BEST Fried Rice | *EASIEST* Recipe - Lauren's Latest (2024)

5 from 13 votes

23 comments

December 12, 2018

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Ready for a miracle recipe? This easy Fried Rice Recipe is healthier than most and ready to eat in 10-minutes. Thanks to some frozen rice, precooked bacon and frozen asian veggies, this recipe comes together in a cinch. SO SO delicious on its own, but even more tasty served with Stir Fry or Potstickers.

BEST Fried Rice | *EASIEST* Recipe - Lauren's Latest (1)

Fried Rice Made Easy (and Fast!)

My friend from college (Hi Jessie!) told me about this quick and healthy way that she makes Fried Rice. So, I gave it a whirl with what I had on hand one night and believe it or not, this was a 10-minute miracle dinner that my entire family gobbled up. Even Eddie (11 months) was screaming and reaching for more! I couldn’t give that boy bites fast enough!! Needless to say, it was a hit. Taking shortcuts from the store is the name of the game for this Fried Rice.

See 30+ Ideas for What to Serve with Fried Rice.

Main Ingredients Needed

I like to take hints from the store by using pre-cooked bacon, frozen rice, and frozen Asian veggies, but that is the beauty of this recipe and why I like it so much. It’s a 10-minute dinner {and sanity} saver!! Feel free to use this recipe as a base and add or subtract ingredients as you like. Here’s what you’ll need for Fried Rice:

  • Olive Oil –the oil used to stir fry everything.
  • Onion and Garlic –any good recipe starts out with these two. They are packed with flavor!
  • Bacon – I’d highly recommend not skippingthe bacon because that’s how I had it in Mauiand I’m converted. I will never go back and you can’t make me.
  • Mushrooms –If you don’t like mushrooms, don’t add them in. No big deal 🙂
  • Frozen Brown Rice –see here for my how-to on frozen brown rice. Or cook it yourself. Also, white rice is a fine substitute.
  • Frozen Asian Vegetables and Edamame – a great shortcut is to use frozen veggies and frozen edamame.
  • Egg Whites –alternatively you could use whole eggs.
  • Soy Sauce and Sesame Oil –for umami flavor and seasoning.
  • Pepper –season to taste.

Of course, you could take a few extra minutes and cook up some chicken too, but that would turn this into a 15-minute dinner and I didn’t want to commit to the extra 5 minutes in the kitchen if I didn’t have to. Priorities, people.

BEST Fried Rice | *EASIEST* Recipe - Lauren's Latest (2)

How to Make Fried Rice

Be sure to watch the video in the recipe card if you’re confused about this process at all. It’s a super good How-To on making Fried Rice.

  1. Place a large skillet over medium heat and add olive oil. Saute onion, bacon, and mushrooms 2 minutes or until onions start becoming tender. Add in garlic and stir until fragrant; about 30 seconds.
  2. Pour in frozen brown rice, frozen vegetables, and edamame. Increase heat to high and stir fry until completely warmed through. Reduce heat to medium.
  3. Push rice mixture to one side of the pan and scramble the egg whites on the empty side of the pan. Once they are scrambled to your liking, stir into the rice and toss with soy sauce, sesame oil, and pepper. Stir briefly and serve hot.

Leftovers

Any leftover fried rice can be refrigerated, in an airtight container for up to 4 days!

Tips and Tricks for the BEST Fried Rice

  • Cold Rice.Day-old rice (cold refrigerated rice) fries up so much better in fried rice recipes. This is because the rice is a little dried out, and thus less sticky. That means all of the flavorful juices produced by the veggies and sauces can be soaked up by each individual rice grain! So make sure to plan ahead of time.
  • High Heat.Stir-frying is where you quickly fry your dish over high heat. So because this is stir-fried rice, use high heat. You are going to reduce the heat to medium for the eggs at the end.
  • Veggies.Vegetables are our best friends when it comes to fried rice recipes. They provide so much flavor and freshness. Plus a mix of textures to keep things interesting.
  • Cooking the Eggs Separate.Be sure to scoot your rice mixture to the side before cooking your eggs. This ensures that the egg is fully cooked.

More Recipes to Check Out!

  • Asian BBQ Turkey Meatballs with Zucchini Fried Rice
  • Cauliflower Fried Rice
  • Thai Chicken Bites
  • Chow Mein
  • Chicken Pad Thai
  • Homemade Teriyaki Chicken

So, below is the printable recipe. Be sure to save this easy fried rice recipe for a busy weeknight! It’s amazing and miraculous and you’ll never be the same again. Have a wonderful day!

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you wouldgive it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.

5 from 13 votes

Easy Fried Rice Recipe

This easy Fried Rice Recipe is healthy and quick! 10-minutes and you'll believe in miracles! SO SO delicious and good for you!

servings 4 servings

Prep Time 2 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 12 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 medium onion finely diced
  • 5 slices pre-cooked bacon chopped
  • 1/2 cup chopped mushrooms optional
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 12 oz. frozen brown rice
  • 10.8 oz. frozen Asian vegetables I use steam fresh
  • 1/2 cup frozen edamame
  • 3 egg whites
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons sesame oil
  • pepper to taste

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Place a large skillet over medium heat and add olive oil. Saute onion, bacon,and mushrooms 2 minutes or until onions start becoming tender. Add in garlic and stir until fragrant; about 30 seconds.

  • Pour in frozen brown rice, frozen vegetables,and edamame. Increase heat to high and stir fry until completely warmed through. Reduce heat to medium.

  • Push rice mixture to one side of the pan and scramble the egg whites on the empty side of the pan. Once they are scrambled to your liking, stir into the rice and toss with soy sauce, sesame oil,and pepper. Stir briefly and serve hot.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 641kcal | Carbohydrates: 82g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 1073mg | Potassium: 702mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 3885IU | Vitamin C: 10.6mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 3.3mg

Course: Dinner, Side Dish

Cuisine: Asian

Keyword: Fried Rice, fried rice recipe, how to make fried rice

BEST Fried Rice | *EASIEST* Recipe - Lauren's Latest (2024)

FAQs

Is frozen rice better for fried rice? ›

There are two reasons why frozen fried rice is an ideal ingredient for making a quick, delicious jook. First, the rice is already cooked, which saves you a ton of time. Second, the rice comes with different vegetables, proteins, and a little seasoning so you don't have to do as much!

Can I freeze fried rice with egg in it? ›

Similar to freezing boiled rice, you can freeze egg fried rice for up to one month. If you leave it any longer, both the eggs and the rice will develop a mushy texture upon defrosting. Tip: When you come to reheating your egg fried rice, try frying it back up again in the pan.

What is the best rice for fried rice? ›

The fine, long grains of jasmine rice with its delicate flavour are perfect for fried rice. Precook the rice at least 30 minutes, but preferably one day, before making fried rice and keep it uncovered in the fridge.

Can you stir fry frozen rice? ›

It's a great way to use up leftover steamed rice, but if you're not ready to fry up the rice just yet, stash it in the freezer. If frozen properly, the rice freezes into individual grains that you can just toss right into the wok or frying pan when the fried rice craving hits.

What makes Chinese fried rice taste so good? ›

To give your dish that signature fried rice taste, you'll need to drizzle in sesame oil and soy sauce, but feel free to use as much or as little as you wish. You can even mix in things like garlic powder, ginger root, or Sriracha sauce and chili pepper for a bit of a kick.

Why does Chinese restaurant fried rice taste better? ›

The answer: high heat, expert tosses, and something known as 'wok hei. ' As J. Kenji López-Alt writes for Serious Eats, expert cooking with a wok (and the gas range it requires) is one of the main reasons that fried rice from a Chinese restaurant tastes so much better than what you can make at home.

Does homemade fried rice freeze well? ›

Can you freeze fried rice? Just like cooked rice, it's important to first cool fried rice as quickly as possible in the fridge. Then, transfer fried rice to freezer bags in portion sizes you will later need and expel as much air as possible. Flatten and label the bags and keep in the freezer for up to one month.

How long does fried rice with egg last in the fridge? ›

Storage, Freezing, and Reheating

This egg fried rice is great to make ahead of time. It keeps well in the fridge and can even be frozen for future meals. In the fridge: This will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days.

How long can fried rice last in the fridge? ›

Leftover Chinese fried rice can last for up to 4 to 5 days in the refrigerator if stored properly. To ensure that the fried rice stays fresh and safe to eat, it's important to store it in an airtight container as soon as possible after it's been cooked, and then refrigerate it promptly.

What kind of rice do most Chinese restaurants use? ›

In Fried Rice, most quick-service restaurants (QSRs) use long-grain white rice like Basmati, whereas Jasmine Rice is used in Chinese Rice.

How do you add flavor to frozen fried rice? ›

You can definitely add extra seasonings or sauces to frozen fried rice to personalize its taste. Consider adding soy sauce, sesame oil, sriracha, or any other condiments of your choice. Just be mindful not to overpower the flavors of the fried rice with too many additional seasonings.

How do you thaw frozen rice for fried rice? ›

Frozen rice can be cooked straight from frozen or thawed prior to use. To thaw rice, break the block of frozen rice into chunks and add them to a microwave-safe container. Cover the container and microwave on high heat for two to three minutes, or until rice is warmed through.

Does Aldi have fried rice? ›

I was excited to try the chicken fried rice from Aldi's Asian-inspired brand Fusia. I noticed right away that there was a generous amount of grilled chicken in the bag, which you don't always get in low-cost frozen dishes. The Fusia chicken fried rice was very easy to prepare in a skillet on the stove.

Why cold rice is better for fried rice? ›

In fact, it's critical. Unlike freshly cooked rice, which forms soft, mushy clumps when stir-fried, chilled leftover white rice undergoes a process called retrogradation, in which the starch molecules form crystalline structures that make the grains firm enough to withstand the second round of cooking.

Is Frozen rice just as good as fresh? ›

Frozen rice also retains all its vitamins and minerals, making it just as nutrient-dense as the fresh kind. One of the best parts of frozen rice is that you can often cook it in the bag it's sold in, then dump it into your dish. You can cook it on the stove if it works for your recipe.

How to cook frozen rice for fried rice? ›

What is the best method to cook frozen fried rice? One of the best methods to cook frozen fried rice is to use a skillet or a wok. Heat a small amount of oil in the skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the frozen fried rice and cook it for a few minutes, stirring occasionally until heated through.

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