Description
This Easy Better-Than-Takeout Chicken Fried Rice is the ultimate quick dinner packed with juicy chicken, fluffy rice, colorful vegetables, and rich savory flavor. It’s a fast and satisfying homemade version of your favorite takeout meal that comes together in one skillet in about 30 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights, meal prep, easy dinner ideas, quick lunch recipes, and family-friendly food ideas, this fried rice recipe delivers restaurant-quality flavor using simple pantry ingredients. Whether you need an easy recipe for leftovers or a comforting homemade meal, this chicken fried rice is loaded with texture, protein, and flavor in every bite.
Ingredients
2 cups cooked cold white rice
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast diced
2 large eggs
1 cup frozen peas and carrots
3 green onions sliced
3 cloves garlic minced
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
1. Separate the cold rice into loose grains using your hands or a fork to prevent clumping during cooking.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the diced chicken and season lightly with salt and black pepper. Cook until golden and fully cooked through.
3. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
4. Add the remaining vegetable oil to the skillet. Crack the eggs into the pan and scramble gently until fully cooked but still soft.
5. Remove the scrambled eggs and set aside with the chicken.
6. Add the carrots and peas to the skillet and sauté for several minutes until slightly tender.
7. Stir in the minced garlic and cook briefly until fragrant.
8. Add the cold rice to the skillet and stir-fry over medium-high heat until heated through and lightly toasted.
9. Pour the soy sauce evenly over the rice and stir thoroughly to coat all the ingredients.
10. Drizzle in the sesame oil and continue tossing everything together.
11. Return the cooked chicken and scrambled eggs to the skillet and mix well.
12. Add the sliced green onions and cook for another minute until everything is hot and evenly combined.
13. Serve immediately while warm with extra green onions or sesame seeds if desired.
Notes
Use cold day-old rice for the best texture and to prevent soggy fried rice.
Cook over medium-high heat so the rice lightly fries instead of steaming.
Prepare all ingredients before starting because fried rice cooks very quickly once the process begins.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 145mg
Keywords: chicken fried rice, easy dinner, quick dinner, takeout copycat, fried rice recipe, homemade fried rice, easy weeknight dinner, quick meal ideas