This chicken fried rice is tender seasoned chicken breast pieces stir fried with scrambled eggs, vegetables and  white rice. A quick and easy main course or side dish that’s even better than what you’d get from your favorite Chinese restaurant!

At least once a week I make my family’s take out favorites including beef lettuce wraps, cream cheese wontons, Chinese lemon chicken and this hearty and delicious chicken fried rice dish.

A serving spoon in a pan of chicken fried rice.

Fried rice is a take out classic, but it’s actually super simple to make at home. My version of this dish is full of tender chicken and colorful veggies, and it’s always a hit with both kids and adults alike. Serve it alongside Buddha’s delight for a memorable meal.

Chicken Fried Rice Ingredients

To make this dish, you will need vegetable oil, chicken, carrots, peas, onion, garlic, rice, soy sauce, eggs, salt, black pepper, green onions and sesame oil.

How Do You Make Chicken Fried Rice?

First, cut up boneless skinless chicken breasts into bite sized pieces, then brown them in a skillet. Remove the chicken from the pan, then cook the veggies and scramble the eggs. The next step is to add everything back to the skillet along with cooked white rice, toasted sesame oil and soy sauce. Cook until everything is coated in sauce, add a sprinkling of sliced green onions, then serve and enjoy.

Cooked chicken pieces in a metal pan.

Tips For Chicken Fried Rice

  • I recommend using long grain white rice for this dish. You can use a regular white rice or a fragrant variety such as jasmine rice. Cooked brown rice will also work!
  • I typically make this dish with chicken breast, but diced chicken thighs will also work. You can also use pre-cooked chicken such as rotisserie chicken or chicken leftovers.
  • Frozen peas work perfectly in this fried rice, no need to seek out fresh peas at the grocery store. I don’t recommend using canned peas as they don’t have as nice of a texture as the frozen variety.
  • This dish is a great choice if you’re looking to meal prep. You can keep your fried rice in meal prep containers in the fridge for up to 4 days. Just reheat in the microwave when it’s time to eat!

Quick Tip

Fried rice works best with cold rice, so this is the perfect way to re-purpose leftover rice. With cold rice, the grains are all separated and firm, and you’ll get a better texture than you would with fresh cooked rice. Fried rice made with just-cooked rice will be softer and won’t have those crispy little bits.

A pan of cooked rice, carrots, eggs and peas.

Recipe FAQs

Is fried rice bad for you?

Fried rice contains some oil, but other than that, the basic ingredients of chicken breast, vegetables, eggs and rice are wholesome and full of nutrients and protein. If you’re looking for ways to make your fried rice healthier, you can use half the amount of vegetable oil, substitute cooked brown rice for white rice, and add an assortment of extra vegetables to the mix.

What is the secret to good fried rice?

The most important thing to remember for fried rice is to use leftover long grain cold rice. If you use freshly made rice or short grain rice, it can stick together and won’t have that same crispy texture. It’s also important to use a very hot pan or wok so that all the ingredients can sear and get golden brown.

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A bowl of chicken fried rice topped with sliced green onions.

Chicken Fried Rice Variations

There are so many different ingredients you can add to your fried rice to customize it to your family’s tastes.

A pan of chicken fried rice with eggs and vegetables.

Chicken fried rice is perfect for those busy nights when you need to get dinner on the table quickly.

More Asian Dishes You’ll Enjoy

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5 from 25 votes

Chicken Fried Rice

AuthorSara Welch
A serving spoon in a pan of chicken fried rice.
This chicken fried rice is tender seasoned chicken breast pieces stir fried with scrambled eggs, vegetables and  white rice. A quick and easy main course or side dish that’s even better than what you’d get from your favorite Chinese restaurant!
Time
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course Main
Cuisine Asian
Serves 4

Ingredients 

  • 4 teaspoons vegetable oil divided use
  • 3/4 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1/2 inch pieces
  • 1/2 cup onion finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup carrots peeled, quartered and sliced
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas thawed
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 2 eggs lightly beaten
  • 3 cups cooked white rice long grain works best
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce low sodium is fine
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup green onions sliced

Instructions 

  • Heat 2 teaspoons of oil in a large pan over medium high heat. Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Place the chicken in a single layer in the pan. Cook for 4-5 minutes or until chicken is browned and cooked through. You may need to work in batches.
  • Remove the chicken from the pan and cover with foil to keep warm.
  • Add 1 teaspoon of oil to the pan, along with the onion and carrots. Cook for 4-5 minutes or until veggies are softened.
  • Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
  • Remove the vegetables from the pan, then cover with foil to keep warm.
  • Pour the remaining teaspoon of oil into the pan; add the eggs and cook, stirring occasionally and breaking up with a spatula, until the eggs are scrambled and cooked through. Season the eggs with salt and pepper.
  • Add the rice, chicken, reserved cooked veggies and peas to the pan. Stir in the soy sauce and sesame oil and mix gently until everything is thoroughly combined and warmed through, 3-4 minutes.
  • Sprinkle green onions over the top of the rice mixture, then serve.

Notes

  1. I recommend using long grain white rice for this dish, you can use a regular white rice or a fragrant variety such as jasmine rice.
  2. I typically make this dish with chicken breast, but diced chicken thighs will also work. You can also use pre-cooked chicken such as rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken.
  3. Fried rice works best with cold rice, so this is the perfect way to re-purpose leftover rice. With cold rice, the grains are all separated and firm, and you’ll get a better texture than you would with fresh cooked rice. Fried rice made with just-cooked rice will be softer and won’t have those crispy little bits.

Nutrition

Calories: 330kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 296mg | Sodium: 1460mg | Potassium: 266mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 2855IU | Vitamin C: 7.1mg | Calcium: 165mg | Iron: 2.9mg

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This was great! My son has allergies to eggs and sesame, but it was fantastic without those! Never go wrong with a recipe on your site!!!

  2. 5 stars
    This is what we need to give a try! We have recently bought a wok, and I am going to try your recipe using it. I hope to succeed. 🙂 Your recipe sounds yummy and delicious!

  3. This looks delish!!! I’m going to try it for dinner tonight but can I leave out the peas all together? I’m trying to use what I have at home and only have canned peas.

  4. This is very good. I could have diced everything smaller. Tasty. I put one Chile for heat. I used my wok over gas.
    Thank you.

  5. 5 stars
    I just love making homemade fried rice. This sounds like it has great flavor and is so easy to make. That chicken looks delicious!

  6. 5 stars
    This is exactly what I have been looking for. I had some rice I needed to use but was not sure about the recipe to make. I AM sure now – yours looks particularly good.

  7. 5 stars
    One of my favourite take away dishes! I’ve made it at home before, but this recipe was easier and the result is amazing!