Skip the take-out and make this easy chicken fried rice recipe at home. It’s a simple weeknight dinner that’s so budget friendly, and it’s a real crowd-pleaser!
I used white jasmine rice here because it is my family’s favorite, but feel free to use brown rice. I have done that many times before, and it is equally delicious.
Ingredients
For tastiest results, always use the best quality ingredients you have access to.
To make this easy chicken fried rice recipe you will need the following:
- cooked jasmine rice
- boneless skinless chicken breast
- butter
- frozen peas and carrots
- onion
- green onion
- garlic
- eggs
- Tamari (gluten free) or low-sodium soy sauce
- toasted sesame oil
- Salt and black pepper
How to make chicken fried rice
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 toasted sesame oil. Stir to combine.
Serve immediately.
Recipe notes
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.
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.
Toasted sesame oil is different than regular sesame oil. I use it like a flavorful finisher in this dish. I highly recommend not skipping it.
FAQs
Eggs are part of the traditional recipe. If you don’t like eggs or are allergic, feel free to leave them out.
Usually some variety of white rice. White jasmine rice is what is most commonly used, which is what this recipe is using.
This recipe uses butter for the frying and toasted sesame oil for the finisher (flavoring).
Chicken fried rice is good for 4 to 5 days in the refrigerator, stored in a covered container. Reheat leftovers.
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
Note: These are Amazon affiliate links.
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 toasted sesame oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
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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.
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Stir everything together, and add the last 1/2 tablespoon butter to the pan.
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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.
Note: Chicken fried rice originally appeared on A Pinch of Healthy September 22, 2016. It has been updated with new photos. Here is what it used to look like.
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!💖🙌🏻
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.😎🙌🏻
stephnaie says
low sodium soy sauce does have gluten , you must buy gluten free soy sauce to make this dish gluten free. most people do not know the soy sauce contain gluten. recipe looks great.
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 works🙌🏻
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. 💖🙌🏻
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. 🙂
Marjorie@APinchOfHealthy says
Thanks so much! I hope you enjoy it. 🙂