12 Easy Weeknight Fried Rice Meals Better Than Takeout

Day-old rice is weeknight gold! These 12 fried rice meals turn simple ingredients into fast, flavorful dinners.

Below you’ll find 12 reader-favorite recipes, each with a photo, ingredients, and step-by-step instructions. Save your favorites and enjoy!

1. Classic Chicken Fried Rice

The takeout favorite at home: savory chicken, fluffy eggs, and perfectly seasoned rice.

Ingredients

• 4 cups cooked day-old rice
• 2 chicken breasts, diced
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1 cup frozen peas and carrots
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp oil
• 2 green onions
• 1 tbsp sesame oil

Instructions

1. Sear chicken in hot oil 5 minutes; remove.
2. Scramble eggs; remove.
3. Stir-fry peas and carrots 2 minutes.
4. Add rice; press and sear 3 minutes.
5. Stir in soy sauce, sesame oil, chicken, and eggs.
6. Top with green onions and serve.

2. Shrimp Fried Rice

Plump, juicy shrimp with sweet peas and smoky wok-kissed rice.

Ingredients

• 4 cups cooked day-old rice
• 1 lb shrimp, peeled
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 tbsp oyster sauce
• 2 green onions

Instructions

1. Sear shrimp 2 minutes per side; remove.
2. Scramble eggs; remove.
3. Stir-fry peas 1 minute.
4. Add rice; sear 3 minutes undisturbed.
5. Stir in soy sauce, oyster sauce, shrimp, and eggs.
6. Garnish with green onions.

3. Vegetable Fried Rice

A rainbow of crisp veggies in savory soy-ginger fried rice.

Ingredients

• 4 cups cooked day-old rice
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 3 cups mixed vegetables
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 tbsp ginger, minced
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 2 green onions

Instructions

1. Scramble eggs; remove.
2. Stir-fry vegetables and ginger 3 minutes.
3. Add rice; press and sear 3 minutes.
4. Stir in soy sauce and sesame oil.
5. Fold in the eggs.
6. Top with green onions and serve.

4. Beef Fried Rice

Savory strips of beef with peppers and onions in a bold soy glaze.

Ingredients

• 4 cups cooked day-old rice
• 3/4 lb flank steak, sliced thin
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp oyster sauce
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 tsp sesame oil

Instructions

1. Sear steak in hot oil 3 minutes; remove.
2. Stir-fry pepper and onion 3 minutes.
3. Add rice; sear 3 minutes.
4. Stir in soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sesame oil.
5. Return beef to the pan.
6. Toss 1 minute and serve.

5. Pork Fried Rice

Tender pork and sweet char siu-style glaze in smoky fried rice.

Ingredients

• 4 cups cooked day-old rice
• 2 pork chops, diced
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
• 2 tbsp oil
• 2 green onions

Instructions

1. Sear pork 5 minutes until cooked through; remove.
2. Scramble eggs; remove.
3. Stir-fry peas 1 minute.
4. Add rice; sear 3 minutes.
5. Stir in soy sauce, hoisin, pork, and eggs.
6. Top with green onions.

6. Pineapple Fried Rice

Sweet pineapple, cashews, and curry-kissed rice — a tropical twist.

Ingredients

• 4 cups cooked day-old rice
• 1 1/2 cups pineapple chunks
• 2 chicken breasts, diced
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 2 tbsp red curry paste
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 1/2 cup cashews
• 2 green onions

Instructions

1. Sear chicken 5 minutes; remove.
2. Stir-fry curry paste 30 seconds.
3. Add rice and pineapple; sear 3 minutes.
4. Stir in soy sauce and chicken.
5. Fold in scrambled eggs.
6. Top with cashews and green onions.

7. Kimchi Fried Rice

Spicy, funky kimchi fried rice with a crispy fried egg on top.

Ingredients

• 4 cups cooked day-old rice
• 1 1/2 cups chopped kimchi
• 1/2 lb ground pork
• 2 tbsp gochujang
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp oil
• 4 fried eggs
• 2 green onions

Instructions

1. Brown pork 5 minutes; add kimchi and gochujang 3 minutes.
2. Add rice; press and sear 4 minutes.
3. Stir in soy sauce.
4. Fry eggs sunny-side up in a separate pan.
5. Top each serving with a fried egg.
6. Garnish with green onions and sesame.

8. Teriyaki Chicken Fried Rice

Sweet-savory teriyaki chicken tossed through fluffy fried rice.

Ingredients

• 4 cups cooked day-old rice
• 2 chicken breasts, diced
• 1/3 cup teriyaki sauce
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1 cup frozen peas and carrots
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp sesame seeds

Instructions

1. Sear chicken 5 minutes; toss with teriyaki sauce.
2. Scramble eggs; remove.
3. Stir-fry peas and carrots 2 minutes.
4. Add rice; sear 3 minutes.
5. Fold in chicken and eggs.
6. Finish with sesame oil and seeds.

9. Easy Egg Fried Rice

The simplest, most comforting fried rice — just eggs, rice, and scallions.

Ingredients

• 4 cups cooked day-old rice
• 5 eggs, beaten
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 tbsp butter
• 3 green onions
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1/2 tsp white pepper

Instructions

1. Scramble eggs in hot oil until just set; remove.
2. Add rice to the pan; sear 4 minutes.
3. Stir in soy sauce, butter, and white pepper.
4. Fold in the eggs.
5. Add sesame oil and green onions.
6. Serve hot.

10. Hawaiian Fried Rice

Ham, pineapple, and sweet peppers in a sunny island-style fried rice.

Ingredients

• 4 cups cooked day-old rice
• 1 1/2 cups diced ham
• 1 cup pineapple chunks
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp oil
• 2 green onions

Instructions

1. Sear ham and pepper 3 minutes.
2. Scramble eggs; remove.
3. Add rice and pineapple; sear 3 minutes.
4. Stir in soy sauce.
5. Fold in ham, pepper, and eggs.
6. Top with green onions.

11. Thai Basil Fried Rice

Fragrant Thai basil, chiles, and fish sauce in bold, spicy fried rice.

Ingredients

• 4 cups cooked day-old rice
• 1/2 lb ground chicken
• 3 Thai chiles, minced
• 2 tbsp fish sauce
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 cup Thai basil leaves
• 1 bell pepper, diced

Instructions

1. Brown chicken with chiles 5 minutes.
2. Add bell pepper 2 minutes.
3. Add rice; sear 3 minutes.
4. Stir in fish sauce and soy sauce.
5. Fold in Thai basil until wilted.
6. Serve with lime wedges.

12. Cauliflower Fried Rice

Light and low-carb with all the classic fried rice flavor.

Ingredients

• 1 large head cauliflower, riced
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1 cup frozen peas and carrots
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 2 green onions
• 1 tsp ginger, minced

Instructions

1. Sauté cauliflower rice 5 minutes until tender-crisp.
2. Push aside; scramble eggs in the pan.
3. Add peas, carrots, and ginger 2 minutes.
4. Stir in soy sauce and sesame oil.
5. Toss everything together.
6. Top with green onions.

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