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Chicken Fried Rice {better than take-out!}

Skip the take-out and make this easy chicken fried rice at home. It’s a simple weeknight dinner that’s so budget friendly, and it’s a real crowd-pleaser!

Skip the takeout and make this easy chicken fried rice at home. It's a simple weeknight dinner that's so budget friendly, and it's a real crowd-pleaser! | APinchOfHealthy.com

Skip the takeout and make this easy chicken fried rice at home. It's a simple weeknight dinner that's so budget friendly, and it's a real crowd-pleaser! | APinchOfHealthy.com

My family is in a season of life where we hardly ever eat a meal in a restaurant. I don’t even know what the cool places are anymore. Is anybody feeling me on this?!

We have two small children, and household expenses are as tight as ever. So we avoid restaurants for practical reasons.

But there is no need for us to be deprived of our favorite restaurant dishes!

Heck, some are even better made at home. I would put this chicken fried rice into that category. When you make it yourself, you can use really great quality ingredients.

I used white jasmine rice here because it is my husband and son’s favorite, but feel free to use brown rice. I have done that many times before, and it is equally delicious.

Skip the takeout and make this easy chicken fried rice at home. It's a simple weeknight dinner that's so budget friendly, and it's a real crowd-pleaser! | APinchOfHealthy.com

I make my chicken fried rice with leftover rice. If you are making rice just for this recipe, I’d suggest doing it ahead of time and putting it in the fridge to cool. It just makes the texture of the fried rice better.

Also, can we just talk about sesame oil for a second? Where has this stuff been all my life?! I am using the toasted sesame oil from Trader Joe’s. It is perfection!👌🏻

It gives the chicken fried rice this awesome, authentic flavor. It is what my fried rice has been missing all along.

Skip the takeout and make this easy chicken fried rice at home. It's a simple weeknight dinner that's so budget friendly, and it's a real crowd-pleaser! | APinchOfHealthy.com

And let’s talk about butter. You can totally make this recipe with canola oil instead, but let me highly recommend butter!

If you’ve ever been to one of those Japanese steakhouses where they cook in front of you, this will come as no shock to you. There is a reason they use butter. It is truly better.

And I am not using a stick of it a la Paula Deen.😉 I used two tablespoons for the whole dish, which is plenty in my opinion.

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Chicken Fried Rice Recipe

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Skip the takeout and make this easy chicken fried rice at home. It's a simple weeknight dinner that's so budget friendly, and it's a real crowd-pleaser! | APinchOfHealthy.com
5 from 10 votes
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Chicken Fried Rice

Skip the take-out and make this easy chicken fried rice at home. It's a simple weeknight dinner that's so budget friendly, and it's a real crowd-pleaser!
Course Main Course
Cuisine Chinese
Keyword chicken fried rice
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 28 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 376 kcal
Author Marjorie @ APinchOfHealthy.com

Ingredients

  • 3 cups cooked jasmine rice preferably left over rice. Brown rice is fine too
  • 1/2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts diced into 3/4-inch pieces
  • 2 Tablespoons butter divided
  • 1 1/2 cups frozen peas and carrots
  • 1/2 yellow onion diced
  • 2 green onions chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic finely minced
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 1/2 Tablespoons tamari (gluten free) or low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon sesame oil
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
  2. Add 1/2 Tablespoon butter to the pan.
  3. Add the chicken, salt and pepper generously, and cook until chicken is cooked through, about 6 - 7 minutes.
  4. Put the cooked chicken on a clean plate, and set aside.
  5. Add a tablespoon of butter to the pan.
  6. Cook the onions, carrots and peas until tender, about 4 minutes.
  7. Add the garlic and cook one more minute.
  8. Push the veggies aside, and scramble the eggs on the empty side of the pan.
  9. Stir everything together, and add the last 1/2 tablespoon butter to the pan.
  10. Add the rice, green onions, soy sauce and chicken and combine.
  11. Allow the rice to "fry" and get a little toasty by leaving it alone for a minute.
  12. Stir everything up, and allow the rice to sort of crisp up again.
  13. Turn off the heat, and add the sesame oil.
  14. Stir to combine.
  15. Serve immediately.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

Nutritional information is approximate and was calculated using a recipe nutrition label generator.

 

Nutrition Facts
Chicken Fried Rice
Amount Per Serving
Calories 376 Calories from Fat 117
% Daily Value*
Fat 13g20%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Cholesterol 133mg44%
Sodium 658mg29%
Potassium 445mg13%
Carbohydrates 42g14%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 20g40%
Vitamin A 5355IU107%
Vitamin C 9.2mg11%
Calcium 51mg5%
Iron 1.8mg10%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Stacey says

    My family loves this recipe! So much so that I just found out my hubby volunteered me to make a “big crock pot” full for a meal at his work. I’m probably going to have to quadruple (at least) the recipe! If I put it all in my crockpot on warm and send him with some chicken broth to keep it moist, do you think it will be ok?
    Thanks so much!

    Reply

  4. Diana says

    5 stars
    The only changes I made were 12 green onions instead of 2, and 4 eggs. It was great! Thanks for the recipe and helpful tips for cooking.

    Reply

  5. Ashley says

    5 stars
    This is my family’s favorite dinner. If my mother in law hears we are cooking it she just happens to drop by for a visit to see my kids, haha! I make a triple batch and it is gone in 2 days with people that “drop by” for a visit. I did the rice both ways and it definitely does fry better after sitting overnight, so I boil the night before.

    Follow all instructions to the letter and will not make changes!!

    Reply

  7. Tammi says

    5 stars
    this recipe is INSANELY DELICIous!!! My boys were reluctant at first, but both asked for seconds! My husband went back for thirds and I said no so I could have it for lunch tomorrow!!! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! I cannot wait to make it again:)

    Reply

  10. nicholas geiger says

    5 stars
    I doubled this recipe because i was hoping to have leftovers to take for lunch the next day and it just didnt happen. No one could keep their hands off of it! As we speak, my daughter just walked in from school asking what was for dinner. I told her i was looking uo recipes as we speak, and she said, “its ok if you dont want to cook tonight, ill just have leftovers” …..she was extremely disappointed to find out that my wife had eaten the last bit of it for breakfast! Followed the recipe to a “t”

    Reply

  12. Debra Malwick says

    Hi Julia, I’m a huge fan! I’m so anxious to try the Chicken Fried rice recipe! You mention how much of a difference the sesame oil makes in this recipe. When do you add it? I don’t see it in the instructions.

    Thanks, debbi

    Reply

  13. Mega says

    5 stars
    I never comment but this recipe is INCREDIBLE!!! MY Husband had 2 huge helpings for dinner tonight. He is picky, but we both loved it. Favorite fried rice ever!

    Reply

  16. Sara s says

    5 stars
    So good!!! Much better than takeout, and feels so much healthier. Takeout fried rice always seems so greasy to me. This is nice and light, but very filling and super delicious. I make a double batch and eat it for lunch for a few days. Makes great leftovers. So happy I finally found a great fried rice recipe!

    Reply

  17. Kimberly @ Berly's Kitchen says

    Your Chicken Fried Rice looks amazing! The take out version is a favorite at my house. Will have to give this a try. 🙂

    Reply

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