The BEST Chicken Fried Rice (Easy 20-Minute Recipe!)
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This Chicken Fried Rice recipe is seriously the best ever! It tastes even better than takeout and is ready to eat in just 20 minutes. Learn how to make homemade chicken fried rice with this quick, easy, and satisfying recipe.
Why You Will Love This Chicken Fried Rice Recipe
This chicken fried rice recipe is one you need to add to your regular dinner rotation, because it is bursting with flavor and is one the whole family will love. In addition, it is so simple to make and uses common ingredients that you probably already have on hand in your kitchen.
Why You Should Make Fried Rice at Home
I always try to make homemade fried rice, instead of just ordering takeout. The fried rice which you get when you order takeout generally isn’t a very healthy option. It is usually laden with lots of oil, very high in sodium, and can contain a lot of unwanted additives, such as MSG and other preservatives.
Making fried rice at home gives you the opportunity to make a healthier version. This recipe uses lean chicken breast, lots of veggies, and a bit of butter to create chicken fried rice that is a lot better for you. Not only that, it tastes infinitely better than takeout!
Tips for Making Chicken Fried Rice
Here are a few important pointers I have learned with time about how to make the best chicken fried rice at home:
- Use cold, cooked rice: The key to making perfect fried rice is using leftover, refrigerated rice. This is because chilled (preferably day-old) rice will separate nicely and won’t clump together in the pan. A freshly-cooked batch of warm rice will not fry well when it hits the hot pan, and will result in mushy clumps.
- Use a wok or large skillet: You want to use a pan that seems large for the amount of rice and other ingredients you are using. This allows the ingredients in the pan to heat up quickly and evenly. It also gives you plenty of room to toss everything together without anything falling out of the pan.
- Use butter: Japanese steakhouses use a big pat of butter when they’re making fried rice for good reason. Using butter makes the rice brown up perfectly and just makes everything taste so much better. If possible, use grass-fed butter (or you can use ghee) for maximum health benefits.
Use my tips above to ensure your homemade chicken fried rice turns out perfect, every single time!
Chicken Fried Rice Ingredients
To make this homemade chicken fried rice recipe, you will need:
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: They add protein and flavor to this dish. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs can be used instead. I recommend using organic, pasture-raised chicken whenever possible.
- Yellow onions, carrots, peas, green beans, and corn: This is the base mix of vegetables that I used to make this recipe, but feel free to substitute any other stir-fry vegetables you have on hand.
- Garlic, ginger, and green onions: These three ingredients are collectively known as the holy trinity of Chinese cuisine. They are used to build a solid foundation of flavors and aromas in Chinese-style meals.
- Cooked, chilled rice: Make sure your rice has been cooked in advance and thoroughly chilled in the fridge in a sealed container. As I said before, freshly-cooked rice will not work well in this recipe.
- Eggs: These add a good dose of protein, as well as flavor and texture. If possible, you should use organic, pasture-raised eggs for maximum health benefits.
- Soy sauce: This condiment forms the base of the rice’s savory flavor. I recommend always purchasing high-quality organic soy sauce. Soybeans are one of the top GMO and pesticide-laden crops, so it’s worth spending the extra money on organic.
- Sriracha: This spicy sauce adds a good amount of heat without overpowering the rest of the flavors in the dish.
- Butter: Again, butter just makes everything better. I recommend using grass-fed butter (or ghee) as it is better for you than conventional butter.
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities, as always.
How to Make Homemade Chicken Fried Rice
This recipe is prepared in stages so that everything gets cooked perfectly. Here are the basic steps to make this easy chicken fried rice recipe:
- Cook the chicken: Start by sauteing the chicken pieces in some butter and then set aside once cooked through. This is done so that the chicken doesn’t overcook while the rest of the ingredients are in the pan.
- Saute the veggies and eggs: Next, cook the vegetables and aromatics in the last bit of butter until tender. Then push them to one side of the pan and cook the eggs on the other side.
- Stir-fry the rice, sauces, and chicken: Then add the rice, soy sauce, Sriracha, and cooked chicken. Stir-fry the mixture for a couple minutes to pull all the flavors together.
- Garnish and serve: Finally, sprinkle some sliced green onions over top and serve up your rice.
That’s it! Now you can skip the takeout and whip up a fast and fresh recipe for chicken fried rice in just 20 minutes. Full instructions are included in the recipe card below.
Where to Get the Best Chicken
I am a huge advocate of only purchasing organic, humanely-raised chicken, because it is more healthy and ethical than factory-farmed meat. For the best organic chicken and other meats, I highly recommend using ButcherBox.
ButcherBox is a very popular online meat delivery company that sends hormone-free and antibiotic-free cuts of meat to your home. Their meat selection includes free-range organic chicken, 100% grass-fed beef, sustainably-harvested seafood, and more.
If you want to learn more about ButcherBox and other meat delivery services, I wrote an article called: The Top Organic Meat Delivery Companies Online. In that article, I review and discuss a number of healthy meat delivery brands (including ButcherBox) that send premium meat straight to your front door.
More Takeout-Style Recipes
Interested in cooking more takeout-inspired meals? Here are a few of my favorite takeout-style recipes:
- Homemade Ground Beef Bulgogi
- Easy Fried Rice with Pineapple
- Simple Sesame Noodles Recipe
- Easy Honey Teriyaki Chicken
- Shrimp Fried Rice Recipe
If you make this Chicken Fried Rice recipe, let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating ★ below, because I love hearing from you! 🙂
The BEST Chicken Fried Rice (Easy 20-Minute Recipe!)
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter, divided
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 3 cups cooked rice
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons Sriracha
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a wok or a large frying pan set over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook for 3-4 minutes until cooked through. Transfer chicken to a separate bowl.
- Melt the remaining tablespoon of butter in the pan. Add the onion and frozen vegetables. Cook for 4 minutes until softened.
- Stir in the garlic and ginger. Cook for a minute further until fragrant.
- Push all of the vegetables to one side of the pan. Add the eggs to the other side and scramble constantly until cooked through.
- Add the cooked rice, soy sauce, Sriracha, and chicken to the pan. Stir-fry mixture for 2 minutes.
- Sprinkle with green onions and serve warm.
Nutrition
Notes
- If you can, I highly recommend using organic chicken and grass-fed butter in this recipe for maximum health benefits.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to five days or in the freezer for up to three months.
This post was originally published on March 28, 2020. It has been updated throughout to include new information and helpful content.
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Love meals that are healthy, delicious and come together easily.
Me too! Thanks for your comment! 🙂
Simple, budget-friendly chicken fried rice indeed! With a healthy twist! Thank you!
Aww thanks so much!!
Delicious! What’s the serving size?
Hi Christie, thanks for your comment! This recipe will make enough for four people. So, a serving size is about two cups of chicken fried rice per person. 🙂