Chicken Fried Rice

Chicken fried rice filled with veggies and fluffy scrambled eggs is an easy meal to make at home in under 30 minutes. It’s comforting, satisfying and delicious!

Fried rice is the ultimate weeknight hero. It’s quick to whip up, it’s endlessly versatile, it’s a great way to use up leftovers, and everyone loves it! 

This chicken fried rice recipe is a staple at our house, and my kids honestly rejoice every time I make it. (Which is all the time.) They love the big flavor, and I love that I can use up whatever odds and ends I have in the fridge. Keep reading to find out how to make the best fried rice at home!

Table of Contents

• The secret to great fried rice at home
• Ingredients you’ll need
• The best way to make chicken fried rice
• Recipe variations
• Tips for making the best fried rice
• Get the recipe

The secret to great fried rice at home

I use to wonder why my fried rice never tasted anything like the simple, yet delicious fried rice from Asian restaurants. I finally figured it out, and I’m so happy to share these easy tips:

• Don’t overcrowd the pan: That just results in steamed food, and we want everything slightly crisp and perfectly sautéed. So we’ll cook in stages.
• Season as you go: Cooking things individually also gives you a chance to season them well, resulting in more flavor overall.
• Use more than just soy sauce for flavor: Sesame oil and oyster sauce add depth and round out the Asian flavor.

This may not be the most authentic fried rice recipe on the internet, but it is superb and worth adding to your rotation! (And if you want to dive even deeper into authentic Chinese fried rice, I recommend this helpful and educational post by Taste Asian Food.)

Ingredients you’ll need

Let’s get cooking! Here’s everything you’ll need (find the full recipe below):

• Salted butter and sesame oil: Using this combination creates the best flavor.
• Boneless chicken breast or thighs: Or your favorite protein.
• Eggs
• Carrots, peas, green onions and garlic: Staple fried rice veggies, but you can use pretty much any vegetable you like.
• Cooked long grain rice: This is a great way to use up leftover rice! You can use white rice or brown rice.
• Soy sauce and oyster sauce: Using both adds a nice sweet and savory Asian flavor.
• Salt

The best way to make chicken fried rice

There are a lot of little hands-on steps in this recipe, but if you prep everything and have it ready, this dish is very easy to make and cooks in just about 15 minutes.

1. Have all your ingredients ready. Since it all goes pretty fast once you start cooking, it’s smart to have everything chopped and ready to go.
2. Brown chicken, scramble eggs and cook veggies, all separately. Cooking them individually in a skillet is my preferred way to ensure everything is properly seasoned and sautéed, without the pan getting too crowded. 
3. Add cold rice. Once the veggies are soft, add and fry the rice, scraping the flavorful bits off the bottom of the pan as you go. 
4. Add sauces and return everything to the pan. Whisk together soy sauce and oyster sauce and pour over the rice mixture. Then stir in the chicken, eggs, and remaining scallions.
5. Serve immediately, and enjoy!

Recipe variations

• Make it vegetarian or use another protein: Leave out the chicken, or swap it for shrimp, tofu, beef or pork. 
• Add other veggies as desired: Green beans, edamame, zucchini, corn, bell peppers, broccoli and asparagus are all great options.   
• Add flavor boosters: Diced pineapple or mango will add a burst of sweetness, Thai basil or cilantro add freshness, or you can add jalapeno or other chile pepper for a bit of heat. Chili oil or chili crisp would be a great topping too.

Tips for making the best fried rice

• 1 cup of dried rice will yield about 3 cups cooked. You can use 3-4 cups of rice for this recipe. See my post on how to make perfect steamed rice.
• Using cold rice prevents the dish from being sticky or mushy. Don’t use warm rice! Use leftover rice or make rice ahead of time and store in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
• Don’t skip the sesame oil, as it adds so much flavor, and its definitely worth purchasing. Toasted sesame oil will have even more flavor.
• If you have a wok, use it! A bigger pan helps heat everything up quickly without overcooking, and gives you plenty of room to stir and toss everything.
• Storage and reheating tips: Fried rice will keep in the fridge for several days. Add a splash of water and reheat in the microwave.

Get the recipe

This recipe was originally published in 2021 in partnership with Go Bold With Butter.