This authentic easy chicken fried rice recipe is just as good as takeout and super simple to make. Loaded with fresh veggies, this homemade version is healthier, while still being loaded with flavor. It’s also great for meal prep and the leftovers taste delicious!
I love a great Chinese Takeaway, and Chicken Fried Rice is always a must! This homemade version still has all of the flavors you would expect from an ordered in (or out!) dish, but is a lot healthier. Chicken Fried Rice is so easy to make at home, so ditch the takeout this week and give this homemade version a try – you’ll love it!
How to make Easy Chicken Fried Rice – step by step
- 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.
- Heat 1-tablespoon oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet (or wok), over high heat, until smoking. Add the rice, cook and stir 3-4 minutes or until the rice just begins to turn a little darker. Transfer the rice to a small bowl and set aside.
- Turn heat to medium, heat 1-tablespoon of oil and place the chicken breast in the skillet. Cook 3 minutes on each side. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board, cut into very thin slices and then cut the slices into thirds.
- Heat 1-tablespoon oil in the skillet and add the diced onion, carrot, scallions and garlic. Cook, stirring continuously, 2-3 minutes or until carrots are just lightly tender and onions are translucent.
- Add the rice and peas and stir to combine.
- Add the cooked chicken, soy sauce, sesame oil and mirin, stir and cook another 2 minutes.
- Season to taste with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
What to serve with Chicken Fried Rice
Looking for the perfect pairing for this Easy Chicken Fried Rice recipe? We have some ideas! Check out these favorites:
- Homemade Cashew Chicken
- Honey Sesame Chicken
- Baked Chicken Egg Rolls
- Bourbon Chicken – The Cookie Rookie
- Sweet and Sour Chicken – The Cookie Rookie
What ingredients are in homemade chicken fried rice?
Chicken Fried Rice is made with a handful of ingredients, including fresh and frozen vegetables, a good quality chicken breast and a couple of eggs. The aromatics that give the fried rice dish it’s authentic Chinese flavor are:
- soy sauce (low sodium)
- toasted sesame oil
- mirin (a tangy rice wine, low in alcohol)
Healthy fried rice
Although the restaurant version of this dish is delicious, it’s also calorie loaded, and I won’t even mention how high the sodium is! With a few simple swaps you can make a healthier homemade version of your favorite takeout rice dish. Be sure to use a low sodium soy sauce, and you just need a little canola of vegetable oil – don’t over do it!
If you wanted to make it even healthier, you could also use a whole grain rice instead of white.Us
Easy Chicken Fried Rice with vegetables
This recipe is really versatile, and you can easily add in different veg that you may have to hand – sweetcorn, broccoli or red peppers would be a wonderful addition. Frozen vegetables work really well, but you can also use fresh – mix and match!
Top tips for making Easy Chicken Fried Rice
- Don’t over cook the final dish – you want a little bit to your vegetables.
- Make sure your oil is smoking hot before adding the rice.
- Use free range / organic eggs and chicken.
- If you have any leftovers, just keep them covered in your fridge – they can be eaten hot or cold!
Check out these other chicken takeout at home recipes!
- Honey Sesame Chicken Recipe
- Marinated Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Recipe
- Easy Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe
- Blackened Chicken Tacos Recipe
If you have tried this easy chicken fried rice, or any other recipe on my blog, then please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below!
Easy Chicken Recipes: Chicken Fried Rice
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked white rice Jasmine or Basmati
- 3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon canola or vegetable oil divided
- 1 boneless skinless chicken breast
- 1 small yellow onion diced
- 1 medium carrot peeled & diced
- 3 scallions thinly sliced diagonally
- 2 medium cloves garlic minced
- 3 teaspoons low sodium soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
- kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon mirin
- 1 cup frozen baby peas
- 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.
- Heat 1-tablespoon oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet (or wok), over high heat, until smoking. Add the rice, cook and stir 3-4 minutes or until the rice just begins to turn a little darker. Transfer the rice to a small bowl and set aside.
- Turn heat to medium, heat 1-tablespoon of oil and place the chicken breast in the skillet. Cook 3 minutes on each side. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board, cut into very thin slices and then cut the slices into thirds.
- Heat 1-tablespoon oil in the skillet and add the diced onion, carrot, scallions and garlic. Cook, stirring continuously, 2-3 minutes or until carrots are just lightly tender and onions are translucent.
- Add the rice and peas and stir to combine.
- Add the cooked chicken, soy sauce, sesame oil and mirin, stir and cook another 2 minutes.
- Season to taste with 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 & pepper. Scramble the eggs and stir to combine with the chicken/rice mixture.
- Cook, stirring continuously, 3-4 minutes, to give time for the flavors to meld.
- Serve immediately and…
- Enjoy!
leslie lynch says
Chicken Fried Rice is one of my favorites! I can’t wait to make for my family this week.
Becky Hardin says
It’s SO GOOD!
Liz says
I love making Chinese restaurant favorites at home! This was super easy and even better than carryout!!!
Becky Hardin says
Thanks Liz!
Sommer says
Love that I can serve this as the main dish!
Becky Hardin says
Exactly!!
Suzy says
So delicious! Making this the next time I’m craving take out.
Becky Hardin says
Love that idea 🙂
Tanya Schroeder says
This recipe is so easy! I love the sauce too!
Becky Hardin says
Thanks! So delish 🙂
Victoria says
Can you use just regular long grain rice?
Becky Hardin says
Sure that’d be fine!
Sam says
This was so easy to make and SOOO good. My family loved it.
Becky Hardin says
Oh good!
Angelina says
Nice recipe! I’ve been making Fried Rice without chicken, as a side dish for years. I found that by using 1 or 2 day old rice, gives the rice a much better consistency, than if cooking it just before making the Fried Rice dish. (I just thought that I’d share this with you). My personal choice of oil for frying is Grape Seed Oil, since it’s healthy, flavorless, and has a high smoking point. I like to use Basmati Rice, and to add in some Shiitake mushrooms into my fried rice. I’ll definitely try your Chicken Fried Rice dish very soon. I’m sure it’s scrumptious!
Becky Hardin says
These are amazing tips, thank you so much for sharing!
Krystle says
Easy to make and yummy too. Tastes better than my local takeout joint!
Becky Hardin says
Love to hear that 🙂
Pat says
If you can’t find mirin, is it OK to use regular rice wine vinegar? (I live in Mexico and it’s harder than heck to find many of the products we take for granted back home. Thanks!
Becky Hardin says
Of course! You can always use substitutions, that’s the fun of cooking!