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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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

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  • 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 is the secret ingredient in fried rice? ›

Though you might not be able to pinpoint the sweet inclusion while digging into a take-out box and piling spoonsful of fluffy rice into your mouth, the addition of sugar is a common culinary technique practiced by restaurants.

What is the trick to fried rice? ›

Tips For Making The Best Fried Rice:
  1. 1) Use cold rice: You've gotta plan ahead and use thoroughly-chilled cooked rice. ...
  2. 2) Use butter: Yes, butter. ...
  3. 3) Use veggies: This is one of my big pet peeves with lame take-out fried rice — not enough veggies!

Why add mayo to fried rice? ›

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 is the difference between fried rice and Chinese fried rice? ›

The usage of rice

But in Chinese rice, it is suggested to use leftover cooked rice to avoid the rice from being sticky. In Fried Rice, most quick-service restaurants (QSRs) use long-grain white rice like Basmati, whereas Jasmine Rice is used in Chinese Rice.

What makes chicken fried rice taste so good? ›

Onion, Garlic, Scallions – These are your aromatics AKA your best friend in building flavor. Carrots, Peas – Most takeout restaurants use carrots and peas; this is what I like to use, too! However, you can always customize this to your liking! MSG – I like to use MSG in my cooking but this is always optional.

What oil should I use for fried rice? ›

It is key to the authentic flavor of this dish. Peanut oil. this is another ingredient that adds authentic flavor to this recipe, but if you have a peanut allergy in your household you can substitute canola oil or additional sesame oil for the peanut oil. Minced Garlic.

What is the yellow stuff in fried rice? ›

If you want your golden fried rice to be more yellow, you can add more egg yolk. Likely, they're using turmeric; saffron also gives foods a yellowish tint but is way more expensive.

Do you have to let rice cool before making fried rice? ›

Fresh-cooked: So long as you spread the rice out on a plate or tray while it's still hot and give it a few minutes to allow some surface moisture to evaporate, you can make excellent fried rice with fresh rice. Day-old rice: Day-old rice tends to clump, so you'll need to break it up by hand before stir-frying.

Do you put the egg in first for fried rice? ›

Thirdly, the right order is to pan fry eggs, then followed by rice. Many people make the mistake to put in rice first, then pour in whisked eggs. This would make the rice soggy and mushy by absorbing the egg mixture.

Can you add raw chicken to rice? ›

it's a one pan dinner – the raw rice and chicken are cooked together at the same time; completely hands off – unlike cooking rice on the stove which requires more attention, you just put the pan in the oven, set the timer and walk away; quick to prepare – active prep time is under 10 minutes; and.

Why is my chicken fried rice dry? ›

Using the wrong type of rice

There are tons of different rice varieties out there, including short, medium, and long grain. The best kind of rice to use for fried rice is medium-grain rice. Long-grain rice is too spindly and will dry out too quickly, while short-grain rice will is too wet and clumpy.

What goes well with chicken fried rice? ›

The best side dishes to serve with chicken fried rice are bok choy, Ling Ling Potstickers, steamed dumplings, egg rolls, balsamic chicken, pizza pasta, beef stew, BBQ chicken wings, shredded pork, tomato basil soup, fried egg, honey stir fry vegetables, Maple Hoisin tofu, prawn curry, kimchi soup, Kung Pao Brussels ...

What can I add to fried rice for flavor? ›

Signature flavor

You can even mix in things like garlic powder, ginger root, or Sriracha sauce and chili pepper for a bit of a kick. Gluten Free Tip: to make your dish Gluten Free, instead of soy sauce, use tamari or coconut aminos for great flavor without the gluten.

What is the secret ingredient in Chinese food? ›

Nowadays it's made out of a base of salty liquid, such as soy sauce, with sugar and a mix of spices. And it's not just a marinade — it's also used to finish the dish once it's cooked. Lu is the secret sauce at the heart of many Chinese family cuisines.

Why do people put butter in fried rice? ›

We know that adding butter to a pot of steamed rice already infuses a richer flavor to the dish so just imagine how much tastier it can get when you fry the rice in it.

Is MSG the secret ingredient in fried rice? ›

If you've eaten a fried rice dish at a Chinese restaurant and wondered why it tastes so much better than the home-cooked version, it's probably because of MSG. Monosodium glutamate, or MSG, is a common and controversial flavor enhancer in many Asian dishes, including fried rice.

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