Make a quick meal of this Easy Chicken Fried Rice recipe, while still enjoying authentic Chinese takeout flavor. Chicken, eggs, and vegetables sauté in oil, then fry up with rice and soy sauce until crispy.
In a large wok, or large skillet, combine 2 tablespoons oil with bell peppers, onions, and carrots. Sauté for 3-5 minutes over medium heat.
½ cup carrots, 1 cup bell pepper, 1 cup sweet onion
Push vegetables to the side and drizzle 1 tablespoon oil into the skillet and place chicken in oil. Cook over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through. Mix with vegetables.
1 lb. chicken thighs
Whisk eggs together in a small bowl. Either push all vegetables and chicken to one side, or remove and place on a separate plate.
4 eggs
Drizzle 1-2 tablespoons oil in the spot you have cleared and add in eggs, salt, and pepper. Scramble in that spot for 2-3 minutes, or until cooked. Once cooked, you can combine the eggs with the rest of the vegetable mixture.
½ teaspoon pepper, ½ teaspoon salt
Add in cooked rice, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes.
If you like extra crispy fried rice, let rice sit over medium to medium-high heat for a full minute before mixing again. Rice likes to stick to the bottom of the pan, so be sure to scrape all of the crispy goodness off of it! Repeat this process until it reaches your desired crispiness.
Mix in frozen peas during the last 2 minutes of cooking.
Rice: It is best to use leftover white rice instead of freshly cooked white rice. Freshly cooked rice tends to clump together and does not crisp up as easily.
Protein: Omit the chicken, and/or use a meat-free protein like tofu, tempeh, or seitan if needed.
Veggies: Add more vegetables, and consider additional varieties like cabbage, snow peas, or broccoli. Substitute white rice for brown rice or cauliflower rice.
Storage: With or without chicken, this dish can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Freezing: Fried rice can be frozen in an airtight container or sealed Ziploc freezer bag for up to 3-4 months. Individual servings can also be portioned out to make reheating easier.
Reheating: It is recommended to reheat fried rice in a skillet over medium-low heat until warmed through, but reheating in the microwave will suffice as well.