This Easy Chicken Fried Rice is a homemade version of a takeout classic, with fresh ginger, crunchy cashews and spicy sriracha giving it a little attitude.

A grey bowl filled with easy chicken fried rice, with a pair of chopsticks lifting out a bite.

This Easy Chicken Fried Rice Recipe rivals takeout

When it comes to homemade chicken fried rice, you can stick to a classic version, which is undeniably delicious. But once you’ve mastered that, let’s go ahead and jazz it up a little bit.

We’re not going crazy here. We’re just adding a few simple things like crunchy cashews, a squirt of spicy sriracha and some zesty fresh ginger.

This homemade alternative to takeout is bursting with flavor, and whether you’re a seasoned home chef or new to cooking, it will turn out perfectly with this easy-to-follow recipe.

Why you’ll love this Easy Chicken Fried Rice

  • This budget friendly recipe makes good use of leftover rice and pantry staples, reducing food waste and saving money.
  • Use it as a meal prep recipe by preparing a large batch and portioning it out for lunches throughout the week.
  • Adjust the ingredients and flavors to suit your preferences or appeal to kids.
Ingredients laid out on a light surface including green onions, garlic, peas and carrots, chicken, rice, an egg, cashews and Asian condiment sauces.

Homemade Chicken Fried Rice Ingredients

  • oil – for sauteeing the eggs, chicken and vegetables. Vegetable or canola oil is best, due to it’s high smoke point.
  • eggs – a bit of scrambled egg is a welcome protein and texture in any great chicken fried rice recipe.
  • chicken – Any cut of chicken that you like will work here! Boneless skinless thighs, breast, or tenderloins are all great choices. Tenderloins hold up well to high heat, and will stay tender even if they get a bit overcooked, so that’s what I’ve used in the recipe you see in this post.
  • onions – both white onions and green onions are used in our recipe for the most flavor and visual appeal.
  • garlic – adds a pungent, savory flavor.
  • ginger – provides a warm and slightly spicy flavor.
  • peas and carrots – buy a frozen bag of these mixed veggies for maximum ease.
  • roasted cashews – offers a crunchy texture and nutty flavor.
  • rice – cooked, day-old white rice will work best for fried rice (see the blue Home Chef Tips box below for pointers on this).
  • soy sauce – adds a savory umami flavor and seasons the dish with no additional salt required.
  • oyster sauce – adds a rich, savory and slightly sweet flavor.
  • sriracha – provides a kick of heat without being overpowering. You can use more or less, depending on how spicy you like it.
  • rice vinegar – adds tang that balances the sweetness and saltiness of the other ingredients.
  • sesame oil – this seasoning oil adds a nutty, rich flavor.

How to make the Best Chicken Fried Rice Recipe

1. MAKE SAUCE. In a small bowl, stir together the soy sauce, oyster sauce, vinegar, sriracha and sesame oil.

A dark nonstick skillet filled with scrambled eggs.

2. SCRAMBLE EGGS. Scramble eggs in a bit of oil in a large saute pan or wok. When the eggs are done, transfer them to a plate.

A dark nonstick skillet filled with sauteed cubed chicken.

3. CHICKEN. Add a bit more oil to the pan and saute the chicken until it is cooked through, then add it to the plate with the eggs.

A dark nonstick skillet filled with sauteed onions, peas and carrots.

4. VEGGIES. Add the white onion to the pan and cook until softened, then add the garlic, ginger and peas and carrots. Cook briefly until garlic and ginger are fragrant.

A dark nonstick skillet filled with rice and chopped vegetables, and cashews.

5. RICE AND CASHEWS. Add the rice and cashews to the pan and cook until the rice starts to crisp up, but don’t stir it too often.

A dark nonstick skillet filled with an easy chicken fried rice recipe, with a hand pouring dark sauce into the skillet.

6. FINISH. Add the eggs, chicken, green onion, and the sauce to the rice in the skillet and cook until everything is heated through and combined.

A dark nonstick skillet filled with the best chicken fried rice recipe.

6. TASTE AND ADJUST. Taste and add more soy sauce if more seasoning is needed. Then, let rest in the pan, off the heat, 2 minutes before serving, as this helps the crisped rice release from the skillet for easier serving. Serve topped with extra chopped cashews.

Chicken Fried Rice Recipe Easy variations

  • PROTEIN SWAP – Don’t have chicken? No problem! Simply leave it out, or swap in shrimp, beef or tofu.
  • SWITCH UP THE VEGGIES – Edamame, frozen corn, snow peas, broccoli florets, cabbage, bok choy, and mushrooms are all great in chicken fried rice.
  • DIFFERENT RICE – Use brown rice or cauliflower rice for a healthier twist on this dish.

Easy Chicken Fried Rice Recipe Home Chef Tips

  • Make sure to use day old rice. Fresh rice will become mushy and not crisp up. You need day old rice because it dries out the surface of the grains, enabling the rice to crisp up and stay separate.
  • Cook a batch of white rice the day before, spread it out on a baking pan or large plate, and refrigerate it, uncovered, so it dries out.
  • To yield the 3 cups cooked rice needed for this recipe, you’ll need to start with 1 cup uncooked rice.
  • Shortcut this process by buying a big container of prepared rice from your local Chinese carryout. Spread it on a pan and refrigerate as described above.
A shallow dark dish filled with a recipe for chicken fried rice.

What to serve with Easy Chicken Fried Rice

This easy chicken fried rice recipe can be a meal in itself, but it also pairs really well with other dishes to make a larger meal. Some of my favorite pairings include:

A closeup photo of an easy chicken fried rice recipe.

How to store this Recipe for Chicken Fried Rice

Any leftover homemade chicken fried rice should be cooled to room temperature and then transferred to an airtight container and refrigerated for up to 3 days.

Can you freeze Chicken Fried Rice?

Yes, you can freeze chicken fried rice. Allow the rice to cool completely, and then transfer it to an airtight container or freezer-safe bag. Transfer to the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.

Reheating Homemade Chicken Fried Rice

To reheat easy chicken fried rice, microwave until heated through. Or, reheat on the stovetop by adding a bit of oil to a skillet and heating the rice over medium heat until it’s warm.

A shallow dark dish filled with homemade chicken fried rice.
A grey bowl filled with easy chicken fried rice.

Best Recipe for Chicken Fried Rice

Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

This Easy Chicken Fried Rice is a homemade version of a takeout classic, with fresh ginger, crunchy cashews and spicy sriracha giving it a little attitude.

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce, plus additional, if necessary
  • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon sriracha
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast or tenderloin, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1 small white onion, diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
  • 1-1/2 cups frozen peas and carrots
  • 3 cups cooked white rice (see Notes below)
  • 1/4 cup roasted cashews, plus additional for garnish
  • 4 green onions, thinly sliced

Instructions

  1. In small bowl, stir together soy sauce, oyster sauce, vinegar, sriracha and sesame oil.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add eggs and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly until scrambled and cooked through. Transfer eggs to large plate.
  3. Add remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil to skillet. Add chicken and cook 4 to 5 minutes or until chicken is cooked through, stirring frequently. Transfer chicken to plate with eggs.
  4. Add white onion to skillet and cook 2 to 3 minutes or until onion starts to soften, stirring frequently. Add garlic, ginger, peas and carrots to skillet and cook 1 minute or until garlic and ginger are fragrant, stirring constantly.
  5. Add rice and cashews and cook 3 to 4 minutes or until rice begins to brown and all vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally but not too frequently.
  6. Add green onions, soy sauce mixture and reserved eggs and chicken to skillet and cook 1 to 2 minutes or until everything is well combined and heated through, stirring frequently.
  7. Remove from heat. Taste and add more soy sauce, if desired. Then, let rest in the pan, off the heat, 2 minutes before serving, as this helps the crisped rice release from the skillet for easier serving. Serve topped with extra chopped cashews.

Notes

  • You'll have the best results with fried rice if you cook the white rice the day before, spread it out on a baking pan or large plate, and refrigerate it, uncovered. It dries out and gets sort of crusty, which allows it to crisp up and absorb lots of flavor when turned into fried rice.
  • To yield the 3 cups cooked rice needed for this chicken fried rice recipe, you’ll need to start with 1 cup uncooked rice.
  • Shortcut this process by buying a big container of prepared rice from your local Chinese carryout. Spread it on a pan and refrigerate as described above.
  • Recommended Products

    Foxes Love Lemons, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and links to Amazon.com. There is no additional cost to you.

    Nutrition Information:
    Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 526Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 189mgSodium: 1064mgCarbohydrates: 47gFiber: 4gSugar: 6gProtein: 46g

    This website provides estimated nutrition information as a courtesy only. Nutrition information does not include any optional ingredients or toppings. You should calculate the nutrition information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

    Did you make this recipe?

    Please let me know what you think! Rate the recipe above, leave a comment below, and/or share a photo to Instagram using the tag #foxeslovelemons.