By Becky Hardin
Updated Oct 14, 2025
This delicious Ham Fried Rice is a sweet and savory dish I like to prepare for lunch or dinner. This recipe is also my favorite way to use up leftover ham and rice, along with simple ingredients, for a tasty meal!
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Easy Ham Fried Rice
This ham fried rice recipe is just like traditional fried rice, but it includes salty ham as a delicious twist on a classic recipe. I like to serve this fried rice either as a main dish or as a side dish for a homemade Chinese takeout night.
I find this recipe a great way to use up the leftovers at the end of the week. Extra ham? Throw it in. Miscellaneous veggies in the crisper? Add them. Peanuts in the pantry? Canned pineapple? Great, add them both! Whether I’m trying to get rid of a few extra items from the fridge or just looking for a quick and easy recipe for dinner, this Ham Fried Rice is perfect.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 2 tbsp sesame oil or any high smoke point oil like canola, vegetable, or avocado
- ▢ 2 cups cubed ham shrimp, chicken, beef, or pork will also work
- ▢ 12 oz. frozen mixed vegetables (1 bag), or any 12 oz. of veggies
- ▢ 0.74 oz. fried rice seasoning mix (1 packet)
- ▢ 4 cups cooked rice chilled, white or brown, 1¾ cups of dry, or use riced cauliflower
- ▢ 4 large eggs scrambled
- ▢ 3 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce for gluten-free use, tamari or coconut aminos
- ▢ chopped green onions optional, for garnish
- ▢ sweet chili sauce optional, for garnish
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat the sesame oil over medium-high heat. 2 tbsp sesame oil
- Add in the cubed ham, frozen vegetables, and seasoning mix and sauté for 3-5 minutes, or until the ham has some color and the vegetables begin to soften. 2 cups cubed ham, 12 oz. frozen mixed vegetables, 0.74 oz. fried rice seasoning mix
- Add in the rice and sauté for another 5 minutes, or until the rice begins to brown. 4 cups cooked rice
- Stir in the scrambled eggs and soy sauce and heat for another 2-3 minutes, or until the eggs and rice are heated through. 4 large eggs, 3 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
- Serve hot, garnished with green onions and sweet chili sauce, optional. chopped green onions, sweet chili sauce
Becky’s Tips
- Fried Rice Seasoning Mix: I used the Sun-Bird brand of fried rice seasoning mix, which can be found at Walmart. Any brand can be used as a substitute.
- Be sure your eggs are scrambled before you add them to the pan; otherwise, everything will be coated with egg. Alternatively, you can push everything to the side, scramble the eggs in half the pan and then mix everything together like they do at Mongolian grills.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Ham Fried Rice Step by Step
Prep your ingredients and cook area : Gather your ingredients. Heat 2 tbsp of sesame oil over medium-high heat.
Add the ham and veggies: Add in 2 cups of cubed ham, a 12-oz. bag of frozen vegetables, and 0.75 oz. of seasoning mix and sauté for 3-5 minutes, or until the ham is uniform in color and the vegetables have softened.
Add the rice: Stir in 4 cups of cooked rice and sauté for another 5 minutes, or until the rice begins to brown.
Add the eggs : Stir in 4 scrambled eggs and 3 tbsp soy sauce and heat for another 2-3 minutes, so the eggs and rice are heated through.
Serve : Serve hot, garnished with green onions and sweet chili sauce, optional.
How to Store
It’s important to cook the rice and scramble the eggs ahead of time. You can do both up to 2 days before you make this ham fried rice. Store both in airtight containers in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Store leftover ham fried rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in 30-second bursts in the microwave until hot.
Let the ham 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
When I’m craving a cozy Chinese takeout night at home, I love to go all out. I’ll start with a warm bowl of silky egg drop soup , then add some crispy, golden egg rolls fresh from the pan. To balance it all out, I toss together a refreshing Asian cucumber salad —cool, crunchy, and perfectly tangy.
more one pan side dishes
Sweet and Sour Pork Recipe
Skillet Chipotle Shrimp (Easy Spicy Shrimp Recipe)
Sautéed Vegetables
Easy Beef and Broccoli
Ham Fried Rice Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp sesame oil or any high smoke point oil like canola, vegetable, or avocado
- 2 cups cubed ham shrimp, chicken, beef, or pork will also work
- 12 oz. frozen mixed vegetables (1 bag), or any 12 oz. of veggies
- 0.74 oz. fried rice seasoning mix (1 packet)
- 4 cups cooked rice chilled, white or brown, 1¾ cups of dry, or use riced cauliflower
- 4 large eggs scrambled
- 3 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce for gluten-free use, tamari or coconut aminos
- chopped green onions optional, for garnish
- sweet chili sauce optional, for garnish
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat the sesame oil over medium-high heat. 2 tbsp sesame oil
- Add in the cubed ham, frozen vegetables, and seasoning mix and sauté for 3-5 minutes, or until the ham has some color and the vegetables begin to soften. 2 cups cubed ham, 12 oz. frozen mixed vegetables, 0.74 oz. fried rice seasoning mix
- Add in the rice and sauté for another 5 minutes, or until the rice begins to brown. 4 cups cooked rice
- Stir in the scrambled eggs and soy sauce and heat for another 2-3 minutes, or until the eggs and rice are heated through. 4 large eggs, 3 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
- Serve hot, garnished with green onions and sweet chili sauce, optional. chopped green onions, sweet chili sauce
Notes
- Fried Rice Seasoning Mix: I used the Sun-Bird brand of fried rice seasoning mix, which can be found at Walmart. Any brand can be used as a substitute.
- Be sure your eggs are scrambled before you add them to the pan; otherwise, everything will be coated with egg. Alternatively, you can push everything to the side, scramble the eggs in half the pan and then mix everything together like they do at Mongolian grills.
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
