This website may contain affiliate links and advertising so that we can provide recipes to you. Read my disclosure policy.
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
Pin this now to find it later
Pin It
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.
So easy & sooooo good!! I added garlic because well, I couldn’t resist. Love this recipe!
Have you tried this using brown rice?
I’ve made this several times using day old brown rice and it’s delicious. Highly recommend. I have Type 2 Diabetes and my numbers don’t spike. Love love this recipe. I added a lb. of steamed shrimp and it was delicious.
Made this with the Huli Huli Chicken- Fantastic combination!
Are the 3 cups of rice measured after it is cooked, or is it 3 cups of rice that are then cooked to equal more rice?
The 3 cups of rice is cooked rice. Usually day old rice works best.
What kind of rice can I use
I like to use a jasmine rice but any rice that is not instant will be great!
Instant rice works great too~! I also use mixed vegetables if I don’t have peas and carrots. I also put pork in our fried rice I cut it in small pieces and take the fat off, then first fry it in the pan.
Great easy to make recipe. Didn’t have white onions to garnish so used celery from my garden. I also added ginger with the vegetable. Love the tip of doing the egg at the side of the vegetables to save on dishes.
When and how should one incorporate shrimpinto the recipe.
Here is my shrimp fried rice recipe https://therecipecritic.com/better-than-takeout-shrimp-fried-rice/.
Fantastic fried rice recipe, thank you so much for sharing! Added just a tbsp of oyster sauce for extra umami flavour
Best rice ever!
Thank you for sharing. I think it’s great to keep it simple and then you can add other ingredients to spice it up a little if you wish.
Will make it again for sure. (soon) 🙂
I’m a guy but love to cook.the only i added was the powdered ginger it gives that unique flavor.great recipe.
Yummy! First time making fried rice, it was very easy! I accidentally added wayyy too much soy sauce though…. whoops.
Don’t usually cook and this was really nice and methods idiot proof haha
Try white pepper n a dash of salt n if u dont use msg add a little ( 1/2 tsp or less) of sugar .
I made this and added left over rotisserie chicken and a bit of sliced water chestnuts. It was awesome! Vacuum packed leftovers and froze them. Reheated perfectly in the microwave. From now on I will always keep some in the freezer for quick meals. Thanks!
Essential add ins are fresh ginger & garlic ( chopped ) . I took a Cantonese cooking course & they were always added . Mushrooms too Green onions are a nice garnish as well
How much garlic would you recommend?
I love fried rice. I make it at least once a week.