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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 7 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*
Total Fat 13g 20%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 133mg 44%
Sodium 658mg 27%
Potassium 445mg 13%
Total Carbohydrates 42g 14%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Sugars 1g
Protein 20g 40%
Vitamin A 107.1%
Vitamin C 11.1%
Calcium 5.1%
Iron 9.9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tammi says

    May 14, 2019 at 12:41 am


    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

  4. nicholas geiger says

    March 28, 2019 at 4:24 pm


    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

  6. Debra Malwick says

    January 23, 2019 at 1:12 pm

    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

  7. Mega says

    December 3, 2018 at 6:49 pm


    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

  10. Sara s says

    March 23, 2018 at 9:03 am


    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

  11. Kimberly @ Berly's Kitchen says

    September 24, 2016 at 3:03 pm

    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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