Chicken Fried Rice Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (2024)

Home Chicken Breast Recipes Chicken Fried Rice

Becky Hardin

4.65 from 324 votes

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This authentic easy Chicken Fried Rice recipe is better than takeout and it’s quick and easy to make!Loaded with fresh veggies, this homemade version is healthier, while still being filled with flavor. It’s also great for meal prep, and the leftovers taste delicious!

Chicken Fried Rice Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (1)

Why You’ll Love this Chicken Fried Rice Recipe

  • Healthy. This homemade version still has all of the flavors you would expect from a restaurant-style dish, but it is a lot healthier thanks to a few simple swaps.
  • Flavorful. Sesame oil, soy sauce, and mirin infuse this rice with so much flavor.
  • Easy. This recipe takes just 30 minutes to cook and only 10 minutes of prep.

How to Make Chicken Fried Rice

Here is a quick summary of how to make chicken fried rice. You can find details, tips, and ingredients in the recipe card below.

  1. Cook the rice according to package directions and let cool completely. Then, break up with your hands into individual grains.
  2. Stir-fry the rice for a few minutes to soften it back up, then remove and set aside.
  3. Cook the chicken fully, then remove to a cutting board and cut into chunks.
  4. Cook the onion, carrot, scallions, and garlic, then add the rice and peas to the pan and stir to combine.
  5. Add the cooked chicken, soy sauce, sesame oil, and mirin to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes.
  6. Push the rice to the sides of the pan, then add the egg and beat with salt and pepper. Scramble until cooked to your liking.
  7. Stir the egg back into the rice and cook until everything is well-mixed.
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Chicken Fried Rice Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (3)

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Variations on Fried Rice with Chicken

This fried rice is filled with peas, carrots, onion, and scallions, but it’s such a versatile recipe!

You can easily add in different vegetables depending on what you already have on hand. Sweetcorn, broccoli, or red peppers would all be wonderful additions. You could even add in a few handfuls of spinach at the end to add some greens. Frozen vegetables work really well here, but you can also use fresh.

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How to Store and Reheat

Store leftover chicken fried rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave in 30-second increments until warmed through. You may want to add a splash of water to rehydrate the rice.

How to Freeze

Freeze chicken fried rice in an airtight container or Ziplock bag for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Serving Suggestions

Looking for the perfect pairing for this recipe? This makes a great side dish or main if you’re really craving it. We have some ideas to help you recreate a takeout meal at home!

Try Homemade Cashew Chicken, Chicken Egg Rolls, Honey Sesame Chicken, or Crab Rangoon.

Top Reader Review

  • “This was very easy and flavorful… I will definetly make it again… Thank You For Sharing It!!!” – Kathy Cifrodella

Chicken Fried Rice Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (5)

4.65 from 324 votes

Easy Chicken Fried Rice Recipe

This easy homemade chicken fried recipe is just like takeout, but healthier! Fry up rice with chicken, peas, carrots, and lots of flavorful ingredients, mixed with egg to give it that perfect texture.

Prep: 10 minutes minutes

Cook: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

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Ingredients

  • 2 cups cooked white rice Jasmine or Basmati
  • 10 teaspoons canola oil or vegetable oil; divided (3 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon)
  • 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast
  • 1 yellow onion diced
  • 1 carrot peeled and diced
  • 3 scallions thinly sliced diagonally
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup frozen baby peas
  • 3 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon mirin
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 2 large eggs lightly beaten

Instructions

  • Cook the rice according to package directions. After cooking, pour it on a plate and set aside to cool completely. Once the rice has cooled completely, break it up with your hands into individual grains.

    2 cups cooked white rice

  • Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet (or wok), over high heat, until smoking. Add the rice; cook and stir for 3-4 minutes, or until the rice just begins to turn a little darker. Transfer the rice to a small bowl and set aside.

    10 teaspoons canola oil

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  • Turn the heat to medium, heat 1 tablespoon of oil, and place the chicken breast in the skillet. Cook for 3 minutes on each side. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board, cut it into very thin slices, and then cut the slices into thirds.

    1 boneless, skinless chicken breast

    Chicken Fried Rice Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (8)

  • Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in the skillet and add the diced onion, carrot, scallions, and garlic. Cook, stirring continuously, for 2-3 minutes, or until the carrots are just lightly tender and the onions are translucent.

    1 yellow onion, 1 carrot, 3 scallions, 2 cloves garlic

    Chicken Fried Rice Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (9)

  • Add the rice and peas and stir to combine.

    1 cup frozen baby peas

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  • Add the cooked chicken, soy sauce, sesame oil, and mirin, stir and cook another 2 minutes.

    3 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce, 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil, 1 tablespoon mirin

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  • Season to taste with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.

    Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • Push the chicken rice mixture to the sides of the skillet and add 1 teaspoon oil to the middle of the skillet.

  • Add the lightly beaten eggs and season with salt and pepper. Scramble the eggs and stir to combine with the chicken/rice mixture.

    2 large eggs

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  • Cook, stirring continuously, 3-4 minutes, to give time for the flavors to meld.

Notes

  • Don’t overcook the final dish, or you’ll end up with tough rice and soggy veggies.
  • Use free-range / organic eggs and chicken.
  • Be sure to fully cook the chicken all the way through to 165°F.
  • Dice and cut up veggies ahead of time, so they’re ready to cook before dinner.

Storage:Store chicken fried rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Facts

Easy Chicken Fried Rice Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 376Calories from Fat 144

% Daily Value*

Fat 16g25%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Trans Fat 0.1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 5g

Monounsaturated Fat 9g

Cholesterol 131mg44%

Sodium 869mg38%

Potassium 517mg15%

Carbohydrates 36g12%

Fiber 4g17%

Sugar 6g7%

Protein 21g42%

Vitamin A 3068IU61%

Vitamin C 21mg25%

Calcium 58mg6%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Author: Becky Hardin

Course:Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine:Chinese

Did You Make This?We love seeing what you’ve made! Tag us on social media at@easychickenrecipesfor a chance to be featured.

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Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin founded Easy Chicken Recipes in 2018. She has been creating trusted, easy, and delicious recipes on the web since 2012. Becky is known for simple dinner ideas, delicious crockpot recipes, creative chicken meals, and so much more. We have built a team of recipe developers, testers, and writers that love to create trust chicken recipes for every family.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Review

  1. Chicken Fried Rice Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (20)Susan Soucie says

    I really love this recipe. I’ve made it several times and each time it gets better. The last two times I’ve made it, I fried the rice in the pan before adding the other ingredients. Also I use shrimp instead of chicken. We both just love shrimp so much and it works great in this recipe.

    Reply

    • Chicken Fried Rice Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (21)Becky Hardin says

      Sounds amazing, Susan! Thanks so much for sharing!

      Reply

  2. Chicken Fried Rice Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (22)Sylvia says

    Chicken Fried Rice Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (23)
    I love this recipe every other recipe I find for fried rice doesn’t have the amount the only thing is there wasn’t enough Soy sauce and we had to keep adding

    Reply

    • Chicken Fried Rice Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (24)Becky Hardin says

      I’m happy to hear you enjoyed it, Sylvia!

      Reply

  3. Chicken Fried Rice Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (25)Jenifer Hyde says

    Chicken Fried Rice Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (26)
    A bit of a long process but we’ll worth the effort

    Reply

    • Chicken Fried Rice Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (27)Becky Hardin says

      I’m happy to hear you enjoyed it, Jenifer!

      Reply

  4. Chicken Fried Rice Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (28)Sylvia Danielsen says

    Chicken Fried Rice Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (29)
    I love this recipe I would only say it doesn’t call for enough soy sauce

    Reply

    • Chicken Fried Rice Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (30)Becky Hardin says

      Thanks so much for sharing your experience, Sylvia!

      Reply

  5. Chicken Fried Rice Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (31)Jan Desey says

    Way too much rice, I suggest just 1 cup.

    Reply

    • Chicken Fried Rice Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (32)Becky Hardin says

      Hi Jan, this recipe calls for 2 cups of cooked rice, which is just 2/3 of a cup of raw rice! Hope this helps!

      Reply

Older Comments

Chicken Fried Rice Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What gives Chinese fried rice its flavour? ›

To give your dish that signature fried rice taste, you'll need to drizzle in sesame oil and soy sauce, but feel free to use as much or as little as you wish. You can even mix in things like garlic powder, ginger root, or Sriracha sauce and chili pepper for a bit of a kick.

What is the difference between chicken fried rice and fried rice? ›

Chicken fried rice is not fried in the sense that it is not submerged in oil. Rather, it is cooked over very high heat with an oil that has a high smoke point. Think of it as pan-fried rice, versus deep-fried rice.

What is the best oil for fried rice? ›

Sesame oil is a perfect choice for a wok-fried dish, like fried rice or pan-fried noodles. It will also impart a nutty flavor that works well with many Asian sauces and ingredients.

What makes fried rice taste like restaurant? ›

Chinese restaurants cook over commercial wok burners, which put out 125,000 BTUs of heat. Your home stove might generate 15,000 BTUs out of its largest burner. That's a pretty significant difference. There are numerous fried rice varieties in China.

What is fried rice seasoning made of? ›

DEHYDRATED SOY SAUCE (SOY SAUCE [SOYBEANS, WHEAT, SALT], MALTODEXTRIN, SALT), MALTODEXTRIN, YEAST EXTRACT, CORN STARCH, SUGAR, ONION POWDER, GARLIC POWDER, TORULA YEAST, DEHYDRATED ONION, SPICES, CHICKEN FAT, SALT, CARAMEL COLOR, SILICON DIOXIDE, LACTOSE (MILK), MALIC ACID, DISODIUM INOSINATE, DISODIUM GUANYLATE, ...

Why add mayo to fried rice? ›

Frying short grain rice can result in a soggy, sticky blob. To ensure that your rice is nicely fried, mix a bit of mayo in it before frying. The oil in the mayo will coat the rice so that it does not stick together.

What's the difference between Chinese fried rice and special fried rice? ›

So what's the difference between fried rice and a special fried rice?? Special fried rice has extra goodies like onions, prawns and chicken along with everything you get in a fried rice (ham egg peas and corn)!

What oil do Chinese restaurants use? ›

Chinese cooks normally use soybean oil, vegetable oil, or peanut oil, all of which have a high smoke point. Peanut oil usually has a pleasant nutty flavor and is suitable not only for stir-frying but also for deep-frying. Canola oil, which has a high smoke point but a neutral flavor, is also a good choice.

Do Chinese restaurants use butter in fried rice? ›

That's one of the major differences between how Chinese and Japanese restaurants prepare fried rice. Whereas the former only uses oil, the latter cooks leftover grains with butter (plus soy sauce).

Why is fried rice unhealthy? ›

Traditional fried rice, as commonly prepared, may not be considered the healthiest option due to its high calorie and sodium content. This is primarily because it is often cooked with a generous amount of oil and can include high-sodium sauces like soy sauce or oyster sauce.

Do I need MSG for fried rice? ›

MSG is a flavor enhancer similar to salt that has gotten a bad reputation over the years. If you have personal concerns with this, then leave it out. However, MSG adds umami flavor to the rice which imitates that classic fried rice you get from Chinese takeout.

Which spice is good for fried rice? ›

The Perfect Nigerian Fried Rice
  • 2 bay leaves.
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary (optional)
  • 2 Tasty Cubes.
  • 1 teaspoon salt.
  • 1 teaspoon white pepper (substitute other ground pepper)
  • 2 teaspoon curry powder (divided)
  • 1 teaspoon thyme.

What is the best soy sauce for fried rice? ›

When cooking fried rice, you'll want to use a darker soy sauce for sweeter caramel notes and to add that beautiful bronzed colour to your dish. A simple Chinese dark soy sauce will suffice.

How to make fried rice in 5 steps? ›

How Do You Make Simple Fried Rice?
  1. Heat your wok or skillet to medium-high heat. Pour in the oil. ...
  2. Using a spatula, scramble the eggs then mix them with the veggies.
  3. Finally, stir in the rice and a bit of soy sauce. Serve warm and refrigerate leftovers.
Apr 22, 2022

What spice gives Chinese food its flavor? ›

Popular herbs like ginger, garlic, scallions, star anise, cinnamon, and Sichuan peppercorns are frequently used in Chinese cooking because of their therapeutic properties, in addition to their ability to improve the flavour, aroma, and texture of food.

How to get smokey flavor in Chinese fried rice? ›

You can introduce smoky flavours to your rice by considering other methods such as using a flavoured oil to fry your rice with so perhaps a combination of butter and peanut oil in which you fry off smoked bacon first.

Why does Chinese rice taste so good? ›

The answer: high heat, expert tosses, and something known as 'wok hei. ' As J. Kenji López-Alt writes for Serious Eats, expert cooking with a wok (and the gas range it requires) is one of the main reasons that fried rice from a Chinese restaurant tastes so much better than what you can make at home.

What makes Chinese food taste Chinese? ›

Authentic Chinese ingredients include mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and seafood found in Chinese seas or streams. Some of these ingredients aren't accessible in North America. North American-style Chinese food also uses ingredients like MSG and cream, which aren't often found in authentic Chinese food.

References

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