In 10 minutes, you can have this easy fried rice customized to your needs and tastes. There perfect side dish for your Chinese dinner, or add some of the optional ingredients and make it a complete meal.
Introduction
Most fried rice recipes need planning, but we all know how that goes. So instead of leftover rice, we are starting with just pantry ingredients you probably already have on hand.
I admit to "laziness" sometimes. This recipe is an example. By using Minute Rice, you can have a tasty freshly-made Chinese side dish at home.
We like fried rice with Chinese dishes. White minute rice is OK but not what we want. We have tried package mixes. The results have been tasteless mush. Except for the one package which was moldy already. No second chance for that brand.
I started with the premise of using Minute Rice. Why? It is a side dish for a prepared meal. A 30-minute dish just would not do for me.
I used a recipe on Food.com as a model. With a few changes, I had what I wanted.
My Rating
This is great, almost a 5. I'm presenting this as just the basic recipe. So change things to fit your needs. Fry a little pork here or add some sesame oil there if you want. Or just use it as it stands—a very nice side dish.
🍚The Rice
I'm using Minute Rice which is a brand of instant rice that has been precooked and dehydrated so that it cooks more rapidly.
Normally with Minute Rice, the ratio of water to rice is 1:1. The model recipe was 3:4 making dryer rice which was just what we need here.
👨🍳Modifications and Options
I used chicken broth not water for the liquid, and I skipped some additional water at the end of the model recipe.
Vegetables
Most recipes for fried rice, including this one suggest peas and carrots are almost mandatory.
Other vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, asparagus, snow peas and bell pepper are commonly used. However, they will not have time to cook, so they need to be precooked and fully thawed if frozen,
Meat
To make a more complete meal, just add some protein. Shrimp are commonly suggested but ham, fried pork, chicken, or even bacon are sometimes suggested.
Other Additions
You can add other flavors with some oyster sauce or toasted sesame oil.
Don't be afraid to just add what you have and want to try.
FAQs
One of the main ingredients, soy sauce, is made with soy and crushed wheat. So it is loaded with gluten.
Japanese tamari is a perfect substitute for soy sauce. It is usually made with only fermented soy, but some traditional versions may have a small amount of wheat, so check the label.
Good stored airtight in the refrigerator for about 3-4 days. I do not suggest freezing rice usually but if you must for a couple of months but the quality if frozen rice in not the best.
A microwave is my usual reheating method. A splash of water and a short time covered to prevent drying in the microwave.
You can also reheat rice in a skillet by stir-frying it to rewarm completely.
📖Chinese Recipes
This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.
🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
Simple everyday ingredients. Optional ingredients in the recipe card.
In a saucepan, bring the chicken broth to a boil. If using frozen veggies, add now and bring back to boil. Add the Minute Rice, remove from heat, and cover for 5 minutes.
Chop a small onion while heating 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high heat in a large nonstick pan. Add the egg and break it up to scramble it and add the onion right away also. Cook until the egg is done and onion clearing. About 3 minutes.
Add the rice to the egg/onion along with soy sauce.
"Fry" for 3-4 minutes over medium-high heat.
Done in 10 minutes.
📝Full Recipe
Fried Rice in 10-Minutes
Ingredients
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 ⅓ cup Minute Rice
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 onion - small diced
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 cup frozen peas and carrots - recommended
Optional additions
- precooked bell pepper, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, snow peas, cabbage, or bell pepper
- Shrimp, ham, fried pork, or chicken
- toasted sesame oil
- oyster sauce - if used as a seafood side dish
Instructions
- In a saucepan, bring 1 cup of chicken broth to a boil. If using frozen veggies, add now and bring back to boil. Add 1 ⅓ cup Minute Rice, remove from heat and cover for 5 minutes.
- Chop a small onion while heating 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high heat in a large nonstick pan. Add the egg and break it up to scramble it and add the onion right away also. Cook until the egg is done and onion clearing. About 3 minutes.
- Add the rice to the egg/onion along with 3 tablespoon soy sauce.
- Add extra optional ingredients at this point. "Fry” for 3-4 minutes over medium-high heat.
My Private Notes
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips
- If your veggies are frozen, add to the broth when boiling, then bring it back to a boil and add the rice.
- One of the main ingredients, soy sauce, is made with soy and crushed wheat. So it is loaded with gluten. Japanese tamari is a perfect substitute for soy sauce. It is usually made with only fermented soy, but some traditional versions may have a small amount of wheat, so check the label.
- If the veggies are thawed, they can be added to the frying pan when the cooked rice is added.
- Do not use raw veggies since they will not have time to cook.
- Good refrigerated for 3-4 days and can be frozen in an airtight container for several months. If frozen, there will be some decrease in the texture of the rice.
- A microwave is my usual reheating method. A splash of water and a short time covered to prevent drying in the microwave.
To adjust the recipe size:
You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.
Nutrition Estimate
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Editor's Note: Originally Published May 14, 2012. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.
Elizabeth Sandoval
Great base recipe. Thanks.... I added a little of all the "scraps" I had on hand to go along with pork chops... So delicious.
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Elizabeth,
Welcome to the blog and sorry for the delayed reply.
Glad is it is working well for you. When I look at this recipe, I always hope people will take it further but if I specify how, they will feel restrained. I hope people will see your comment.
Thanks for the note and rating. And again, sorry for the delayed response.
Dan
Nicole S
Tried this tonight- thanks for sharing!!!
DrDan
Hi Nicole,
Welcome to the blog. Thanks for the note and Happy Holidays.
Dan
Ann M.
Hi,
.
Just came across your recipe for fried rice.
It sounded like a dish my family would enjoy, however, my husband is on a very restricted sodium diet so 3tbs. of soy sauce is out of the question.
I know soy sauce is part of fried rice, but what can I use as a substitute. Probably nothing that would taste like real fried rice, I know. Thanks..
DrDan
Hi Ann,
Welcome to the blog.
Suggestions to decrease the sodium
1) Use salt free chicken broth
2) unsalted butter
3) low sodium soy sauce and decrease the amount to 2 tablespoons.
Those changes will decrease the sodium by over half and not much change in taste.
Dan
Rachel
This was super easy and quick. I’ve never seen your site before tonight but will definitely be utilizing it in the future. Hubby is allergic to onions, ( I love onions) so I opted for diced up sweet peppers and minced garlic. I love how tweakable this recipe is, gonna try adding diced up bacon next time! Thanks so much for the starter ideas. Love throwing stuff together from whatever is left in my cupboards!
DrDan
Hi Rachel,
As you have seen, the core of the recipe is the minute rice, chicken broth and soy sauce. The rest is mix and match what you want.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Kellie Jo Gillett
I've made this a few times and even my son that HATES rice, loves this. I've changed it up each time to make it my own. Beef with carrots is delicious and so is chicken with sugar snap Peas! Yummy.
DrDan
Hi Kellie Jo,
Sorry for the late reply. I love adding some flavor to the rice. Plain white rice is just too boring.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Jim
I added a bit of garlic powder (about 1/2 teaspoon per serving) for a more Japanese flavor. Great recipe though.
Theresa Muhvich-Bertuleit
I made this tonight and it was amazing with the pork roast
Gretchen
Amazing quick and easy base recipe for a 1st timer making Fried Rice. Loved that I was able to change the serving size. Since I opted for the frozen peas and carrots, prior to adding the eggs I sauteed the onion with an 8 oz. bag of frozen peas and carrots and added a teaspoon of fresh minced garlic. Then added diced ham to the veggies before scrambling the eggs in. Got double thumbs up by the family. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
DrDan
Hi Gretchen,
It is an easy recipe and it cries for modifications like you noted. A recipe is always "just guidelines" to start creating what you want out of it. I hope you inspire others.
Thanks so much for your note.
Dan
Lauren
Great recipe! I used leftover brown rice and added some frozen peas and carrots. Kids loved it. Thanks!
Gina
Yummy. I added leftover diced pork and a handful of frozen peas to the melting butter. Very good, quick, I ate both helpings.
Brad
Substitute the soy sauce with oyster sauce for a less salty and sweeter flavor. Or use half soy and half oyster to add a sweet flavor kick to the soy sauce.
DrDan
Thanks for the suggestions.
Dan
Beth
This is easy and tastes good. I added some shredded carrot and peas in with the onion and sautéed three minutes, made a well then added the egg and scrambled. Once the egg was cooked a bit, I stirred all together. Voila!
Alonah
It tastes really good!
Autum Clevenger
I'm pregnant and I was craving fried rice.. I'm not disappointed!! This is really good and simple, which is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you for this recipe! I added peas and corn for a little bit of extra veggies and started the onion while the chicken broth was still boiling, since I like mine cooked a little more.. it's great and I have leftovers for tomorrow :)
Eric
I googled "quick fried rice" needing to get a dinner together in a hurry and knew I was in luck when something from this site popped up. I made a couple changes, garlic for onion since I didn't have onion and I threw in some frozen peas. I also fried some chicken in peanut oil with some tumeric to move it from 'side' to 'dinner.' The recipie worked great, pretty much as good as fried rice from regularly cooked (and refridgerated overnight) rice and it doesn't require leftovers. Will definitely be playing with this for a little while.
DrDan
All recipes are just guidelines. This is a great one to play with.
Thanks for the note
Dan
DrDan
Thanks for the note. I think it is very tasty for an easy side
DrDan
Alicia Clinton
Thank you so much, this has been a wonderful addition to our monthly rotation to sausage, asian vegetables and instant brown rice. We, of course, must nearly double the recipe to feed a family, but it's great. Try the reduced sodium soy sauce plus we sort of fry our onions too. Thanks again!
Melissa McKinney
This is a great and easy recipe and turned out great! I also added chicken and cooked frozen veggies