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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.
For a less healthy more take-out authentic fried rice experience use an oyster sauce that contains MSG. Like Lee Kum Kee brand Oyster Sauce. Just a tablespoon drizzled over then mixed will do the trick. Don’t forget to warn eaters of the MSG, no one likes migraines.
Just made this free form (no amounts) for 4 people…used 6 eggs, about 2 cups veggies, quite a bit of sesame oil and added a little oyster sauce. Still missing something, but at the same time, still very moreish! We will keep experimenting to see if we can find that elusive missing flavour. Very nice though.
Jen, you may want to try a touch of Powdered ginger. I found that really made it perfect for me! I also added a little bit of fish sauce.
It’s oyster sauce!
Soy sauce?
You might try adding a little oyster sauce.if you have not yet, equal to amount of soy sauce or a bit less, and thin the combination with a tablespoon or 2 of chicken broth. Are you scrambling those eggs into the rice before cooking them? It seems like so many to add if you cooked them and then stirred the cut up cooked scrambled eggs into the rice as is normally done. Not that there is anything wrong if you like lots of eggs, just wondered.
I made this recipe as is and I thought 2 Tbsp of sesame oil was too much. The flavor was overwhelming to me (personal taste). 2nd time around I reduced to 1 Tbsp sesame oil and added 1 Tbsp vegetable oil. I still had a nice hint of the sesame oil. Added an extra cup of veggies as well. This is a great, easy recipe.
Made this for dinner tonight and it turned out GREAT (never made fried rice until now). I did not put shrimp in it this time but next time I will…so EASY PEASY…LOL
Are the frozen carrots and peas boiled before freezing them?
No, they are not boiled before cooking them. You will add them in frozen and cook all together.
I love it . soon delicious.
Not sure if your question has been answered – did you mean are they cooked before they’re FRIED, or when you buy frozen vegetables at the store, are they cooked before they are frozen? Most veggies are blanched before freezing them, so they are “partially cooked”. Both peas and carrots may be eaten raw, so there is no harm in them not being fully cooked – they just won’t be as soft.
You use the store bought bags of frozen peas & carrots. 🙂
I have been making this fried rice since Chinese food was bought into this country of ours and theres nothing wrong with having this as a main meal especially when one is watching their weight!
Especially if you use Cauliflower “rice” – big win – veggies and lower carbs!
This was so easy AND delicious. Using the frozen carrots and peas is genius and didn’t compromise the end result (versus using fresh) at all. I found the tips to be very helpful and using just one pan was a bonus. I will definitely be making this again and again. Thanks for the great recipe.
Thank you for sharing this great recipe, I make this at least once a week, it’s easy, delicious and my go to when I need something quick to make for dinner!
I made this Fried Rice and we fell in love . It’s so easy to make and delicious too .it is a favorite go to meal
This is the best fried rice recipe that I have found and I’m very pleased with it. Thank you! It’s always nice to find a recipe that becomes a keeper!
This is so quick and easy! I make this all the time and always have cooked white rice on hand because my boyfriend eats it with everything but sometimes it gets boring! I just sautéed some minced garlic first (instead of the onion because I’m not a big fan!) and then added some sliced hot dog (the only meat I had on hand at the time). Sooo yum. Topped off with some sriracha at the end too. It’s so simple yet so tasty thank you for sharing with us!
This recipe is delicious! I made it for dinner and my husband and I both loved it. I added some Five Spice seasoning, which worked well with the dish. I sprinkled some peanuts on top of the dish right before serving and it was amazing. Thanks for this recipe! It’s a keeper!
Do you ever add pineapple?
Adding pineapple tidbits or chunks would give it an Hawaiian flare! I love the idea!
Love to add shrimp to it and that is our whole meal. I cook the shrimp first, then take it out and add it back at the end. Shrimp fried rice! No better.
Loved it. Thank you
I made this tonight and followed the recipe – it was delicious and my kids and husband loved it. Thank you so much for an uncomplicated, delicious recipe !
Alyssa thanks for this easy and delicious recipe which can be prepared without too much work, believe me it’s a life saver.