Easy Chicken Fried Rice Recipe: A Speedy Family Favorite

Chicken fried rice upgrades ordinary ingredients into a culinary masterpiece that dances with flavor and comfort.

Home cooks adore this versatile dish for its remarkable simplicity and crowd-pleasing qualities.

Fragrant rice mingles with tender chicken pieces, creating a harmonious blend of textures and tastes.

Professional chefs and kitchen novices alike appreciate how quickly this meal comes together with minimal effort.

Sizzling woks and perfectly seasoned ingredients guarantee a dining experience that satisfies hunger and delights the senses.

Colorful vegetables add nutritional depth and visual appeal to this classic Asian-inspired favorite.

You’ll want to make this recipe again and again for its irresistible combination of convenience and deliciousness.

Simple Tips to Improve Your Chicken Fried Rice

• Slice Chicken with Precision: Cut chicken breast against the grain for tender, easy-to-chew strips that cook quickly and evenly.
• Egg Scrambling Secret: Use medium-low heat when cooking eggs to prevent browning, creating soft, fluffy egg pieces that blend perfectly in the fried rice.
• High-Heat Chicken Technique: Use a very hot skillet to achieve a delicious golden-brown exterior on chicken strips, locking in maximum flavor and moisture.
• Rice Texture Trick: Use day-old, cold rice to prevent clumping and ensure each grain separates beautifully during stir-frying.
• Flavor Layering Magic: Add seasonings gradually and taste as you go, allowing each ingredient to build depth and create a more complex, restaurant-quality fried rice experience.

How to Store Chicken Fried Rice for Later

• Refrigeration: Transfer leftover chicken fried rice to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator within two hours of cooking. Consume within 3-4 days for best quality and safety.
• Freezing: Seal the rice in freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Freeze for up to one month. Label with the date to track freshness.
• Reheating: Warm refrigerated rice in a skillet over medium heat, adding a splash of water or oil to prevent drying. Microwave alternative: Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Discard rice that smells off or looks discolored.

What Complements a Bowl of Chicken Fried Rice

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: A chilled Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc cuts through the richness of the fried rice, refreshing your palate with its light, zesty notes.
• Complement with Asian-Inspired Beer: Grab a Sapporo or Tsingtao to enhance the soy sauce and sesame flavors, creating a perfect balance of saltiness and smoothness.
• Cool Down with Cucumber Mint Mocktail: Blend fresh cucumber, mint leaves, and sparkling water for a bright, cooling drink that cleanses your taste buds after each savory bite.
• Match with Tangy Pickled Side: Add quick pickled cucumbers or kimchi on the side to provide a sharp, acidic contrast that lifts the entire dish's flavor profile.

Why Easy Chicken Fried Rice Is Always a Go-To Meal

• Whip Up a Quick Comfort Meal: This chicken fried rice recipe delivers a delicious one-pan dinner that's ready in under 30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights when you want something tasty and satisfying.
• Master Simple Cooking Techniques: The recipe teaches fundamental cooking skills like sautéing, egg cooking, and seasoning rice, making it an excellent learning experience for beginner home cooks with clear, straightforward steps.
• Customize Your Culinary Creation: The flexible recipe allows easy ingredient swaps like using different proteins, vegetables, or adjusting seasonings to match your taste preferences or pantry contents, ensuring a personalized dining experience every time.
• Nutrition Packed in One Skillet: This dish combines protein from chicken and eggs, carbohydrates from rice, and mixed vegetables, creating a balanced meal that provides essential nutrients in a single, convenient serving.

What You’ll Need for Easy Chicken Fried Rice

• Chicken Breast: Lean protein that adds substantial texture and flavor to the fried rice.
• Eggs: Provides richness, protein, and creates delightful scrambled texture in the dish.

• White or Yellow Onion: Adds sweet and sharp flavor base for the rice.
• Garlic: Delivers intense and fragrant background note to enhance overall taste.
• Green Onions: Offers fresh, mild onion flavor and bright garnish for the dish.
• Chicken Bouillon Cube: Concentrates savory chicken flavor throughout the rice.
• Salt: Fundamental seasoning to balance and enhance other ingredients.
• Black Pepper: Adds subtle heat and complementary spice to the chicken.

• Rice: Foundation of the dish, best when day-old and slightly dried out.
• Frozen Mixed Vegetables: Convenient way to add color, nutrition, and variety.
• Vegetable or Canola Oil: Neutral cooking oil perfect for high-heat stir-frying.
• Soy Sauce: Provides deep umami and salty complexity to the rice.
• Sesame Oil: Optional ingredient that adds nutty, aromatic finish to the dish.

Cooking Easy Chicken Fried Rice from Scratch

Step 1: Prep the Chicken

• Slice chicken breast into thin, elegant strips
• Season with salt, massaging gently
• Let chicken rest and absorb flavors

Tip: Allow chicken to reach room temperature for even cooking

Step 2: Create Fluffy Scrambled Eggs

• Whisk eggs in a mixing bowl until smooth
• Heat skillet with light coating of oil
• Cook eggs gently, creating soft scrambled texture
• Chop eggs into bite-sized pieces
• Transfer to separate plate

Step 3: Cook Tender Chicken Pieces

• Increase skillet temperature to high heat
• Add fresh oil
• Sear chicken strips until golden brown
• Ensure chicken is fully cooked and slightly crispy
• Remove chicken from skillet

Step 4: Awaken Aromatic Base

• Reduce skillet heat to medium
• Sauté diced onions and minced garlic
• Stir until onions become translucent and fragrant

Step 5: Infuse Rice with Flavor

• Cooked rice
• Chicken bouillon
• Soy sauce
• Sesame oil
• Black pepper
• Mix ingredients thoroughly in skillet
• Break up rice clumps
• Cook for one minute

Step 6: Add Colorful Vegetables

• Toss frozen mixed vegetables into skillet
• Stir and heat for 2-3 minutes
• Ensure vegetables are warmed through

Step 7: Combine All Elements

• Return chicken pieces to skillet
• Add scrambled egg bits
• Gently mix all ingredients
• Ensure even distribution of flavors

Step 8: Garnish and Serve

• Sprinkle fresh green onions on top
• Serve immediately while hot
• Enjoy your delicious creation!

Fun Additions for Easy Chicken Fried Rice Fans

• Spicy Kick Chicken Fried Rice: Add sriracha sauce or red pepper flakes for extra heat and zest.
• Vegetarian Rice Remix: Replace chicken with tofu or extra firm tempeh, keeping the same cooking method.
• Protein Power Bowl: Incorporate additional protein like diced ham, shrimp, or scrambled egg whites for muscle-building nutrition.
• Mediterranean Fusion Rice: Swap soy sauce with olive oil, add feta cheese, and include diced bell peppers for a Mediterranean-inspired flavor profile.

Easy Chicken Fried Rice Recipe

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4.6 from 26 reviews

• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Mouthwatering chicken fried rice delivers classic Asian comfort straight to your kitchen. Quick and satisfying flavors meld perfectly, promising a delicious meal you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Proteins:

• ¾ pounds (340 grams) chicken breast
• 2 eggs

Starches:

• 4 cups (960 milliliters) cooked rice
• 1 cube chicken bouillon

Vegetables and Seasonings:

• 2 cups (480 milliliters) frozen mixed vegetables
• ½ cup (120 milliliters) diced white or yellow onion
• 4–6 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) sliced green onions
• ¼ teaspoon (1.25 milliliters) salt
• ½ teaspoon (2.5 milliliters) black pepper
• 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) sesame oil (optional)
• Vegetable or canola oil

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Instructions

1. Prepare the protein by slicing chicken breast into delicate, uniform strips, then massage with a pinch of salt to enhance flavor and tenderize the meat.
2. Whisk eggs in a mixing bowl until smooth and pale yellow, creating a uniform consistency.
3. Heat a spacious skillet over medium temperature, adding a thin layer of oil to prevent sticking.
4. Pour whisked eggs into the skillet, allowing them to set gently without stirring extensively.
5. Once eggs are fully cooked, transfer to a cutting board and chop into small, bite-sized pieces.
6. Increase skillet temperature to high, introducing additional oil to create a sizzling surface.
7. Sear chicken strips, moving them periodically to ensure complete, golden-brown cooking.
8. Remove chicken and set aside, keeping the flavorful residue in the skillet.
9. Reduce heat to medium and introduce diced onions and minced garlic, stirring until they release a fragrant aroma.
10. Fold cooked rice into the skillet, breaking apart any compressed clusters with a wooden spatula.
11. Drizzle chicken bouillon, soy sauce, sesame oil, and sprinkle black pepper, thoroughly mixing to distribute seasonings.
12. Introduce frozen mixed vegetables, stirring continuously to heat and integrate them evenly.
13. Reintroduce cooked chicken and chopped eggs to the skillet, gently folding all ingredients together.
14. Garnish with freshly sliced green onions for a crisp, vibrant finish.
15. Serve immediately while steaming hot, celebrating the harmonious blend of textures and flavors.

Notes

• Learn the secret to perfect rice texture by using day-old cooked rice, which prevents the dreaded mushy consistency.
• Customize your dish by swapping frozen vegetables or adding extra protein like shrimp or tofu for endless flavor variations.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Chinese

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 430
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 620 mg
• Fat: 15 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 50 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 30 g
• Cholesterol: 150 mg