for 10 minutes, then fluff with a fork.

Beef:

1. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, brown the beef for about 4 to 5 minutes, then remove from the pan and set aside. Drain any excess grease. 
2. Add a tablespoon of olive oil and the chopped peppers to the pan. Saute for 4-5 minutes. Add garlic paste and saute for 1 minute.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, lime juice, chili sauce, brown sugar, and cayenne pepper, if using.
4. Add the soy sauce mixture and the cooked beef to the peppers and garlic. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the liquid evaporates. 
5. Add the chopped basil and stir for 1 minute.
6. Remove from heat and add the grated carrots. 
7. Serve the beef over coconut rice in a bowl.
8. Garnish with red pepper flakes, scallions, and quartered cucumbers. 

Pin

CAN I MAKE THIS SPICY OR LESS SPICY?

This dish is sweet on its own, to make it less spicy just leave out the cayenne peppers and the optional red pepper flakes. 

If you want to make it spicier you can add hot chili pepper and hot sauce to your desired spice level.

CAN I USE ANOTHER MEAT?

Yes! This would be great with ground chicken or turkey as well.

We have tried them both and both work great with all the flavors. 

So choose your meat of choice and run with it!

You really can’t go wrong when it comes to these Thai flavors.

Pin

DO I HAVE TO USE JASMINE RICE?

We love jasmine rice for this as the flavor and texture are what we are going for, you can substitute basmati as that is the closest.

You really can use any long-grain white rice for this recipe but the texture, and flavor will be different.

ANY ADDITIONS?

Oh, bring it on!

There are all kinds of other flavors that will work here.

• Top with a crispy fried egg for extra flavor and protein
• Drizzle with peanut sauce for a creamy, nutty twist
• Toss in some steamed green beans or long beans for crunch
• Add a spoonful of chili paste or red curry paste if you love spicy chilies
• Mix in stir-fried sweet onions or bell peppers for extra veggies
• Sprinkle with sesame seeds for a little texture
• Serve with a side of rice noodles instead of (or with!) jasmine rice
• Throw in a handful of fresh herbs like mint, cilantro, or Thai holy basil
• Top with crushed peanuts for a fun crunch
• Squeeze more lime juice or a splash of fish sauce before serving for punchy Thai flavors

ANY SUBSTITUTIONS?

You really can’t go wrong with a few swaps.

Feel free!

• Use ground pork or ground turkey instead of ground beef for a lighter option
• Coconut aminos or low sodium tamari instead of soy sauce for gluten-free diets
• Swap brown rice or cauliflower rice in place of jasmine rice for different textures
• Use Thai basil chicken or even flank steak for a twist on this basil dish
• Try oyster sauce or dark soy sauce in the sauce ingredients for deeper umami
• Sub palm sugar or honey in place of brown sugar for a more traditional Thai sweetness

Pin

ROOM TEMPERATURE: After a couple hours it’s best to refrigerate this recipe.

Meat and veggies will go bad quick at room temp!

REFRIGERATOR:This can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator where it will keep for up to 4-5 days.

FREEZER: I wouldn’t recommend freezing this one.

The texture likely won’t be right after thawing.

Reheat in the microwave before serving.

Looking for a fun Thai-inspired recipe then you absolutely must try these Thai Beef, super tasty, easy, and fun!

Pin

If you’ve tried this THAI BEEF let me know in the comments how it turned out! You can follow me over on PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK to find some more of our mouthwatering recipes!