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The BEST Chinese Fried Rice (Easy 15-Minute Recipe!)

ByAlia Kay Posted on Updated on

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This restaurant-style Chinese Fried Rice recipe is the best ever! It tastes even better than takeout and is ready to eat in just 15 minutes. This is one of the most popular recipes on Everyday Easy Eats, for good reason. Learn how to make homemade fried rice with this easy recipe that is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser.

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Side view of Chinese Fried Rice in a white plate on a dark background.

Why You Will Love This Fried Rice Recipe

You will want to add this easy fried rice recipe to your regular dinner rotation, because it is super flavorful and is ready to eat in mere minutes. It is a fast meal because it not only cooks quickly, but it also requires a very minimal amount of prep. You probably already have most of the ingredients on-hand in your kitchen too.

I bet you could make this dish in less time than it would take to get takeout. Plus, with such fantastic flavor and the fact that you know exactly what’s going into it, who needs takeout anyway? Now you can toss those takeout menus and make perfect fried rice in the comfort of your own kitchen.

Tips for Making The Best Fried Rice

Here are a few important things I have learned over the years about how to make the best fried rice:

  • Use cold, cooked rice: The key to making perfect Chinese 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 long-grain, white rice: It cooks up fluffy and not sticky, with individual grains remaining distinct and firm. I find that Jasmine or Basmati rice gives the best consistency, fragrance, and flavor.
  • Use butter: Japanese steakhouses use a big pat of butter when they’re making fried rice for good reason. Using butter (rather than oil) makes the rice brown up perfectly and just makes everything taste so much better.
  • 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.

Be sure to use the tips above to make sure your fried rice turns out perfect, every single time!

Close-up overhead view of Chinese Fried Rice in a white plate on a dark background.

Chinese Fried Rice Ingredients

Okay, let’s talk ingredients. To make this homemade fried rice recipe, you will need:

  • 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.
  • Onions, carrots, peas, and green onions: This is the base mix of vegetables that I always use for fried rice, but feel free to substitute any other stir-fry vegetables you have on hand.
  • Garlic and ginger: These two ingredients add a zesty kick and depth of flavor. Always use freshly minced garlic and grated ginger for the best flavor.
  • 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 savory condiment forms the base of the rice’s flavor. You could also use tamari, which is essentially gluten-free soy sauce. I recommend always purchasing high-quality organic tamari and 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 if you can.

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to Make Homemade Fried Rice

This recipe is prepared in stages so that everything gets cooked perfectly. To make homemade fried rice recipe, simply:

  1. Saute the veggies: Start by cooking the vegetables and aromatics in a bit of butter until tender.
  2. Cook the eggs: Push the veggies to one side of the pan. On the cleared side, scramble up the eggs in the last bit of butter. Then, stir to combine everything together.
  3. Stir-fry the rice and sauces: Next, add the rice, tamari and Sriracha. Stir-fry the mixture for a couple of minutes to pull all the flavors together.
  4. Garnish and serve: Sprinkle with some sliced green onions over top the fried rice, then serve it up nice and warm.

That’s it! Now you can skip the takeout and whip up a fast and fresh recipe for easy fried rice in just 15 minutes.

Overhead view of Chinese Fried Rice in a white plate on a dark background.

Chinese Fried Rice Variations

There are so different ways to make fried rice, so I encourage you to experiment with other ingredients you have on hand. Here are some ideas:

  • Tofu Fried Rice: Drain a package of firm tofu and dice into cubes. Pan-fry and then mix it into your rice.
  • Pineapple Fried Rice: Canned or fresh pineapple can be traditional in Chinese or Thai fried rice. Just dice and stir it in to combine.
  • Kimchi Fried Rice: Kimchi adds an incredible flavor boost to fried rice. Just chop and mix it in your fried rice.
  • Chicken Fried Rice: Cook a couple of chicken breasts in a pan. Then shred or dice and add it to your fried rice. For a shortcut, use leftover or rotisserie chicken.
  • Shrimp Fried Rice: Pan-fry a pound of peeled, raw shrimp and then stir it into your fried rice.
  • Pork Fried Rice: Cook a boneless pork chop in a pan, then dice and add to your rice.
  • Beef Fried Rice: Sauté steak or brown ground beef in a pan, then crumble or dice and add to your fried rice.

Those are just some common variations of fried rice. However, your options for customizing it are truly endless, so feel free to get creative!

More Takeout-Style Recipes

If you’re interested in trying out some more takeout-inspired recipes, here are a few of my favorite ones on the blog:

If you make this easy Chinese Fried Rice recipe, let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating ★ below, because I love hearing from you! ♡

The BEST Chinese Fried Rice (Easy 15-Minute Recipe!)

Easy Chinese Fried Rice Recipe | EverydayEasyEats.com
This restaurant-style Chinese Fried Rice recipe is the best ever! It tastes even better than takeout and is ready to eat in just 15 minutes.
Alia Kay
4.76 from 53 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Main, Side
Cuisine Chinese
Servings 4 servings
Calories 284 calories

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons butter, divided
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • 2 medium carrots, diced
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon minced ginger
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 3 cups cold cooked rice
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons Sriracha
  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a wok or large skillet set over medium heat.
  • Add the onion, carrots, and peas. Cook for 4 minutes, until the onions and carrots are softened.
  • Add the garlic and ginger. Cook for 1 minute further until fragrant.
  • Push the vegetables to one side of the pan. Melt the remaining tablespoon of butter on the other side.
  • Add the eggs to the empty buttered side of the pan. Scramble the eggs until they are cooked through. Stir to combine them with the vegetables.
  • Add the cooked rice, soy sauce, and Sriracha to the pan. Stir-fry the mixture for about 2 minutes.
  • Sprinkle with green onions and serve warm.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
The BEST Chinese Fried Rice (Easy 15-Minute Recipe!)
Amount per Serving
Calories
284
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
8
g
12
%
Saturated Fat
 
4
g
25
%
Trans Fat
 
0.2
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
2
g
Cholesterol
 
97
mg
32
%
Sodium
 
657
mg
29
%
Potassium
 
302
mg
9
%
Carbohydrates
 
43
g
14
%
Fiber
 
3
g
13
%
Sugar
 
4
g
4
%
Protein
 
9
g
18
%
Vitamin A
 
5591
IU
112
%
Vitamin C
 
14
mg
17
%
Calcium
 
56
mg
6
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notes

Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to five days or in the freezer for up to three months.
Keyword Best Fried Rice, Chinese Fried Rice, Easy Fried Rice

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Easy, 15-Minute Chinese Fried Rice Recipe | EverydayEasyEats.com

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Rate This Recipe:




4.76 from 53 votes (16 ratings without comment)

74 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Hi Alia,
    I appreciate your comments before the recipe. This is information is as educational as it is useful. Great photos, too. Can’t wait to try this recipe!
    Thanks,
    Pat

    Reply

    1. Hi Patrick, thank you so much for your kind words! I always try to include as much helpful information as I can with my recipes. I am so glad you find it useful! Thank you for your compliment about my photos too. I hope you enjoy the recipe, you will have to let me know how it turns out! Take care!! 🙂

      Reply

  3. 5 stars
    Made it for lunch with leftover chicken. Better than any takeout. THANK YOU for a simple and delicious recipe.

    Reply

    1. Hi Kaushiki! Sriracha is a type of hot sauce or chili sauce. You should be able to find it at most grocery stores as well as online! 🙂

      Reply

      1. 5 stars
        Sriracha is not typically an ingredient in traditional Chinese fried rice and is very much an uncommon variation. Leaving that out, this is a great recipe and I enjoyed it very much. Thanks for all the tips. Regular soy sauce is more likely in most people’s fridges and worked great.

        Reply

    1. Hi Melanie! I recommend cooking the chicken tenders before you make the fried rice. First cut up the chicken into small cubes and add a little bit of oil to the pan. When the oil is hot, add the chicken to the pan and cook for a few minutes until it is cooked through. Then transfer the chicken to a plate and set it aside. Then you can make the recipe as it is written and add the chicken back to the fried rice at the very end. I hope that helps!

      Reply

  12. 5 stars
    Made this recipe. I sent it to my daughter and she made it too. It is easy, tastes great, and I think it’s a recipe everyone will like.

    Reply

  13. 3 stars
    This recipe makes it look very straightforward! However, one thing I will add is mung bean sprouts, stir-fried in during just the last minute or so. I am old enough to remember when fried rice in restaurants always included crunchy bean sprouts – before everyone got scared off them, as they don’t keep well. Also lots of room for variations! I’ve always used peanut oil – did not realize butter could make a difference – will try next time.

    Reply

  18. 5 stars
    This was, indeed, easy and delicious. I substituted 1 1/2 cups frozen mixed vegetables for the carrots and peas which made it even quicker. This has become my go-to recipe for Chinese fried rice. Thank you!

    Reply

    1. Hi Margaret, you’re very welcome! Using frozen mixed vegetables in fried rice is a very smart idea. 🙂 Thank you for letting me know that you appreciate the recipe!

      Reply

  19. 5 stars
    My search is over! Finally found the best fried rice recipe. It was so delicious and easy and got compliments all around. Thank you!!!!

    Reply

    1. Hi Helen! Yes, they can! This fried rice recipe is very customizable, so you can pretty much use whatever vegetables you have on hand.

      Reply

  23. 5 stars
    This was delicious! Thanks for the easy recipe, it just what I needed tonight as I had some leftover rice. I added celery, cabbage, carrots, broccoli, onions and garlic. I think the butter gave it a great flavor. I also added a little fish sauce and sesame oil, along with everything else you said.

    Reply

    1. Hi Rebecca! Thank you so much for letting me know. The additions you made to your fried rice sound delicious. Please let me know if you try any of my other recipes!

      Reply

  24. 5 stars
    I want to let you know how I love this recipe! It’s very easy, quick and oh so tasty!!! I’ve made it several times, adding a different vegetable each time. Thank you for explaining each step – that’s what makes it perfect every time!!

    Reply

  25. 5 stars
    Love your recipe for fried rice. I’ve made it several times using different veggies or fruits each time; every one tasted excellent. Your explanation makes the recipe so easy to follow. Love it!! Will be making it often; thanks to you!!

    Reply

  26. 4 stars
    Thanks for the recipe – tastes good and looks nice. Personally I think it needed just a bit more flavour or moisture, or both, but everyone at the table enjoyed it and that’s what counts.

    Reply

  28. 5 stars
    Have you ever been blown away by a homemade version of a restaurant favorite like this fried rice recipe, or do you still prefer the convenience and taste of takeout? Share your experiences and opinions on whether homemade versions can truly surpass the flavor and quality of restaurant dishes.

    Reply

  32. 5 stars
    I am trying to give you 5 stars. I don’t know why it will only allow 4.

    Anyway, this was easy and delicious! The only thing i didn’t have was Sriracha. I used some hot pepper flakes instead.

    Thank you!

    Reply

    1. Hi Tammie, the five stars came through! Thank you so much for your review, I am very happy you enjoyed my fried rice recipe! You’re very welcome. 🙂

      Reply

  33. 5 stars
    Very good, I have been trying to make good fried rice for years. This is definitely the best I have prepared. I didn’t have green onions, so I used chopped sweet onion and finely diced carrots. Garlic and ginger are really good additions. I will definitely make this again. Thank you for sharing this recipe.

    Reply