Meal Prep: Thai Beef Basil
Future Meals For Me Series One
Part of the Future Meals for Me framework SERIES ONE
This is one of those meals I always want sitting in my freezer.
Beef pad kra pao is bold, savoury, and deeply comforting, but what makes this version special is how well it’s designed for real life. It’s quick to cook, incredibly flexible, and most importantly, it reheats beautifully.
In my Future Meals for Me framework, this dish plays a really important role. It’s one of the faster hero meals, the kind you can make in under 30 minutes, portion straight away, and rely on when you want dinner to feel satisfying without being heavy or complicated.
I’ve intentionally made this version slightly saucy. That’s not just for flavour, it’s what keeps the beef juicy, the vegetables tender, and the whole dish from drying out after freezing and reheating. It’s a small detail, but it makes a huge difference to how good this is on night three, four, or five.
If you’re following the series, this recipe is one of the five hero meals in Future Meals for Me, Series One. You’ll find the full framework, freezer grid, and downloadable monthly dinner plan in the master framework HERE.
Why This Recipe Works So Well in the Framework
Thai Beef Basil is:
slightly saucy (so it freezes and reheats beautifully)
quick to cook
high in protein
adaptable to completely different styles of meals
It’s one of those dishes that feels bold and flavourful on day one, but still exciting weeks later when it’s pulled from the freezer and paired with something new.
This is exactly what I look for in a base recipe, flavour-forward, forgiving, and versatile.
How I Remix This Meal
One base recipe, five different dinners:
Fried Egg + Greens – hot beef topped with a soft fried egg
Rice Bowl – a small scoop of rice with cucumber and herbs
Lettuce Cups – fresh, light, and fast
Jacket Potato – comforting and surprisingly good
This is how one pan of beef becomes a full week of dinners without repetition.
Frequently asked questions
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Yes, this recipe is designed to be freezer-friendly. The light sauce protects the beef and keeps it juicy when reheated.
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Up to 3 months when stored in airtight containers.
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You could. But I recommend not as it’s a base recipe. It’s designed to be paired with fresh additions like rice, potatoes or lettuce cups.
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Absolutely. Reduce or remove the chilli and let each person add heat later.
Thai Beef Basil
Makes 6 serves
Protein or serve 130g-150g raw beef
Ingredients
900g beef mince
2 tbsp neutral oil
5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2–3 red chillies, finely chopped (adjust to taste)
300–400g green beans, trimmed and cut into short lengths
Sauce
2 tbsp fish sauce
1½ tbsp soy sauce or tamari
¼ cup beef stock or water
1 full tsp sugar or honey (optional, for balance only)
Plenty of cracked black pepper
1–2 tsp cornflour mixed with a little cold water (optional, helps create a light sauce)
1/4 cup fresh basil
Method
Build the base
Heat the oil in a large pan over medium–high heat. Add the garlic and chilli and cook briefly until fragrant.Cook the beef
Add the beef mince and cook, breaking it up, until browned and cooked through.Add the green beans
Stir in the green beans and cook for 3–4 minutes, until tender but still holding their shape.Make it saucy
Add the fish sauce, soy sauce, stock or water, sugar (if using), and plenty of cracked black pepper. Let it bubble for a couple of minutes.Lightly thicken (optional but recommended)
Stir in the cornflour slurry and cook until the sauce lightly thickens and coats the beef and beans. You’re looking for a glossy, lightly sauced finish, not dry, not soupy.Cool & portion
Remove from heat and allow to cool completely before portioning.
Recipe Notes
Freezer Instructions
Portion into 6 equal containers
Freeze cooked beef mixture only
Store for up to 3 months
Defrosting & Reheating
Defrost overnight in the fridge and reheat gently
Or reheat straight from frozen on low heat with a splash of water or stock
Stir through fresh basil after reheating if you want a brighter finish
Keeping this dish lightly saucy is what prevents it from drying out after freezing.