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My go-to when I don’t feel like cooking? This easy chicken fried rice! I grab leftover rice and chicken, toss it all in a pan, and boom, dinner is ready in minutes. The best part? My kids devour it!
A Reader’s Review
Such a perfect recipe! I use leftover chicken AND rice, so with the frozen mixed veggies this comes together incredibly quickly! My husband and one daughter have both said they could eat this 3x a week – and thats a glowing compliment…believe me!
– Carrie
All the Reasons This Never Fails Me
- Meal Prep Magic: Tastes just as good the next day, making leftovers something to look forward to.
- One-Pan Wonder: Everything cooks in a single skillet, so there’s less mess, and cleanup is a breeze!
- Protein-Packed Upgrade: While I love my classic fried rice recipe, this one gets a protein boost from juicy chicken that makes it even more satisfying.
- Family Favorite: Even picky eaters can’t resist the savory combo of chicken, veggies, and rice.
Ingredients Needed
- Protein: Mix up your protein with ham, shrimp, or bacon.
- Low Carb: For a low-carb version of fried rice, try using cauliflower.
- Vegetables: Feel free to add other favorite vegetables to enhance this recipe. Broccoli, cauliflower, snap peas, or water chestnuts work great.
- Soy Sauce: Regular or low-sodium soy sauce both work. You can add more at the end if you want a bolder flavor.
How To Make Chicken Fried Rice
You only need one pan and a few basic ingredients. This chicken fried rice comes together fast and makes the best use of leftovers. After making it once, takeout might be off the menu for good.
- Cook the Chicken: Add vegetable oil and soy sauce to a large skillet or wok and heat over medium heat. Add chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces, and cook until lightly browned and cooked throughout, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
- Add the Vegetables: Add sesame oil, diced white onion, and thawed frozen peas and carrots to the pan and fry until tender, about 3-4 minutes.
- Scramble the Egg: Slide the vegetables to the sides and then add the lightly beaten eggs to the other side of the pan. Use a spatula to scramble the eggs. Once cooked, mix the eggs with the vegetables.
- Add the Rice and Serve: Add cooked white rice and the cooked chicken to the vegetable mixture and stir to combine. Add soy sauce and stir until combined and heated throughout. Top with sliced green onions, and fresh cracked black pepper if desired, and serve warm.
Alyssa’s Pro Tip
High Heat: Cooking chicken fried rice over high heat is best for fried rice. It helps brown the rice and vegetables evenly. Avoid letting the rice steam or clump together by stirring frequently.
Tips For the Best Fried Rice
- Use Cold Rice: Leftover white, long grain or brown rice from the fridge is ideal, firmer grains = better texture for your chicken fried rice.
- Too Fresh? Chill It: You can cook rice fresh, then spread it on a sheet pan and refrigerate for 30–45 minutes, or pop it in the freezer for 10–15 minutes to cool it down fast.
- Shortcut: Use pre-cooked, ready rice to save even more time.
How to Store Leftover Chicken Fried Rice
- How long does fried rice last? Stored right in an airtight container, it stays fresh for 5–7 days in the fridge.
- Can you freeze it? Absolutely! Seal it up in an airtight container or ziplock, throw it in the freezer, and you’re good to go!
- Can you reheat it? Yep! Stovetop or microwave works best—just don’t reheat it more than once.
More “Better Than Take Out” Recipes
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Equipment
- Large Skillet or Wok
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 pound chicken cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 cup diced white onion about 1 small onion
- 1 cup thawed frozen peas and carrots
- 2 lightly beaten large eggs
- 3 cups cooked rice
- 2-3 tablespoons soy sauce more or less to taste
- 2 tablespoons sliced green onions optional garnish
Instructions
- Add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon soy sauce to a large skillet or wok and heat over medium heat. Add 1 pound chicken cut into bite-sized pieces and cook until lightly browned and cooked throughout, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
- Add 2 tablespoons sesame oil, 1 cup diced white onion, and 1 cup thawed frozen peas and carrots to the pan and fry until tender, about 3-4 minutes.
- Slide the vegetables to the sides and add 2 lightly beaten large eggs to the other side of the pan. Use a spatula to scramble the eggs. Once cooked, mix the eggs with the vegetables.
- Add 3 cups cooked rice and the cooked chicken to the vegetable mixture and stir to combine. Add 2-3 tablespoons soy sauce and stir until combined and heated throughout. Top with 2 tablespoons sliced green onions, if desired, and serve warm.
Video
Notes
Updated May 28, 2025
Leftover Instructions: Fried rice lasts 5–7 days in the fridge when stored in an airtight container, and it freezes great, too—just seal it up and toss it in the freezer. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave, but only once.
Nutrition
Calories: 225kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 17gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 77mgSodium: 474mgPotassium: 327mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 1754IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 27mgIron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!
Haha sorry i meant Fried rice….
Hi Alyssa….mmm the presentation of this fried looks sooo tempting…can’t wait to make it soon….
I have the same question that Jennifer posted.
I totally loved your recipe, it was simple and easy to make. I find myself making chicken fried rice all the time just because I love it so much! However, I like to experiment and try new things so I decided to replace the rice with quinoa. I have eaten quinoa many times but I didn’t think it was going to work with this dish but it did and I wanted to share my discovery. Quinoa has many health benefits and is called the “super-food or super-grain.” It’s high in protein and fiber more so than other grains. It has lots of iron and its gluten free! It’s full of vitamins, antioxidants and nutrients than other grains. Quinoa can be found anywhere–from any supermarket to a health food store–and its reasonably priced. It has a soft texture and most importantly it tastes delicious!
Hi! When you use the Quinoa did you use the same amount that you would have of rice, also does it cook in the same amount of time as rice?
YUM!
I love experiencing with food so I was wondering how much would a recipe book cost and where would I be able to get one. I love to try new things with food I love to eat
I use a 3 ring binder for my recipies with dividers for all new recipies i try and like works out very good and it inexpensive.
If i do not use the chicken, will the recipe still be delicious (I don’t eat meat)? I love fried rice 🙂
Yes! Below the post I have a link to my original fried rice recipe! 🙂
This sounds yummy! I’ll definitely be trying it. I make fried rice often and found a great way to really make it flavorful. I use chicken broth instead of water to boil the rice in and I make and refrigerate the rice at least 3-4 hours before I use it for fried. It turns out delicious!!
Mmm that sounds delicious! I never thought to make my rice with chicken broth!
Just made this!! It was AWESOME!!! I’m not big on peas and carrots so I left them out – I think I’ll try some frozen corn next time. Very easy to make, and didn’t take long either. The hardest part was getting the chicken to small enough pieces, lol. Thanks for this one, it is gonna be my “Go To” fried rice recipe from now on!!!
Your Firecracker Chicken recipe points to the Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken. 🙁
I fixed it! Thanks!
If you don’t like onions or frozen veggies, can you omit those? Or will it mess with the consistency of the rice?
You can omit those — it will basically be chicken and rice – YUM!
My kids are picky so I just put peas in, and that is all 🙂
Hi Alyssa – can you please post recipe for the liquid type chilli red sauce which Chinese restaurant people use? The spicy eaters need that as a MUST for the chicken fried rice.
Huy Fong Chili Garlic Sauce. Sold in a jar in my supermarket.
Looks great, pinning it now. I clicked your firecracker chicken but it goes to sweet and sour is it the same thing?
I made this tonight and it was so delicious! My husband loves it when I make chicken fried rice and previously I was using a seasoning packet and adding fresh veggies and meat. I am sure that had a ton of sodium! I found your recipe and decided to give it a whirl. I used a shallot instead of a white onion and absolutely added some green onion! I didn’t do the chicken teriyaki style, but I did season it and cook it up in some additional sesame oil. My husband and I thank you for the great recipe and I look forward to trying your other creations!
You must cook it in the teriyaki it is amazing!!!!!
I love fried rice. Usually I get take out house combination fried rice. However, I”m definitely going to be making this delicious looking dish for me and my partner. We both love chicken in most dishes. I’m truly excited to try this recipe.
Simple and easy to cook. I hope it will taste better than Chinese take away meal.
This looks completely delish! I love fried rice!
Ok so I am looking at this recipe and fully intend to make it this week (it’s already on the menu) but I have 1 question. A * was put next to the rice but it was a comment about cooking the chicken in the teriyaki sauce. Once the chicken is cooked am I supposed to use that same sauce and toss it with the chicken, rice and other veg/egg? Or do I only use the additional soy sauce listed?
It looks like the * for the rice is referring to using rice that has been prepared a day ahead. That bit of info was found one another one of her recipes.
I make this dish a few times a month for my family. I have made both with and without cooking in the teriyaki sauce. I now cook this in the sauce every time! I have also used this sauce with just chicken breasts on top of a bed of rice…. delicious. To your original question- cook the chicken in the teriyaki then discard the sauce and continue cooking the fried rice recipe as normal. You will not be disappointed!