Quick Chinese Fried Rice Recipe
This dish might not sound super adventurous to you, but I’ve met very few people in my part of the world who make fried rice at home. And that’s a shame to me, considering how incredibly easy it is to make for home cooks. My Quick Chinese Fried Rice Recipe is full of flavor and comes together so easily that it can be on the table any night of the week with minimal effort and requires no culinary degree!
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Whenever we go out to eat Chinese food, my husband loads his plate up with fried rice. He LOVES it. (I prefer noodles unless we are at my favorite sushi spot. They have the best rice!) And beside that deliciously fluffy rice, he has another pile of TSO chicken. (Check out my copycat Asian Chicken Recipe here). That’s it for him. That’s all he needs to be happy in the Asian department! (HA)
But not me. I love so many things about Asian cuisine, and not just Chinese. I’m a fan of dishes all over the continent! Japan entices me with sushi and ramen. India lures me in with butter chicken and samosas. Korea has my heart with Kimchi. The Middle East has captured my tastebuds with falafel. And Thailand has me in a chokehold with curry. I LOVE Asian cuisine!

They all have something in common: rice. Truthfully, rice is the backbone of Asian cuisine. It’s just prepared in various ways depending on the region you are visiting. So, let’s get back to how China chooses to highlight this versatile ingredient and make the classic dish, which is fried rice.
Let’s Learn some Surprising Health benefits of eating rice!
Fried rice is such an easy recipe and is so flavorful that it can stand alone as an amazing side dish or be made the star of the meal simply by adding protein. The veggies and toasted sesame seeds give it a crunch, and the soy sauce and sesame oil give it a unique umami flavor. Fried rice goes well with other famous Chinese recipes, like chicken and seafood dishes with delicious sauces.
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Let’s talk about some of the MANY benefits of making your own fried rice at home:
- Saving money—Rice is an inexpensive ingredient and very filling. So, if you are on a budget and looking for a dish to satisfy your whole family, this is for you.
- Easily customizable—The vegetables I chose to include are pretty traditional in Authentic Chinese-style fried rice (I’ve also seen mixed vegetables with green beans used). Feel free to add any vegetable that you like. Whatever you have in your pantry, use it. You can also use any kind of rice that you have. Basmati rice, jasmine rice, brown rice, plain white rice, long-grain rice, medium grain, or short-grain rice will do—no need to stress. Use what you’ve got!
- Fresh—You might think everything is made fresh when you visit your favorite Chinese restaurants, but you will never know if it’s a buffet-style setting. That is, until you take a bite that is less than tasty. By making your food at home, you can control the ingredients and, ultimately, the freshness. And that’s a BIG DEAL!
- Less Food Waste—One of the best things about making your own fried rice is that it’s a great way to use leftover rice. (For best results, Use day-old rice, but don’t worry, fresh rice is excellent too!) Whenever I’m making rice for another dish at home, I always make extra and put it in the freezer in a Ziploc bag to save for a batch of fried rice later. It makes this quick dish even faster and reduces food waste, which I strongly believe in.
- A great place for creativity – Because rice lends itself to so many flavors and ingredients, be creative with your choices and think outside the box with toppings. Yes, I said toppings. A fried egg on top of perfectly cooked fried rice would be AMAZING!
Chinese cooking isn’t the only place where you will find fried rice. Here are some other regional dishes that have the same idea!
- Omu Rice is a beloved Japanese dish. Its base is stir-fried rice with fresh veggies like carrots, peas, and onions, which can be mixed with ketchup for a sweet and tangy flavor. The dish is then covered with a fluffy omelet, which adds an undeniable creaminess.
- Paella is a famous rice dish from Valencia, Spain. It begins with delicious rice cooked in a saffron, smoked paprika, and garlicky broth. It’s traditionally made over an open flame in a wide, shallow pan; paella contains various ingredients, such as seafood, chicken, chorizo, and garden-fresh vegetables like peas and bell pepper.
- Hawaiian Fried Rice combines the flavors of Hawaii with the deliciousness of traditional fried rice. It typically contains pineapple, spam, and veggies like bell peppers and green onions. The pineapple is so good with the savory flavors of ginger and soy.
- Mexican Fried Rice is the perfect combination of Mexico and Asia. It includes many authentic ingredients commonly found in Mexican cuisine, like rice, bell peppers, onions, corn, black beans, and cilantro. Spices like cumin, chili powder, and garlic enhance the richness of the dish and provide a beautiful color.

Tips for this Quick Chinese Fried Rice Recipe:
- If you are making your rice fresh, put it in the freezer to cool quickly while you prepare your other ingredients.
- You can use any style of rice or cooking method that you prefer. I like to use instant rice, but you can also use regular rice and a rice cooker. Just don’t overcook your rice grains; you don’t want them to be mushy.
Make this Quick Chinese Fried Rice Recipe with me on YouTube!
Quick Chinese Fried Rice Recipe Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 green onions
- 2 cups cooked rice
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil (can substitute vegetable oil)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
- sriracha (to taste/optional)
- 1/4 cup frozen green peas and carrots
- sesame seeds
- salt (to taste)
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup frozen corn
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger
Quick Chinese Fried Rice Recipe Instructions:
- First, heat 2 tablespoons of avocado oil in a large skillet (I like to use cast iron) over medium-high heat until hot.
- Second, add the garlic powder, diced white parts of the green onion, peas, carrots, and corn, and cook until the vegetables are thawed.

- Third, add the cooked rice to the vegetables, soy sauce, and pepper and toss to combine.
- Cook the rice until it begins to toast and develop a little color. (This is optional. If you want the rice to stay fluffier, don’t overcook it.)

- Next, push the fried rice to the edges of the skillet and create a circular hole in the middle.
- Then, add the sesame oil to the now-empty middle of the skillet, then crack 2 large eggs into the oil and scramble.

- Turn off the heat and stir the scrambled eggs into the fried rice, breaking the eggs into small pieces.

- Next, drizzle with a touch of toasted sesame oil and toss to combine.
- Then, taste and season with more salt and pepper as needed.
- Finally, sprinkle with the green onions and a little soy sauce, and serve immediately!

Storage for Quick Chinese Fried Rice Recipe:
- Store leftover fried rice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
What are the Macros for this Quick Chinese Fried Rice Recipe?
Makes 2 servings (Nutritional information below is for 1 serving = 1 cup)
- Calories – 542.5
- Protein – 14.4 grams
- Carbs – 51.37 grams (net)
- Fat – 28.86 grams
Check out some of my other Ethnic recipes!
Viral Shrimp and Crab Sushi Bake
Creamy Cajun Chicken and Sausage Pasta
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Quick Chinese Fried Rice Recipe
Equipment
- 1 cast iron skillet
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 green onions
- 2 cups cooked rice
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil can substitute vegetable oil
- 1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
- sriracha to taste/optional
- 1/4 cup frozen green peas and carrots
- sesame seeds
- salt to taste
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup frozen corn
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger
Instructions
- First, heat 2 tablespoons of avocado oil in a large skillet (I like to use cast iron) over medium-high heat until hot.
- Second, add the garlic powder, diced white parts of the green onion, peas, carrots, and corn, and cook until the vegetables are thawed.
- Third, add the cooked rice to the vegetables, soy sauce, and pepper and toss to combine.
- Cook the rice until it begins to toast and develop a little color. (This is optional. If you want the rice to stay fluffier, don’t overcook it.)
- Next, push the fried rice to the edges of the skillet and create a circular hole in the middle.
- Then, add the sesame oil to the now-empty middle of the skillet, then crack 2 large eggs into the oil and scramble.
- Turn off the heat and stir the scrambled eggs into the fried rice, breaking the eggs into small pieces.
- Next, drizzle with a touch of toasted sesame oil and toss to combine.
- Then, taste and season with more salt and pepper as needed.
- Finally, sprinkle with the green onions and a little soy sauce, and serve immediately!
Video
