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This Chinese Fried Rice Recipe is the best, easy to make Chinese takeout recipe ever! It's super quick and easy (like 20 minutes quick), and perfect as a side dish or an entree.
This Chinese Fried Rice recipe is awesome guys. It takes less than 20 minutes to make and rivals any Chinese takeout fried rice I've ever had.
I have been making this rice for YEARS. This is my go-to basic fried rice recipe and I think's it's just incredible. I've made a few tweaks over the years to perfect it.
What's great about this recipe is you can add whatever you want to it - more meats, more veggies, etc. This is just a base recipe. I personally love to add some sliced Chinese sausage and extra green onions.
And if you are a fan of rice dishes, this claypot chicken rice is one of our favs too!
And it's so delicious served with this air fryer orange chicken, kung pao calamari, hunan shrimp, air fryer sesame chicken or this Shanghai chicken.
Jump to:
Is Fried Rice Authentic Chinese Food?
Fried rice is eaten in Chinese kitchens typically as a way to use up leftovers. Any leftover bits of meats or veggies are thrown into a pan and cooked with leftover rice and seasonings (mainly soy sauce, pepper and sesame oil).
The Ingredients
First off, day old white rice is a MUST. Seriously guys, if you don't have day old rice your fried rice may come out mushy. That's a fact. Also, it helps to have light and fluffy rice to start with. Learn how to make the perfect pot of rice in this post from Bon Appetit. It works.
Soy sauce - This is what gives it it's brown color. Oh yeah, and it's delicious umami flavor. Buy soy sauce.
White and black pepper - Both of these are important. Buy white pepper.
Sesame oil - this is an absolute MUST to finish this dish. The flavor brings everything together in my opinion. Buy sesame oil.
The remaining ingredients are listed in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
What Type of Rice is Used?
I always use long grain white rice as it keeps it's shape better than the shorter grains. You can also use a medium grain white rice or Jasmine rice. A short grain rice will usually be stickier and doesn't work well.
You can also substitute brown rice for the white rice for a healthier version.
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Step By Step Instructions
Start by heating the cooking oil in a wok over medium-high heat.
Learn how to season a wok!
Add the garlic and and green onions and stir fry for about 30 seconds, or until the garlic starts to lightly brown. Be careful not to burn the garlic or your rice will be bitter.
Add the cooked rice (see expert tips if you don't have day old rice) and quickly toss to avoid the rice getting mushy. If the rice is in clumps, break the clumps up before adding to the pan.
Add the chicken broth, soy sauce, white and black pepper, and sesame oil and toss to combine with the rice.
Move the rice to one side of the pan. Add the beaten eggs, cooking for 1-2 minutes until lightly scrambled.
Mix the scrambled eggs into the rice, remove from heat and stir in the sesame oil. Garnish with green onions and serve hot.
Variations
There are so many different options for this rice. Got leftovers in the fridge? Throw them in! Feel like having this as a full meal? You totally can - here are some options:
- Beef Fried Rice - stir fry some thin slices of beef before starting the rice and set is aside. Add it back in at the end. For extra flavor, marinate the beef for 30 minutes in a little oyster sauce, Chinese rice wine and soy sauce before stir frying;
- Chicken Fried Rice - Chop up some chicken thighs and stir fry it before starting the rice. Add it back in at the end;
- Shrimp Fried Rice - One of my favorite options, saute some medium sized peeled shrimp in a pan and add them into the rice at the end;
- Pork Fried Rice - You can either dice up and stir fry pieces of pork, or to really amp it up, add some of this Char Siu (Chinese BBQ Pork) to it. This stuff is seriously good guys;
- Kimchi Fried Rice - Another household favorite, check out this recipe for Kimchi Fried Rice;
- Vegetable Fried Rice - to get it meat free, you can add any veggies you'd like to this fried rice. Do a quick stir fry, set them aside, and add them back in at the end.
- Other Options - Consider adding bacon, leftover ham, tofu, leftover over Roasted Duck or Roasted Goose.
Expert Tips
- Day old rice is a must when making this rice. Otherwise you will likely end up with mushy fried rice. You can also use this Instant Pot jasmine rice!
- Add more soy sauce to taste if desired. I start with a lesser amount for those who have less salt tolerance.
- You can add more veggies such as diced carrots, zucchini, peas, bell peppers, etc. Add the vegetables at the beginning right before the garlic and stir fry for about 1 minute.
- Add shrimp, pork, beef, chicken or tofu to make this a meal. You can also amp it up and add this Char Siu or this Braised Pork Belly.
How to Dry Out Rice
Let's say you forgot to make the rice and store it overnight. Don't fret, you can still do this. You'll want to dry out your rice to avoid the mushfest that happens when stir frying it.
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees and spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray (or lightly coat with oil). Spread the rice on the baking and place in the oven for 5-10 minutes. Check the rice every couple minutes to ensure you aren't crisping it too much. Remove and let cool. Cool it quickly in the freezer if you're strapped for time.
How long does fried rice last? It will last up to a week store in an airtight container in the fridge. See below for freezing instructions.
Can you freeze fried rice? Store it in an airtight container and freeze for up to 6 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the microwave. Note it will be slightly mushier after being frozen, but the flavor will still be great.
Serving Options
Make this a whole Chinese takeout meal with some of these favorite Chinese recipes:
- Chinese Salt and Pepper Chicken;
- Air Fryer Potstickers;
- Mongolian Beef;
- Wonton Noodle Soup;
- Shrimp Lo Mein;
- Twice Cooked Pork;
- Browse all the Chinese Recipes.
Did you make this recipe? Rate the recipe and leave a comment below to let me know how it turned out!
Recipe
Chinese Fried Rice Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups day old rice (see expert tips if you don't have day old rice)
- 3 tablespoon cooking oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoon chicken broth
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground white pepper
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1 cup chopped green onions (with extra for garnish if desired)
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil (for finishing)
Instructions
- Heat the cooking oil in a wok pan over medium-high heat.
- Add the garlic and green onions (reserving a few for garnish-optional) and stir fry for about 30 seconds, or until the garlic starts to lightly brown. Be careful not to burn the garlic or your rice will be bitter.
- Add the cold, cooked rice (see expert tips if you don't have day old rice) and quickly toss to avoid the rice getting mushy. Stir fry for 2 minutes, tossing the rice.
- Add the chicken broth, soy sauce, white and black pepper, and sesame oil and toss to combine with the rice.
- Move the rice to the side of the pan. Add beaten eggs, cooking for 1-2 minutes until lightly scrambled.
- Mix the scrambled eggs into the rice remove from heat and stir in the sesame oil. Garnish with green onions and serve.
Expert Tips:
- Day old rice is a must when making fried rice. Otherwise you will likely end up with mushy fried rice.
- Add more soy sauce to taste if desired. I start with a lesser amount for those who have less salt tolerance.
- You can add more veggies such as diced carrots, zucchini, peas, bell peppers, etc. Add the vegetables at the beginning right before the garlic and stir fry for about 1 minute.
- Add shrimp, pork, beef, chicken or tofu to make this a meal. You can also amp it up and add this Char Siu or this Braised Pork Belly. Cook the meat first, remove it from the pan and follow the remaining instructions. Add the meat back in right before cooking the eggs.
- Use the oven to dry out fried rice not made in advance: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees and spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray (or lightly coat with oil). Spread the rice on the baking and place in the oven for 5-10 minutes. Check the rice every couple minutes to ensure you aren't crisping it too much. Remove and let cool. Cool it quickly in the freezer if you're strapped for time.
Nutrition
Yvonne @ Tried and Tasty
This is some of the BEST fried rice I've ever had - fantastic recipe & super easy to make!
Danielle
Yay! I'm so glad you liked it Yvonne!
Scarlet
Thanks for this recipe. I can't wait to try making homemade fried rice. Yum!
Danielle
Hope you love it!
Veena Azmanov
Fried is always a treat to my kids. Your recipe is simple but yet so delicious. I cant wait to make some for meal today itself.
Danielle
Thanks veena!
Cyndy
Fantastic recipe and I love the tip for drying out the rice in the oven. Can't wait to try this for Chinese New Year next weekend! Perfect timing.
Danielle
Thanks so much!
Pamela
Added and egg and it was delicious! YUM!
Danielle
Glad you liked it!
stephanie
I'm making this for dinner tonight. Thank you for sharing.
Danielle
You're welcome - I hope you love it!
Krissy Allori
I love fried rice. I can't wait to make this recipe. It's going to be great with another dish that I'm going to make.
Danielle
Hope you love it!
Mimi
Fried rice really is incredible. I always use leftover brown rice, which I know isn’t right, but it’s hard for me to eat a lot of white rice. I just happened to make a lot of Chinese food for a friend’s birthday tonight, and I made fried rice with Chinese sausage. Hope she likes it. Your recipe, and your versions, are wonderful. David Chang has a version using bacon! It’s on my blog if you want to check it out.
Danielle
Ooooh love the idea of using bacon! I like to use brown rice sometimes too - I love the texture of it!
Scarlet
Thanks for this recipe! It will be fun to make my own fried rice and I bet it better for me than take out!
Danielle
You're welcome Scarlet - enjoy!
Michelle
Omg. So excited to make this recipe all the time! It's my favorite thing to get from Chinese restaurants.
Danielle
Hope you love it Michelle!
Lisa | Garlic & Zest
I don't make fried rice very often, but now you've got me craving it. This is such a simple, straightforward recipe too... Thanks for breaking it down.
Danielle
You're welcome Lisa!
Demeter
So much better than takeout and easier on the pocketbook too. Fantastic!
Danielle
Totally! Thanks Demeter 🙂
Amy
I love a quick and easy dinner like this, can't wait to try it!
Danielle
Thanks Amy!
Natalie
My family loves fried rice. But I never used these ingredients. Looks absolutely delicious and I'm looking forward to give this recipe a try.
Danielle
I hope you love it Natalie!
Kevin
This looks delicious and so easy to make - thanks for the recipe!
Thao @ In Good Flavor
Chinese sausage has such a distinctive taste and they are so good in fried rice! I am craving for a nice big bowl of fried rice right now!
Danielle@wenthere8this
Chinese sausage is soooo good! It's hard for me not to use it in everything 🙂