The Best Chicken Fried Rice Recipe

Jump to Recipe

The chicken fried rice recipe is the perfect blend of flavors to tantalize your taste buds! With chicken and rice mixed with a variety of vegetables, this dish is sure to become a family favorite. You'll love having this easy-to-make recipe on hand so you can skip the take-out line and save a bit of money at home instead!

white square bowl of chicken fried rice on wood table

Jump to:

The Best Easy Chicken Fried Rice Recipe
Ingredients
Handy Kitchen Tools
How to Make Chicken Fried Rice
Frequently Asked Questions
More Easy Recipes
📖 Recipe

The Best Easy Chicken Fried Rice Recipe

Chicken fried rice is the perfect dish to make if you’re craving Chinese food but don’t have time to run out and grab takeout. It’s easy, delicious, and so much healthier than anything you could order from a local restaurant! Plus, if you already have rice on hand, it takes no time at all to whip this up. You won’t believe how good this tastes until you try it yourself!

This is quick, simple, and delicious. And best of all – it only requires a few ingredients that are probably already sitting in your kitchen right now. With just a little bit of prep work beforehand this meal will be on your table faster than any restaurant can deliver food!

If you like this, then you might also want to serve up our copycat bourbon chicken recipe on the side! Another easy option is this slow cooker sesame chicken recipe. Create your own unique feast instead of buying takeout this week.

close up image of fried rice in white bowl

Ingredients

4 cups cooked rice
2 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 pound ground chicken
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon ginger
2 tablespoons minced garlic
4 eggs
2 cups frozen peas and carrots
⅓ cup soy sauce

glass bowls on white table holding rice vegetables and sauces

Handy Kitchen Tools

If you plan to make a lot of recipes in a wok or with Chinese inspiration, you might want to check out the best woks and the best Chinese cleavers for a bit of kitchen supply shopping.

plates of chicken and eggrolls next to square bowl of fried rice

How to Make Chicken Fried Rice

In a large skillet or wok, heat the 1 tablespoon sesame oil over medium heat.

To the skillet, add the ground chicken, salt, black pepper, and ground ginger. Cook, 4 to 5 minutes, stirring regularly until the chicken is cooked through. Remove the chicken and set it aside.

To the skillet, add an additional 1 teaspoon sesame oil, then add the frozen peas and carrots along with the minced garlic and stir, continuously for 2 minutes.

peas carrots and garlic in large skillet

Move the vegetables to the side of the pan, then add another tablespoon of sesame oil and the eggs to the skillet.

Cook the eggs, stirring regularly until scrambled.

egg in center of skillet with vegetables

Stir the vegetables and eggs together, then add the chicken back to the skillet and stir to combine.

Add in the rice and soy sauce and stir well.

Reduce the heat to low, and cook, stirring regularly, for an additional 2 to 3 minutes until the rice is heated through.

Taste and add additional salt and black pepper if needed before serving.

square white bowl of fried rice next to saucers of chicken and vegetables

Frequently Asked Questions

What Rice is Best for Fried Rice?

While any white rice is best, you can use brown rice if you prefer. I do find that preparing rice the day before, or at least a few hours before making fried rice is best. This dish is ideal for making with leftover rice.

What Other Protein Can I Use in Fried Rice?

If you’re not a fan of chicken, or if you’re looking for a different protein option, there are plenty of others that would work well in this recipe. You can use ground beef, ground pork, or ground turkey.

Other options include chopping up leftover short ribs, rotisserie or grilled chicken, or even pork steak and stirring into the rice mixture. You can also use shrimp or lobster just make sure you don't overcook them and add them just at the last minute. If you want to use a vegetarian option, tofu or vegan meat crumbles work as well. This recipe works well with each of these proteins.

What Vegetables Can I Add to Fried Rice?

Using frozen peas and carrots is perfect in this and fairly classic to fried rice. You can, however, use whatever you have on hand or prefer, including bell peppers, bean sprouts, mushrooms, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, snow peas, and bamboo shoots. The sky is really the limit when it comes to adding other vegetables. You can add whatever vegetables that you enjoy.

How Long is Fried Rice Good For?

You can eat fried rice that has been stored in the refrigerator for about 2 to 3 days. You want to make sure that you store it properly and then reheat it before serving. Just like any other leftover, if it’s not stored properly you can get sick from eating food after it has gone bad.

Can I Freeze Leftover Fried Rice?

Yes! You can definitely freeze leftovers if you prefer and know it won't be eaten before it goes bad. Store it in a freezer bag or an airtight container. It will last for about 3 months when stored properly.

When you are ready to eat the frozen fried rice, you want to thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and then reheat it in the microwave or in a skillet on the stovetop. You may need to add additional water to moisten the rice a bit after freezing.

More Easy Recipes

Whether you are looking for a fast weeknight meal or just want something that has limited ingredients, below are a few more of my personal favorite easy recipes. Make sure you take the time to bookmark the recipes, pin them to a favorite Pinterest board, or even print them and file away with your recipe collection.

📖 Recipe

Yield: 6

The Best Easy Chicken Fried Rice Recipe

Easy chicken fried rice is the perfect fast weeknight meal! Ideal for using up leftover rice, veggies, and proteins!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

4 cups cooked rice
2 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 pound ground chicken
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon ginger
2 tablespoons minced garlic
4 eggs
2 cups frozen peas and carrots
⅓ cup soy sauce

Instructions

In a large skillet or wok, heat the 1 tablespoon sesame oil over medium heat.
To the skillet, add the ground chicken, salt, black pepper, and ground ginger. Cook, 4 to 5 minutes, stirring regularly until the chicken is cooked through. Remove the chicken and set it aside.
To the skillet, add an additional 1 teaspoon sesame oil, then add the frozen peas and carrots along with the minced garlic and stir, continuously for 2 minutes.
Move the vegetables to the side of the pan, then add another tablespoon of sesame oil and the eggs to the skillet.
Cook the eggs, stirring regularly until scrambled.
Stir the vegetables and eggs together, then add the chicken back to the skillet and stir to combine.
Add in the rice and soy sauce and stir well.
Reduce the heat to low, and cook, stirring regularly, for an additional 2 to 3 minutes until the rice is heated through.