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!
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.
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!ππ»
It gives the chicken fried rice this awesome, authentic flavor. It is what my fried rice has been missing all along.
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.π I used two tablespoons for the whole dish, which is plenty in my opinion.
Other Copycat Recipes You May Like
I am obsessed with re-creating my favorite restaurant meals in my own kitchen. Here are some of my best copycat recipes.
- Greek Pasta with Chicken (Taziki’s Friday Special)
- Greek Red Wine Vinaigrette (Better than Zoe’s)
- Creamy Jalapeno (Chuy’s Copycat Recipe)
- Epic Beef Nachos Supreme (Better than Taco Bell)
- Greek Salad with chicken (Zoe’s Copycat)
- Copycat Newk’s Favorite Salad
- Chicken Burrito Bowls (Better than Chipotle)
- Copycat Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce
- Greek Potato Salad (Zoe’s Copycat)
Tools Used to Make This Recipe
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Chicken Fried Rice Recipe
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Chicken Fried Rice
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
- Preheat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
- Add 1/2 Tablespoon butter to the pan.
- Add the chicken, salt and pepper generously, and cook until chicken is cooked through, about 6 - 7 minutes.
- Put the cooked chicken on a clean plate, and set aside.
- Add a tablespoon of butter to the pan.
- Cook the onions, carrots and peas until tender, about 4 minutes.
- Add the garlic and cook one more minute.
- Push the veggies aside, and scramble the eggs on the empty side of the pan.
- Stir everything together, and add the last 1/2 tablespoon butter to the pan.
- Add the rice, green onions, soy sauce and chicken and combine.
- Allow the rice to "fry" and get a little toasty by leaving it alone for a minute.
- Stir everything up, and allow the rice to sort of crisp up again.
- Turn off the heat, and add the sesame oil.
- Stir to combine.
- Serve immediately.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Nutritional information is approximate and was calculated using a recipe nutrition label generator.
Stacey says
My family loves this recipe! So much so that I just found out my hubby volunteered me to make a βbig crock potβ full for a meal at his work. Iβm 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!
Renee says
Iβm out of sesame oil. Is it going to work without it?
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Hi Renee! It will still be good without the sesame oil.ππ» Enjoy!
Mindy says
What is the Tamari used for?
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Hi Mindy! It is just a gluten free version of soy sauce.ππ»
Diana says
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.
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
I love that you made it your own. So glad that you enjoyed it!π
Ashley says
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!!
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
That makes me so happy to hear, Ashley!π Thank you for letting me know and taking the time to leave a review.ππ»
Rose Martine says
i love chicken. i will definitely try a new one. thanks for the recipe. i will go look around a bit. have a Happy Thanksgiving!! ( :
Tammi says
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:)
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Yay Tammi! Thank you so much for taking the time to submit a rating. I am glad y’all enjoyed it!π
Tami Lund says
Delish! I used fresh carrots (so obv had to cook them longer). will definitely make this again!
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Hi Tami! Yay! I am so glad that you enjoyed it. Thank you for taking the time to leave a rating.ππ»π
Marcie says
This was so good!
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Yay Marcie! So happy that you enjoyed it.
nicholas geiger says
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”
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Haha! I love that Nicholas! Thank you for taking the time to leave that feedback. Glad y’all enjoyed it.
Karen says
We made this with cauliflower rice and it came out amazing. Thank for sharing
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
I am so glad you enjoyed it Karen! Thank you so much for leaving feedback!
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
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Hi Debra! It’s in the third instruction from the bottom, just after you turn off the heat from the stove. Enjoy!πππ»
Mega says
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!
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
YAY! I am so happy to hear y’all enjoyed it.πππ»
Daniel says
Looks so good! Would this be a whole meal, or is there anything you’d recommend to go with it?
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Thanks Daniel! It can totally be a whole meal. Sometimes I serve it with Trader Joe’s spring rolls (freezer section) with sweet chili sauce (also at Trader Joe’s).
Ashlie Marshall says
can i use regular white rice ?
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Yes, any type of cooked rice worksππ»
Sara s says
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!
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Yaaay! I am so glad you enjoyed it Sara. πππ»
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. π
Marjorie@APinchOfHealthy says
Thanks so much! I hope you enjoy it. π