Egg Fried Rice

This easy Egg Fried Rice is ready in just 20 minutes and is so much better for you than takeout. Serve it as a side dish or meatless main course that the whole family will love.

Chinese takeout lovers will also want to try this Healthy Chow Mein, Kung Pao Chicken, and Orange Chicken. 

Asian dishes are among my favorites. One of my favorite takeout dishes is fried rice and today I am excited to share this super delicious egg fried rice packed with crispy rice, tons of vegetables, and lightly scrambled eggs. 

The key to making really delicious fried rice is starting with pre-cooked, ideally day-old rice. It's the ultimate way to use up cooked rice leftovers.

From there all you need are veggies like shredded cabbage, carrots, peas, or really anything else you want to incorporate. Add some soy sauce and this tasty fried rice with egg is ready to go!

Ingredients and Substitutions

Here is everything you need to make this delicious fried rice with eggs. 

• Day-old cooked rice: The most important ingredient in this fried rice is the rice itself. For the best results, always use previously cooked, fully-cooled rice. Ideally, it has sat for a night or two in the fridge. The cooling process removes moisture and ensures the rice can get crispy.
• Eggs: The star of this dish is the eggs. It's up to you how many eggs you want to include. Generally, I find 4-6 eggs is the perfect amount. 
• Garlic and ginger: For maximum flavor, make sure to include fresh garlic and ginger. It adds flavor to the whole dish and makes this rice really flavorful.
• Green onions: Traditional egg fried rice only has eggs, rice, and green onions. Make sure to include green onion in the recipe. If you are using them as your only vegetable, double the amount. 
• Vegetables: Any vegetables can be used in fried rice. Favorites include cabbage, bell peppers, peas, and carrots. 
• Oil: Use oil that can be cooked at high heat levels. Sesame oil isn't traditionally used but it adds a bit of nuttiness. Use avocado oil if you don't like using vegetable oil.
• Soy sauce: Soy sauce is usually the only seasoning used in fried rice, Add it to taste. Swap in tamari or coconut aminos if needed.

How to Make Egg Fried Rice

Follow these step-by-step directions to make this tasty rice. 

1. Prepare the rice

The best rice for fried rice is always leftover day-old cooked rice. It has less moisture than freshly cooked rice so the grains of rice won't stick together. This means they can get crispy.

If you only have freshly cooked rice, spread it into a thin layer on a baking sheet. Let it cool on the counter for 1-2 hours before using it to make fried rice.

Packaged rice: For a faster option, use packaged, precooked rice. It doesn't need to be cooked ahead of time and usually is less moist than freshly cooked rice. The texture won't be exactly the same as day-old rice, but it works. 

2. Scramble the eggs

Whisk the eggs until they are well combined. Then add them to a hot wok or skillet with a touch of oil. Let the eggs set and then gently scramble until just set. The eggs should be soft since they will continue to cook after they are removed from the pan. 

Remove the eggs from the pan and set aside.  Once they cool, you can slice them into strips or break them into smaller pieces.

3. Cook the vegetables and aromatics

Make sure the wok or skillet is nice and hot. Add the oil and make sure it is hot. Add the vegetables and stir-fry them for a couple of minutes until they are just beginning to soften.

Vegetables in fried rice should have some texture. Make sure to use the scallions as they are classic to egg fried rice. All of the other vegetables can be adjusted based on what you have on hand.

4. Fry the rice

Add the cooked rice and press it down into a single layer. Let it brown and crisp up for a couple of minutes. Then stir and continue to cook until all the rice is heated through.

Fold in the eggs and stir together. 

5. Season and serve

Season with spy sauce and stir together. Taste and adjust the amount of soy sauce if needed. Some people like to add black pepper as well. 

Egg Fried Rice Recipe Ideas

This recipe is so easy to customize adding protein, different veggies, and more. Here are some favorites:

• Add protein: Consider adding traditional fried rice proteins like pork, chicken, or shrimp to this dish. Or keep things plant-based and add some tofu or tempeh.
• Add more vegetables: This fried rice is delicious with bell peppers, bok choy, red cabbage, edamame, and any other veggies you want to add. 
• Change the rice: Make this dish with white rice, brown rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice.
• Quick cooking rice: If you don't have any rice pre-cooked, you can use brown Minute Rice or instant rice to help move dinner along more quickly.
• Save time: Buy pre-shredded cabbage — it's a timesaver! Broccoli slaw will also work in this dish if you have that on hand or prefer it.
• Add meat: If you want to add meat to this fried rice dish, thinly cut or cubed chicken, bacon, ham, shrimp, or pork will work. 

Is Egg Fried Rice Healthy?

Restaurant egg fried rice usually is really high in calories and fat. It's made with white rice and lots of oil, specifically vegetable oil. It is also very high in sodium from all the soy sauce and some restaurant versions have added MSG.

Luckily when you make fried rice at home it's really easy to turn it into a much healthier dish. By adding lots of veggies, using whole grain rice, and cutting back on the oil and soy sauce, you can make a dish that's actually pretty good for you. 

Main Dishes to Serve with Egg Fried Rice

This Egg Fried Rice dish is a meal all on its own with whole grains, vegetables, and protein. If you enjoy more food variety, then there are plenty of options to choose from:

• Beef and Broccoli
• Kung Pao Shrimp
• Mongolian Beef
• Egg Roll Bowl
• Moo Shu Pork

Storage, Freezing, and Reheating

This egg fried rice is great to make ahead of time. It keeps well in the fridge and can even be frozen for future meals.

• In the fridge: This will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days. Make sure to let it cool before storing it in an airtight container.
• In the freezer: This rice can be kept in the freezer for 3-4 months. Since the eggs are also being frozen, cut them into smaller pieced for best results.
• Reheating: Let the rice defrost overnight and then reheat it in a skillet. It can also be reheated in the microwave