Homemade Fried Rice One Pan 15 Minutes Wellplated Com

Learning how to make homemade healthy fried rice is an easy and valuable life skill.

Mastering this simple technique not only yields tasty results but adds an easy, flavorful meal to your recipe arsenal that can be ready in 15 minutes flat.The ingredients to make fried rice couldn’t be easier. This simple recipe requires any vegetables you have on hand (even frozen), egg (plus any protein you like), rice (leftover rice is best), and a homemade sauce that’s just two ingredients!Homemade fried rice is good for you! Because you can control the sugar and oil, you can use what you need and skip what you don’t.

Yes, I’d say learning how to make an easy fried rice recipe from scratch is a serious life improvement move. So ditch the takeout menu and grab your wok (or skillet). It’s time to learn how to make the best fried rice recipe! Unlike the disappointing, lackluster versions of fried rice you’ve experienced in the past, this recipe is FULLY LOADED with the good stuff. Once you learn how to make it, you’ll want to go ahead and double this recipe. It’s the trifecta of sweet, sticky, and savory, and it tastes even better reheated. I consider myself a fried rice aficionado, an expertise I honed during high school. Today, I’m giving a long-loved childhood favorite a nutritious makeover using ingredients you can find at any grocery store. Don’t be surprised when you catch yourself sneaking hot forkfuls straight from the skillet.

How to Make Fried Rice from Scratch

The magic of this recipe’s tastiness and ease lies in its fusion of fresh ingredients with pantry and freezer staples.

Cold rice works best for fried rice because it is drier, which keeps the fried rice from becoming soggy.

As far as which type of rice to use, that’s up to you! You can choose brown or white rice.

For white rice, both Jasmine rice and Basmati rice are popular.My personal preference is brown rice. I usually use long grain because that’s what we have at home most often.

The ingredients for fried rice are simple, but they come together to create something truly addictive.

The Ingredients

Leftover COLD Rice. I cannot stress the COLD part enough, so I’m stating it here again. You must cool rice to make the best fried rice. Cold rice is the secret to great fried rice. You do cook rice before frying it, so go ahead and put the rice on the stove now. You’ll want it at the ready when it’s time to cook dinner!

Vegetables. Unlike the takeout version, you’ll find a heap of colorful vegetables in every forkful of this fried rice recipe. For freshness and color, I used red bell pepper. For speed and ease, I added a 10-ounce bag of frozen peas and carrots. The carrots and peas tasted fantastic, and I spent exactly zero minutes chopping them.

Butter. Another of my best-ever fried rice secrets! Adding butter to fried rice is a pro tip that no restaurant will tell you but is oh-so-true. Oyster Sauce. Think of oyster sauce as an umami bomb of instant flavor. It’s thick, sticky, and its flavor is rich and complex. It coats every grain of rice with unmistakable flair. You can find oyster sauce in the Asian food aisle of any major grocery store.Soy Sauce. More umami. I recommend low-sodium soy sauce so that the rice doesn’t become too salty and you can better control its flavor.

Edamame. A quick and easy way to add protein to vegetable fried rice. Look for shelled edamame in the freezer section of the grocery store.Green Onions + Garlic. For freshness, bite, and zing.Eggs. Fried rice with egg is classic, plus it adds more protein. Be sure to follow the cooking tips below for how to cook fried rice with egg.

The Directions

Storage Tips

To Store. Let your cooked homemade fried rice cool to room temperature, then place it in the fridge in an airtight storage container for up to 5 days.To Reheat. Gently rewarm leftovers in a large skillet over medium-low heat until hot. You can also place leftovers on a microwave-safe plate or in a bowl and microwave for 1 minute or until warmed through.To Freeze. Once your homemade fried rice has cooled, place it in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container or zip-top bag, removing as much air as possible. Freeze for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat as directed.

Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe

Wok. If you love making stir fry recipes, adding a wok to your kitchen cookware collection is well worth the investment.Chopsticks. Adding a pair of fun and fancy chopsticks takes takeout-style meals at home to the next level (I also love these are dishwasher safe).Glass Measuring Cup. For whisking together that yummy, simple fried rice sauce.

I often lovingly refer to this sort of Asian-inspired recipe as “takeout, fake out” but the nickname doesn’t feel appropriate this time. Brown rice is whole grain, meaning it’s higher in protein, fiber, and nutrients than white rice. The flavor of brown rice is ultra-subtle. You won’t notice the swap.

Pea PodsBroccoliSlice OnionsEggplantYellow Squash ZucchiniMushrooms

If you’d like to vary the recipe further, here are a few ideas to get you started:

Chicken Fried Rice. For a fried rice recipe with chicken, try my delicious Chicken Fried Rice. Pork Fried Rice. Pork is another lean protein option you could add to vary it up from chicken. Pork tenderloin is my preferred lean cut in this Pork Fried Rice recipe.Shrimp Fried Rice. Before cooking your eggs, add 1/2 tablespoon of butter and 8 ounces of peeled, deveined raw shrimp to the pan. Let the shrimp cook on each side over high heat for about 30 seconds, until opaque and fully cooked through. Then, remove the shrimp from the pan and begin following the recipe instructions. Add your shrimp to the homemade fried rice when adding your reserved eggs and green onions.Pineapple Fried Rice. When you add your chopped red bell pepper to the pan, also add about 2 cups of chopped fresh or drained canned pineapple. YUM!Low Carb Fried Rice. You can also swap out the brown rice entirely! This Quinoa Fried Rice with Chicken and Vegetables and this Cauliflower Fried Rice are two delicious spins.

If you’d like to serve this dish as a side, here are a few ideas to get you started:

Chicken. Chicken is the perfect complement to a side of homemade fried rice! Try serving it with Crispy Asian Chicken Tenders or Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken.Salmon. Elevate your homemade fried rice by pairing it with Soy Ginger Salmon.Beef. Tasty Crockpot Beef and Broccoli would be a wonderful main dish to serve with your homemade fried rice.Tofu. For a delicious option, serve your fried rice recipe with Tofu Stir Fry, General Tso’s Tofu, or Crispy Tofu.Lettuce Wraps. For a light main dish, serve this homemade fried rice with Asian Lettuce Wraps or Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps. Or wrap the rice right inside of a bibb lettuce leave and use it as a filling.

Healthy Beef and Broccoli

30 mins

Chicken Satay

2 hrs 30 mins

Asian Cabbage Salad

25 mins Leave a rating below in the comments and let me know how you liked the recipe. Honestly, this homemade version is so delicious, actual takeout Chinese fried rice or hibachi fried rice will never do it for you again!