Chicken Fried Rice

This easy Chicken Fried Rice recipe is definitely a go-to favorite when you need a quick dinner meal! It incorporates tender chicken breast meat, lots of vegetables and seasoned rice all in ONE SKILLET!  It doesn’t get any easier than that! With a busy schedule I absolutely love simple recipes that stretch and fill you up! The best part is that this recipe is also perfect for MEAL PREP! That’s a double win!

LET’S TALK ABOUT RICE!

For this recipe, you definitely want to use leftover rice OR rice that has been chilled in the refrigerator for at least 4-6 hours prior to making your chicken fried rice. Cold rice is perfect for making fried rice because it holds its texture and doesn't become too mushy when fried and cooked with other ingredients.

I personally like using brown rice that has been cooked in chicken broth when making this recipe. It gives the entire dish so much flavor!

You can make your rice on the stovetop, in a rice cooker or even an Instant Pot. I prefer to use this Instant Pot for cooking my rice.

HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN FRIED RICE

Full instructions are included in the recipe card below, but here’s a quick overview:

Step One: Chop your chicken breast into bite size pieces. Heat a large skillet with oil and cook the chicken until done. Remove chicken pieces and set aside on a separate plate.

Step Two: Add a little more oil or butter to the same skillet. Cook scrambled eggs and set aside with the chicken.

Step Three: Add a little more oil or butter to your same skillet. Saute onions and garlic. Add mixed veggies to the skillet and saute with onions and garlic. Next add cooked leftover rice to the skillet and fry for a few minutes with veggies. Next add cooked chicken and eggs to the skillet and mix with veggies and rice.

Step Four: Once chicken, veggies and rice have sautéed for a minute, add the sauce to the mixture and stir. Top things off with a sprinkle of green onions and Enjoy!

RECIPE TIPS FOR SUCCESS

1. Use day-old leftover rice for the best results. I like to make my rice the day or night before, let it cool to room temperature then add it to an airtight container and place in the refrigerator to chill for the next day. Using leftover rice helps the fried rice hold its texture and not become mushy when cooked. Extra tip: cook your rice in chicken broth for more depth of flavor.
2. Prep your ingredients ahead of time. Most asian-inspired recipes come together really fast. So it’s best to chop your vegetables and make your sauce before you start cooking. 
3. Thaw your frozen vegetables. Let your vegetables sit out and start to thaw while you prep and cook the rest of the ingredients. I like to buy the steamable bags and steam my veggies in the microwave for 2 minutes, just to thaw them slightly but not completely cook all the way. This just gives the vegetables a head start before adding them to the fried rice.

GOT AN INSTANT POT?

If you have an Instant Pot you should check out this video next to see how easy it is to cook rice in your Instant Pot. Cook it the night before or early that morning. Once rice has reached room temperature, put it in the fridge to chill before you make your chicken fried rice.

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CHICKEN FRIED RICE VIDEO

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