By Becky Hardin
Published Apr 12, 2022
Loaded with colorful veggies and tender chicken, this delicious Chicken Fried Rice is an easy one-pan meal that’s packed with flavor, the whole family will love it!
Why We Love This Chicken Fried Rice Recipe
- Homemade. A homemade version of the takeout classic makes for the best weeknight dinner!
- Lighter. Packed with chicken and veggies, this dish is super satisfying without feeling heavy.
- Flavorful. It’s so savory and delicious, with a wonderful depth of flavor from the toasted sesame oil. This is a simple dish that packs a tasty punch!
Variations on Easy Chicken Fried Rice
Choose a mix of your family’s favorite fresh or frozen veggies, such as corn, green beans, broccoli, or edamame, totaling ½ cup. Note that some vegetables take longer to cook than others, so adjust the cook time accordingly. For a healthier swap, use an equal amount of brown rice or riced cauliflower.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover chicken fried rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave with a splash of water to rehydrate the rice in 30-second increments until warmed through.
How to Freeze
Let the chicken fried rice cool completely, transfer to an airtight container, and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
This easy chicken fried rice recipe is a filling dinner on its own, but you can certainly amp things up with a side or two. I love Asian cucumber salad , egg drop soup , shrimp summer rolls , egg rolls , lettuce wraps , crab rangoon , everything bagel edamame , or blistered sweet peppers .
The best oil is a neutral-flavored oil with a high smoke point, such as vegetable, canola, or avocado oil.
Long-grain white rice works best for this recipe.
1 cup of dry rice yields 3 cups of cooked rice.
The classic flavor of fried rice comes from the soy sauce, onions, garlic, and sesame oil.
This dish is not particularly healthy, so enjoy it in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
The secret to authentic fried rice is to cook and chill the rice ahead of time. If you use warm, freshly cooked rice, your fried rice will turn out mushy.
More Fried Rice Recipes To Try
- Ham Fried Rice
- Cauliflower Fried Rice
- Vegetable Fried Rice
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 3 tablespoons vegetable oil divided
- ▢ 2 large eggs lightly beaten
- ▢ 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into small pieces
- ▢ 1 cup diced onion
- ▢ 1 tablespoon minced garlic 3 cloves
- ▢ ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ 3 cups cooked white rice refrigerated
- ▢ ½ cup frozen peas and carrots
- ▢ 1½ tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- ▢ 3 green onions thinly sliced
- ▢ 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
Video
Instructions
- Heat ½ tablespoon of vegetable oil in a wok (or large nonstick frying pan) over medium-high heat. Add the beaten eggs and gently scramble with a rubber spatula until just softly set, 1-2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and set aside. 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, 2 large eggs
- Add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil to the wok. Add the chicken, sautéing until lightly brown and fully cooked, about 7 minutes. 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Heat another ½ tablespoon of oil in the wok, and add the onion, garlic, and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is tender, about 4-5 minutes. 1 cup diced onion, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Push the onion mixture to the sides of the wok. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil and let it heat for a few seconds. Add the cold cooked rice, frozen peas and carrots, and soy sauce. Mix and stir-fry until the rice is heated through, about 3-4 minutes. 3 cups cooked white rice, ½ cup frozen peas and carrots, 1½ tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- Remove from the heat and stir in scrambled eggs, green onions, and sesame oil. Serve immediately and enjoy! 3 green onions, 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
Becky’s Tips
- Make time to cook and chill the rice beforehand. This will ensure it doesn’t turn out mushy!
- For a gluten-free version, swap the soy sauce for tamari or coconut aminos.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Chicken Fried Rice Step by Step
Scramble the Eggs: Heat ½ tablespoon of vegetable oil in a wok (or large nonstick frying pan) over medium-high heat. Add 2 large beaten eggs and gently scramble with a rubber spatula until just softly set, 1-2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
Cook the Chicken: Add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil to the wok. Add 1 pound of cubed boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sautéing until lightly brown and fully cooked, about 7 minutes.
Sauté the Onion and Garlic: Heat another ½ tablespoon of oil in the wok, and add 1 cup of diced onion, 1 tablespoon of minced garlic, and ½ teaspoon of kosher salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is tender, about 4-5 minutes.
Add the Rice and Veggies: Push the onion mixture to the sides of the wok. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil and let it heat for a few seconds. Then, add 3 cups of cold cooked rice, ½ cup of frozen peas and carrots, and 1½ tablespoons of low-sodium soy sauce. Mix and stir-fry until the rice is heated through, about 3-4 minutes.
Stir in the Cooked Egg: Remove from the heat and stir in scrambled eggs, 3 thinly sliced green onions, and 1 teaspoon of toasted sesame oil. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Chicken Fried Rice Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil divided
- 2 large eggs lightly beaten
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into small pieces
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic 3 cloves
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 cups cooked white rice refrigerated
- ½ cup frozen peas and carrots
- 1½ tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 3 green onions thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
Instructions
- Heat ½ tablespoon of vegetable oil in a wok (or large nonstick frying pan) over medium-high heat. Add the beaten eggs and gently scramble with a rubber spatula until just softly set, 1-2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and set aside. 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, 2 large eggs
- Add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil to the wok. Add the chicken, sautéing until lightly brown and fully cooked, about 7 minutes. 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Heat another ½ tablespoon of oil in the wok, and add the onion, garlic, and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is tender, about 4-5 minutes. 1 cup diced onion, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Push the onion mixture to the sides of the wok. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil and let it heat for a few seconds. Add the cold cooked rice, frozen peas and carrots, and soy sauce. Mix and stir-fry until the rice is heated through, about 3-4 minutes. 3 cups cooked white rice, ½ cup frozen peas and carrots, 1½ tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- Remove from the heat and stir in scrambled eggs, green onions, and sesame oil. Serve immediately and enjoy! 3 green onions, 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
Video
Notes
- Make time to cook and chill the rice beforehand. This will ensure it doesn’t turn out mushy!
- For a gluten-free version, swap the soy sauce for tamari or coconut aminos.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
