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Fried Rice is a combination of long grained rice, mixture of warm peas, carrots and onions with scrambled eggs mixed all together! You will not be getting take out any longer!
Have fried rice as an entree or a side dish when serving it! If you love fried rice try these variations of fried rice: Bacon Fried Rice, Shrimp Fried Rice, Ham Fried Rice or Chicken Fried Rice.
Easy Fried Rice
I have always loved fried rice. I could probably eat an entire bowl. The great thing about this recipe is that you can add whatever you would like! I have added bacon, chicken, and ham. It is the perfect fried rice base and they say the secret ingredient to get the authentic Chinese taste is sesame oil. Whatever it may be it is fantastic!
I had my entire family over for chinese night. It was a lot of work, but I wanted them to experience my famous sweet and sour chicken. They absolutely loved it and agreed that it tasted straight from a restaurant.
I always serve this amazing fried rice with all of my Chinese dishes. It is easy and goes perfectly as a side!
Ingredients in Fried Rice
- White long grain rice- Day old and cold rice help to keep it from being mushy.
- Small white onion
- Vegetables- Peas and Carrots. You can also add in other veggies such as bell pepper, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, snow peas and cabbage.
- Eggs
- Sesame Oil
- Soy Sauce
- Green Onions- Garnish with adding in sliced green onions right at the end!
How to make Fried Rice
Preheat Skillet. Turn your skillet to medium high heat and pour sesame oil into the bottom of your skillet and add the onion, peas and carrots. Fry this until they are tender.
Slide the veggies to the side. Pour the beaten eggs onto the other side. Use a spatula to scramble the eggs. Mix them together with the veggies.
Add the rice. Combine it with the veggie and egg mixture. Pour the soy sauce on top and stir until it is heated throughout. Garnish with green onions.
Tips for making Fried Rice:
My Chinese sister in law gave me these awesome tips and recipe that I feel make it truly authentic. This is a tried and true family recipe that tastes even better than take out. We love have family gatherings and this is always a favorite recipe to use.
Here are some tips that will make this fried rice simple and easy for you to make. The great thing about this fried rice is made all in one pan. Less clean up for you and more time to sit and enjoy your fried rice as a family.
- Cold rice or day old rice is best. This helps to prevent and keep the rice from sticking together and getting mushy. It does not have to be cold, but it is best to have day old rice instead of fresh rice.
- Scramble the egg in the same pan. To save on dishes you can just slide the veggies to one side and pour the egg in the other side. Scramble the egg with a spatula and then combine with the vegetables.
- Use Jasmine or long grain rice. Using a long grain rice will produce the best results and is most commonly used.
- Use Sesame oil. For the authentic flavor this is a MUST! Sesame oil has distinctive nutty aroma that brings the flavors together in this dish.
- Soy sauce is your best friend. Little to a lot is all up to you. Don’t be afraid to go wild or stay true to the recipe. You will enjoy the extra flavoring soy sauce has to offer mixed with veggies and rice.
- Cook the veggies and egg in the same pan. This is my favorite trick to making this recipe all in one pan. As soon as the veggies are tender just slide them over to the side, pour the eggs onto the other side and scramble. It is as easy as that!
Fried Rice is great for leftovers!
- Can you reheat Fried Rice? Yes! This is an easy fried rice recipe that is great to double to have left overs for the following day. The best way to reheat fried rice is either on the stove top or in the microwave. You don’t want to reheat fried rice more than once for best results.
- Can you freeze Fried Rice? Yes! It is best to place cooked fried rice in air tight containers or ziplock bags. When ready to reheat, the microwave is the best option.
- How long does Fried Rice last? After you cook fried rice, it is best to refrigerate in air tight containers. If it is properly stored, fried rice will usually keep between 5-7 days in the refrigerator.
Is it healthy for you?
This Quinoa Fried Rice or even this Cauliflower “Fried Rice” are both healthier ways to make fried rice. Quinoa and cauliflower fried rice are perfect for making the dish low carb. You will get that same authentic and delicious Chinese flavor. Fried rice on average is about 333 calories in 1 cup. You better have 2!
What to serve with Fried Rice
- Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken
- Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli
- Sticky Asian Glazed Chicken
- Baked Kung Pao Chicken
- Firecracker Chicken
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Easy Fried Rice
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked rice *
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 small white onion, chopped
- 1 cup frozen peas and carrots, thawed
- 2-3 tablespoons soy sauce more or less to taste
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 2 tablespoons green onions, chopped, optional
Instructions
- Preheat a large skillet or wok to medium heat. Add the sesame oil, onion, peas, and carrots. Cook until tender.
- Slide the onion, peas, and carrots to the side, and pour the beaten eggs onto the other side of the skillet. Using a spatula, scramble the eggs. Once cooked, mix the eggs with the vegetable mix.
- Add the rice to the veggie and egg mixture. Pour the soy sauce on top. Stir and fry the rice and veggie mixture until warmed through and combined.
- Add chopped green onions if desired.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Man I slurped up that fried rice like one of my hounds chomping into a big ole T-Bone steak. It were taaasstttyyyy! Yum!
my sister and I we are thinking going to cook for our family for 3 days (that will give my mom a brake) and this was one of our ideas so I hope my family likes this.
Sometimes I like to cook to help my wife. I love fried rice and found this recipe. Just made it last night. It was great! She thinks I’m alright :-). Thanks!
What a great husband!!! 🙂
You have a great smile.
The ingredients call for 1/2 frozen peas and carrots, thawed — is this 1/2 bag?
Sorry it is a 1/2 cup. I will have to fix that. You can always use more veggies if you want! I think I use closer to a cup. 🙂
When you add the rice, it should already be cooked, correct?
Yes. Cook the rice first.
How should the rice be cooked?
On the stove or I make it in a rice cooker
Do you use toasted sesame oil?
We just tried this for ourselves and it was DELICIOUS! Of course, we didn’t have day old rice, and had to use fresh, but it was amazing. 😀
Thanks for posting this super easy recipe. We’re thrilled and will definitely be making it again!
This was excellent fried rice! I’m not much of a cook but it tasted like the fried rice at my favorite restaurant. In fact better!
This was the best fried chicken! My husband absolutely LOVED it, especially with the firecracker chicken recipe to go along with!:) Thanks for sharing!
Does it make a difference if the rice is instant or raw Long grain
Nope! Either will work. 🙂
Should you pre cook the rice? or should you just throw it in to the pan raw?
Precook the rice. 🙂
The fried rice was so easy and so tasty. A keeper for me. Thanks!
Just made this right now while the Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken is in the oven. It was just missing a little salt and pepper to my taste. But it is Delicioso!
My friend who is Guam and Filipino taught me how to make fried rice. Her recipe was the same except she didn’t use the sesame oil, but used garlic powder, onion powder and pepper instead. The soy sauce gave it enough salt flavor.
This is helpful, as I don’t have any sesame oil on hand to use lol
how much of the garlic powder, onion powder and pepper? (and is that black pepper or red pepper?)
The photo on Pinterest of the stir fry shows garlic, but this recipe doesn’t show it. I just made it, and it was missing something, and I believe it’s the garlic.
Where is your recipe for the “famous chicken”?
It is right here… 😀
https://therecipecritic.com/baked-sweet-and-sour-chicken/
Thanks for the great and simple recipe!!!! Came in handy!!
You MUST MUST MUST make this baked sweet and sour chicken. My whole family loves it, but next time I will double the sauce.
When you say 1/2 frozen peas and carrots, do you means 1/2 bag or 1/2 cup?
Sorry it is a half cup
I’m glad I read this! I’m making this tonight and I thought it meant half bag! =)
YUM! Love how easy this recipe is
Homemade fried rice is the best! I can’t wait to try your version!
when she says 3 cups of cooked rice? what kind of rice is she referring to? please someone respond.
Just white rice.
How could I add shrimp
Just cook the shrimp and toss it in. 🙂
White.
I like to use Jasmine rice for fried rice recipes but a regular white rice will work just fine, as others have said. I just like the texture of Jasmine rice in this dish and it’s very fragrant while cooking. 🙂
Sesame oil loses its flavor when heated. Consider using ordinary cooking oil. Add the sesame oil at the end as a flavoring agent.
Love your sweet and sour chicken recipe! Can’t wait to try the fried rice with it!
Thanks for sharing.
It is to die for with the fried rice recipe on this site. My husband and my favorite. I actually decrease the sugar. Had both ways and awesome!!
Meant lessened sugar in sweet and sour chicken.