Easy Fried Rice Recipe with Egg (Better Than Takeout in 20 Minutes)

This easy fried rice recipe with egg is one of my favorite weeknight dinners. Made with garlic, soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free), green onions, and day-old rice, it’s quick, flavorful, and tastes even better than takeout.

It’s a vegetarian meal complete with grains, veggies, and protein, however, you can definitely add meat to it if you like, like chicken, shrimp, or pork. Fried rice with green onions is a versatile recipe that can be adjusted to suit your needs. Want more veggies? Add them in! Like a little fish sauce or sesame oil? Drizzle some on there.

Serve it as a main dish for meatless Monday or enjoy it on the side of Teriyaki Chicken or Honey Soy Chicken Thighs!

Jump to:

• Ingredients for Easy Fried Rice
• How to Make Fried Rice with Egg
• Tips for the Best Fried Rice
• What to Serve with Fried Rice
• Fried Rice Variations
• Fried Rice Recipe FAQ
• More Easy Rice Recipes
• 📖 Recipe

Ingredients for Easy Fried Rice

• Olive oil and butter: I like using both together because the oil helps keep the butter from browning and the butter makes it taste better.
• Garlic: Minced garlic infused into this dish is what gives it an aromatic flavor.
• Rice, cooked: Best to use cold, cooked Japanese or Jasmine rice so the rice grains don’t end up clumped together when sautéed. Leftovers are perfect for this dish.
• Eggs: We use 6 of them in this recipe for texture, flavor, and protein.
• Salt & pepper: To taste.
• Soy sauce: You can use soy sauce or tamari in this easy fried rice recipe. Tamari is a great gluten-free alternative that gives fried rice the same rich umami flavor.
• Green onion: For texture and a pop of color!

How to Make Fried Rice with Egg

This easy fried rice recipe comes together quickly and is perfect for using leftover rice. Using cold, day-old rice helps the grains stay separate and gives the fried rice that delicious restaurant-style texture.

Step 1 – Scramble the Eggs

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat. Add the eggs and gently scramble them until just cooked.

Transfer the scrambled eggs to a plate and set aside.

Step 2 – Cook the Garlic

Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil to the same skillet. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, just until fragrant. Keep an eye on it so the garlic doesn’t burn.

Step 3 – Fry the Rice

Add the cold cooked rice to the skillet. Use a spatula to break up any clumps so the rice cooks evenly. Stir-fry for 3–4 minutes, letting the rice heat through and lightly crisp in the pan.

Step 4 – Add the Sauce

Drizzle the soy sauce (or tamari) and sesame oil over the rice. Toss everything together until the rice is evenly coated and takes on that classic fried rice flavor.

Step 5 – Finish the Fried Rice

Return the scrambled eggs to the skillet and add the sliced green onions. If using, stir in peas and carrots for extra color and flavor. Cook everything together for about 1 minute, then season with salt and black pepper to taste.

Serve warm and enjoy your easy homemade fried rice that tastes even better than takeout.

If you love quick dinners, try my Cabbage Soup Recipe or this Spanish Chicken and Rice for another easy meal.

Tips for the Best Fried Rice

• Use leftover rice. When it hits the heat it won’t steam up and become mushy or clumpy. You can use cold or not, but as long as it’s not fresh that’s the texture you want. Day old!
• Easy clean-up. I prefer to crack the eggs right into the pan. If that’s not your jam, you can definitely crack them into a bowl first and then add them in. Sometimes this is helpful if you usually have shells to remove first.
• The oil. I use avocado oil because I love the flavor, but if you want a more authentic flavor profile you can swap it with sesame oil. Toasted sesame oil is even better!
• Add veggies. If you want to add some veggies into your stir-fried rice with egg, you can toss in some mixed frozen already cooked veggies. No need to thaw them first. Add them just before the eggs.
• Cook on high heat: High heat helps give fried rice that delicious restaurant-style flavor.
• Don’t overcrowd the pan: A large skillet or wok allows the rice to fry instead of steam.

What to Serve with Fried Rice

This versatile dish can be paired with so many things! When preparing an Asian-inspired dinner menu think about adding a couple of the dishes below.

• With a seafood dish like this honey glazed salmon, Bang bang shrimp, or some honey garlic shrimp with broccoli.
• You could also enjoy it with air fryer chicken wings, honey soy chicken thighs, or this easy teriyaki chicken!

For a quick and simple dinner, sometimes we’ll have it as a main with either a side salad or nothing at all. Well, maybe just an extra drizzle of soy sauce!

Fried Rice Variations

One of the best things about this easy fried rice recipe is how customizable it is. You can easily add your favorite proteins or vegetables to create a delicious meal using ingredients you already have in your kitchen.

• Chicken Fried Rice - For a simple chicken version, stir in 1 cup of cooked diced chicken during the final step of the recipe. Leftover rotisserie chicken works wonderfully and turns this homemade fried rice into a satisfying dinner.
• Shrimp Fried Rice - Add ½–1 pound peeled shrimp to the skillet before adding the rice. Cook the shrimp until pink and just cooked through, then continue with the recipe. Shrimp pairs beautifully with garlic, soy sauce, and green onions.
• Vegetable Fried Rice - To make vegetable fried rice, add a mix of your favorite vegetables such as peas, carrots, corn, or bell peppers. This is a great way to use leftover veggies in the fridge.
• Beef Fried Rice - For a heartier meal, add thinly sliced cooked steak or ground beef to the rice during the last step. The savory beef flavor makes the fried rice extra satisfying.

Fried Rice Recipe FAQ

More Easy Rice Recipes

• Mexican Chicken and Rice Casserole
• Creamy Chicken and Rice Casserole
• Best Beef Plov in Instant Pot
• Easy Chicken Thighs and Rice Casserole
• Chicken Meatball Soup Recipe with Rice
  

📖 Recipe

Happy Cooking!