The Best Chicken Fried Rice involves a few key steps, such as using day-old rice and properly seasoning it for authentic, delicious flavor. Serve it alongside homemade egg rolls for a satisfying, better-than-takeout meal!
Jump to:
🍚 The Ingredients
The ingredients for chicken fried rice are easy to find, but using key items like day-old rice is critical to achieving that authentic, perfect texture and flavor. Find ingredient notes (including substitutions and variations) below.
🍗 Substitutions and Variations
- Proteins – The sky is the limit for fried rice. We love the taste and texture of chicken thighs (skinless), but breasts work just fine, too! You can also substitute the chicken with thinly sliced pork tenderloin, steak (such as ribeye, strip, or filet), shrimp, or even tofu! Or, do a combination of any or all of them.
- Vegetables – Onions, carrots, and peas are traditional. You can add other chopped veggies such as broccoli, cauliflower, or squash for added taste and texture. Blanch the broccoli (and cauliflower) in boiling water for a few minutes first to soften them.
- Flavor enhancers – Garlic and fresh ginger are key ingredients; we don’t recommend omitting them or using dried. The oyster sauce can be found in the Asian section of most well-stocked supermarkets. Hoisin sauce can be substituted for it. The lemon juice is optional, but it really brightens the flavor of the dish.
See the recipe card (with video) below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Expert Rice Tip
A very important step for making authentic chicken fried rice is to use day-old rice. Or at least rice that has been steamed and then allowed to completely cool and dry out a bit. Freshly steamed rice just won’t deliver that classic taste. Use our Perfect Steamed Rice the day before you prefer the fried rice, and you’ll be golden!
👨🍳 How To Make Best Chicken Fried Rice
- Step 1: Heat the oil over high heat and quickly stir-fry the garlic, ginger, onion, and carrots.
- Step 2: Stir in the chicken and stir-fry until no longer pink.
- Step 3: Push the veggies and chicken to one side of the wok and then add the eggs and the rice. Stir to coat the rice with the eggs.
- Step 4: In a small bowl, mix together the sauce ingredients and then pour into the wok.
- Step 5: Stir to coat and then add the peas and most of the scallions
- Step 6: Serve at once, garnishing with more scallions.
Expert Tip
This chicken fried rice recipe comes together very quickly, so it’s important to have all of your ingredients prepped and ready to go before you start cooking.
🍽️ How To Serve, Store, and Reheat
- The dish is best served piping hot. We recommend transferring it from the wok onto a large serving bowl or platter and let folks serve themselves.
- Have a bottle of soy sauce (low-sodium is always a great choice) for anyone who prefers a dash more of soy on their fried rice.
- Store leftovers in an air-tight container for up to 5 days.
- Reheat in the microwave on HIGH in increments of 1 minute. Or on the stove over medium heat. Add a splash of broth to loosen the rice up, if necessary.
🙋🏽♂️ Frequently Asked Questions
Day-old rice is drier and less sticky than freshly cooked rice, which helps prevent clumping and ensures a better texture when frying.
Yes, frozen vegetables are a convenient alternative and work well in chicken fried rice; just be sure to thaw and drain any excess moisture before cooking to avoid sogginess.
Neutral oils with a high smoke point, like peanut oil, canola, or vegetable oil, are best for frying to achieve the perfect sear without burning.
🥡 More Classic Take-Out Recipes
Ready to make this iconic Chinese fried rice recipe? Go for it!
And when you do, be sure to take a photo of it, post it on Instagram, and tag @HowToFeedaLoon and hashtag #HowToFeedaLoon!
Best Chicken Fried Rice
Video
Equipment
- Wok (preferably with wok ring), or sturdy large saucepan, such as cast-iron or Dutch oven
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon canola oil or peanut oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoon ginger fresh, minced
- ½ cup onion chopped
- ½ cup carrots chopped
- 2 chicken thighs thinly cut into 1-inch pieces
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- 2 eggs beaten
- 4 cups white rice day old
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 3 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ¼ cup sweet peas frozen
- 3 scallions chopped, white and green parts
Instructions
- Heat oil in a wok (or skillet) over high heat until just starting to smoke.2 tablespoon canola oil
- Add the garlic, ginger, onion, and carrots and stir-fry for 3 minutes.3 cloves garlic, 2 teaspoon ginger, ½ cup onion, ½ cup carrots
- Stir in the chicken and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Stir-fry until chicken is no longer pink, about 4 minutes.2 chicken thighs, Kosher salt and black pepper
- Use a large flat spoon or spatula to push the vegetables and cooked chicken to one half of the wok or skillet. In the open area of the wok, add the eggs, and immediately add the rice. Use a spoon or spatula to work the rice into the eggs until fully coated and the rice is a golden yellow color.2 eggs, 4 cups white rice
- Stir in the soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sugar into the rice/egg mixture, and stir until the rice is uniformly coated and the color has turned a golden brown.2 tablespoon soy sauce, 3 tablespoon oyster sauce, 1 teaspoon sugar
- Mix the vegetables and chicken into the rice mixture and stir until fully incorporated.
- Stir in the peas, and most of the scallions (leave some for garnish), and the sesame oil, if using.¼ cup sweet peas, 3 scallions
- Transfer to a platter or individual plates, garnish with scallions, and serve at once with additional soy sauce on the side.
BJ says
We love watchng your show, but Kris your microphone is not working very well so we can’t always hear what your saying. Wesley’s works just fine.
Kris Longwell says
Thanks, BJ! We’re looking into it!! Kris & Wesley
Claire says
My 14-year-old and I made this last night, with what we had in the house (tofu instead of chicken, and broccoli instead of peas), and it turned out so well!
Kris Longwell says
Wow! That is impressive! You’ve got quite the talented young chef on your hands! That’s fantastic! And his modifications sound great! Thank you so much for sharing and please let him know how impressed with are with him! xoxo
Kendra says
Made it tonight for my dinner with my family and we all enjoyed it
Kris Longwell says
Hi Kendra! That is so awesome! We are thrilled you and the family loved the chicken fried rice, and thank you so much for letting us know!!! Best, Kris & Wesley
Mark Hall says
Excellent, excellent, excellent!!! Had this with your egg rolls tonight. Will never order take out again! Another great recipe, guys.
Melissa Sizemore says
I made the chicken fried rice for dinner tonight, along with your recipe for the egg rolls cooking those in my air fryer….OMGoodness!!! Another keeper. I will say that it was great planning ahead and made rice in my instant pot. Only 1 teenager was with us tonight, instead of the usual 3- otherwise I will have to double the recipe! I will also say that said teenager tried his first egg roll this evening…and quickly devoured 2 more!
Tough decision on the next recipe(s) to try next!
Kris Longwell says
Hi Melissa! That is so awesome! And that’s fantastic all the planning ahead and pre-prep work you did. You’ve got it down!!! So glad you and your family enjoyed the fried rice and egg rolls (wow! that sounds like an amazing meal!). Stay in touch and thank you so much for the kind words and wonderful review. We can’t express enough how much that means to us! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Theresa says
Thank you! Thank you! For making actual fried rice. Day old rice, wok, vegetable oil, soy sauce and oyster sauce. As a Chinese person glad you posted this recipe.
Kris Longwell says
Hi Theresa! Wow! That is a compliment we are so honored to have! Thank you so much and thank you for the GREAT review! That means the world to us!! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Lin says
Thank y’all for this recipe! I plan on trying it as soon as I can get the ingredients. It is a little harder when you are trying to stay out of stores. I love fried rice and know this will be so good. You are appreciated!
Kris Longwell says
Thank you, Lin!! We appreciate that so much! Let us know if you make the fried rice and what you think. We love it a lot!! Best, Kris & Wesley