Make this super easy egg fried rice recipe in the comfort of your own home - with only 6 classic simple ingredients like rice, eggs, peas, carrots, green onion, and stir-fry sauce. It's perfect for any weeknight meal or when the craving strikes. You'll have this delicious and super easy meal served faster than takeout can deliver!
You will love this Simple Fried Rice Recipe
6 Simple Ingredients. This recipe is for your classic basic fried rice--which has only 6 ingredients from start to finish! You will need cold white rice (leftover rice works perfectly), frozen thawed carrots and peas, oil, eggs, onion, and your favorite stir-fry sauce.
Easy Egg Fried Rice! I love that there is virtually no prep time needed for this recipe, and it's all made in one large saute pan. If you have leftover rice from the night before, it makes this recipe that much quicker as you won't have to cook the rice the night of.
Homemade Stir Fry Sauce! You can use store-bought stir-fry sauce; however, I do have a quick recipe for a really delicious healthy version! It's only 5 ingredients, and you can quickly whisk it together and use it right away.
Easy Fried Rice Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you will need for making this super simple egg fried rice:
- Olive Oil: use your preferred cooking oil if desired.
- Cold Cooked White Rice: any white rice will work well, such as jasmine, basmati, or plain white rice. It is important that you use cold rice, so day-old, leftover rice, or prepackaged cooked rice are the easiest!
- Eggs
- Frozen Peas and Carrots: frozen peas and carrots hold up well when sauteeing them versus canned. Frozen is also very convenient to use.
- Green Onions
- Stir Fry Sauce: follow my recipe below for a quick and easy homemade version, or purchase a store-bought one.
To make your own stir fry sauce, you'll need:
- Soy Sauce
- Sesame Oil
- Garlic: mince your own or use store-bought pre-minced garlic to save on prep time.
- Ginger Paste: I find this usually in the produce section at my local grocery store. You can also use fresh grated ginger if you prefer.
- Red Pepper Flakes: add more or less of this to your heat tolerance level.
For exact ingredient quantities, please see the recipe card below!
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Substitutions and Variations
- To make it low carb and keto fried rice: substitute riced cauliflower for the white rice and make the stir fry sauce using coconut aminos. Use frozen carrots but not peas. Chopped green beans can be used in place of peas.
- Add cooked chicken, pork, beef, or shrimp. To cook the raw protein first, remove from pan, and keep it warm. Follow with the recipe instructions, then add it back in just before scrambling the eggs.
- Try different vegetables, such as diced zucchini and mushrooms.
Best Rice for Fried Rice
A medium-grain white rice variety is best when for perfect fried rice. Each rice variety is going to deliver something to the dish a little different than the rest. Jasmine rice is a medium to long-grain rice with a slightly floral aroma but is very mild. Basmati rice is longer and a bit drier than jasmine. Sushi rice can also be used as it is shorter grain rice and starchier. It gives a bit of a chewier end result if desired.
Fried Rice Seasoning
You can add the store-bought fried rice seasoning packet to your rice if you'd like to add extra seasoning. Fried rice seasoning packets typically contain rice flour, salt, garlic powder, pepper, ginger, bay leaves, sesame seed oil, sugar, and paprika.
How do you make Fried Rice?
Here are the step-by-step instructions for making this easy fried rice recipe with egg:
1. If making your own stir fry sauce, add all ingredients to a small bowl, then set aside. Beat the eggs in a small bowl, and set aside.
2. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to a large skillet (non-stick is best) and heat over medium-high heat. Add rice, and stir frequently until it starts to get some color.
3. Add the thawed peas and carrots. Saute until hot and vegetables are cooked, then remove from heat.
4. Push rice to the sides, creating a well in the middle. Add a little olive oil to the center, then add the eggs.
5. Using a spatula, gently stir fry the eggs in the well until they are almost completely scrambled but still a little runny (this helps to coat the rice). Incorporate the scrambled eggs into the rice.
6. Pour half of the stir fry sauce over the rice and combine. Add more sauce to taste. Stir in green onion and serve. Adjust any seasoning as needed.
How to serve this recipe for Fried Rice
Garnish your fried rice with extra sliced green onion or chives.
Serve as a main dish, and add your favorite protein, such as chicken, steak, or pork, to your fried rice.
Serve as a side dish to a main entree, such as this beef and broccoli or this keto stir fry with shrimp!
Pair with other Chinese favorites such as egg rolls, crab rangoon, or dumplings.
How to store Homemade Fried Rice
Allow the rice to cool, then transfer to an air-tight container and store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
How long does fried rice last in the fridge?
Typically fried rice will last up to 5 days in the fridge as long as you have it covered or stored correctly. It may sound silly but smell your leftovers before heating. If it smells off or is not like it did the day you made it, it would be best thrown away.
How to reheat fried rice?
I usually choose 2 options when reheating fried rice. First, the easiest is in the microwave, heating until your desired temperature is reached. Second, is by reheating in a saute pan on the stove with a little drizzle of olive oil. Heat until your desired temperature and serve!
Can you freeze fried rice?
Yes, you sure can! I actually love portioning leftover fried rice into meal prep containers and then freezing and grabbing them out the night before, putting them in the fridge overnight, and grab for work. Leftovers are best consumed within 3 months of freezing.
Homemade Fried Rice FAQs
There are a few secrets to making the best-fried rice. First, make sure your pan is hot. If it isn't hot enough, it will not fry the rice, and your rice will be mushy. Second, is using leftover cold rice--it fries the best vs. lukewarm rice that still has a lot of moisture in it will stay wet and mushy. Third is to use a nonstick pan so that you can let your rice get a little crispy at the bottom but so that it won't burn and stick.
Yes, you do cook your rice before you fry it. You can either cook it the day before so that you can use day old cold rice in the recipe or if you are in a pinch, you can make it the day of. The flavors will be the same; the texture will be drier next day, which is ideal for fried rice.
The primary difference between Japanese fried rice and Chinese-style fried rice is the rice that they use for each one. Japanese fried rice uses short-grain rice varieties that end up being softer and clumped together. Chinese fried rice uses longer grain rice varieties which are drier, so the end result will be more separated.
📖 The recipe.
Simple Fried Rice Recipe
Ingredients
Fried Rice Recipe:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (coconut oil or avocado oil may be used)
- 4 cups cold cooked white rice (use cold leftover or day-old rice if possible)
- 12 ounce package thawed frozen peas and carrots
- 2 eggs
- 3 green onions (sliced)
- ¼ to ⅓ cup stir fry sauce to taste (buy bottled, or make your own)
Make Your Own Stir Fry Sauce:
- ⅓ cup soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon ginger paste (grated ginger may also be used)
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- If making your own stir-fry sauce, add all the ingredients to a small bowl, mix together, then set aside.
- Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to a large skillet (a nonstick skillet is really helpful) and heat on medium high heat. Add rice, stirring frequently until it starts to get color.
- Add thawed peas and carrots. Saute until hot and vegetables are cooked through.
- Beat eggs in a small bowl.
- Push rice to sides, creating a well in the middle. Add a little olive oil to the center, then add the beaten eggs.
- Using a spatula, gently stir fry the eggs in the well until they are almost completely scrambled but still slightly runny. (This way you will have some chunks of egg and the rest will coat the rice.)
- Incorporate the scrambled eggs into the rice.
- Pour half of the stir-fry sauce over the rice and combine it all. Taste it and add more sauce if desired. Add green onions.
- Adjust seasonings with additional soy sauce, salt, or pepper as needed. Serve and enjoy!
Kori's Tips
- Don't miss all of our helpful hints, substitution ideas, cooking tips, and other delicious recipes that can be found in our post. Check it out!
- VARIATIONS:
- Add cooked chicken, pork, beef, or shrimp. Cook the raw protein first, remove from pan, and keep warm. Follow with the recipe instructions, then add it back in just before scrambling the eggs.
- Try different vegetables, such as diced zucchini and mushrooms.
- Store-bought stir-fry sauce can be substituted for our homemade version.
- TIPS: If you like looser drier fried rice, use cold rice. If you prefer softer, clumpier fried rice, use sushi rice or use warm rice, which due to its higher moisture content, creates clumps.
- TIME-SAVER: buy 2 (2-cup) microwaveable rice pouches. Microwave, remove from package and let cool and then chill in the fridge. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Nutrition
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