All Our Favorite Ways to Make Fried Rice

For us, fried rice is all about the possibilities. Mushrooms and ginger, pork and scallions, bacon and egg — the flavor combinations are near endless. And all equally delicious. Whether we’re craving our favorite restaurant version or simply need a satisfying, all-in-one meal that uses up what we’ve got on hand, fried rice is one dish that never disappoints.

June 15, 2021

By: Kristie Collado

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Photo By: Armando Rafael

Photo By: KATE MATHIS

Photo By: Armando Rafael

Photo By: Matt Armendariz

Photo By: Armando Rafael

Photo By: Matt

Fried Rice

When you need a simple, satisfying meal, nothing beats fried rice. It's loaded with flavor, can be adapted to whatever you have on hand and it includes all your protein and veggies in one bowl!

Get the Recipe: Fried Rice

The Best Pork Fried Rice

We were inspired by the Cantonese-style BBQ pork fried rice for its sweet and slightly smoky flavor. The pork strips are marinated in a savory sauce with a hint of honey, with extra sauce for seasoning the whole dish. It's important to cook the components on high heat to get a quick sear and even browning. Tossing the food in the skillet is quicker and more efficient than stirring with a spoon. If you don't know how, this recipe is an excellent one to practice with.

Get the Recipe: The Best Pork Fried Rice

Traditional Mandarin Fried Rice

When you're making this dish, day-old rice is best. It's a bit drier, which makes it better for soaking up all the delicious flavors.

Get the Recipe: Traditional Mandarin Fried Rice

Gingery Tofu and Shiitake Fried Rice

Looking for more meatless meals? You can whip up this hearty fried rice in just 20 minutes. Best of all, you won't sacrifice flavor. This version is every bit as savory as the classic.

Get the Recipe: Gingery Tofu and Shiitake Fried Rice

Sheet Pan Fried Rice

Baking the rice on a sheet pan guarantees more of the crispy, crunchy bits that make fried rice the perfect food. For this recipe, the older and drier the rice the better. If you must start with freshly cooked grains, spread them out on a sheet pan to dry out in the refrigerator first.

Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Fried Rice

All the Alliums Fried Rice

Onion and garlic create a flavorful base for so many dishes. Here, Molly makes them the star of the show featuring shallot, scallion, leek, onion and garlic in her oh-so-delicious fried rice.

Get the Recipe: All the Alliums Fried Rice

Fried Rice Pineapple Boat

Do you love pineapple and ham on pizza? This fried rice has that same sweet-and-salty flavor, plus it's served in a clever pineapple boat. Grab and fork and share with your family.

Get the Recipe: Fried Rice Pineapple Boat

Teriyaki Chicken Fried Rice

Cancel the takeout order. Chicken, veggies and cooked rice coated in a teriyaki sauce make a tasty and hearty dinner that gets to the table fast.

Get the Recipe: Teriyaki Chicken Fried Rice

Carbonara Fried Rice

The rich flavor of a carbonara combined with the crispy, crunchy texture of fried rice. Need we say more?

Get the Recipe: Carbonara Fried Rice

Singapore-Style Pork Fried Rice

Don't let that leftover rice go to waste — it's perfect for making fried rice. We love this quick-and simple version because the curry powder adds an extra kick of flavor.

Get the Recipe: Singapore Fried Rice

Air Fryer Fried Rice with Sesame-Sriracha Sauce

No need to stand over a screaming hot wok to get perfect fried rice — the air fryer gives you exceptionally crispy fried rice without heating up your kitchen. This simple recipe adds just enough flavor and nuance to the dish, without a million ingredients and prep dishes.

Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Fried Rice with Sesame-Sriracha Sauce

Bacon and Egg Fried Rice

Jet's trick for fluffy fried rice that isn't dried out? He adds the rice to the pan right after he adds the egg, then presses the rice directly into the wet egg. After gently folding the mixture a few times the egg will be cooked, the rice will be coated and heated through — and everything will be perfectly delicious.

Get the Recipe: Bacon and Egg Fried Rice

Sweet and Spicy Ham Fried Rice

We paired sweet chili sauce with chili oil to get a nice balance of flavor and heat in this fried rice. Adding a little bit of diced ham gives the finished dish just the right amount of saltiness.

Get the Recipe: Sweet and Spicy Ham Fried Rice

Cauliflower Fried Rice

Here, cauliflower stands in for rice to recreate your favorite takeout classic but with fewer carbs. Our version is vegetarian, but it can easily be made with cooked bacon, diced ham or any other meat.

Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Fried Rice

Lighter Shrimp Fried Rice

No one will complain about eating their veggies when you serve up this flavorful bowl. It's loaded with shrimp, egg and fragrant garlic, ginger and red pepper flakes.

Get the Recipe: Egg-White Shrimp Fried Rice

Chicken and Mushroom Fried Rice

We use chicken thighs in this recipe because they stay nice and juicy, even when cooked through. Add some shiitake mushroom and season with soy sauce, sesame oil and fresh ginger and you've got a quick and delicious take on fried rice.

Get the Recipe: Chicken and Mushroom Fried Rice

Pork and Green Bean Fried Rice

Need dinner on the table in 20 minutes? Stir-fry ground pork and green beans with ginger, soy sauce and scallions for a flavorful spin on fried rice.

Get the Recipe: Pork and Green Bean Fried Rice

Sweet and Spicy Chicken and Cashew Fried Rice

Chili oil and fresh ginger really kick up the spice in this tasty fried rice. You'll find that buttery cashews and subtly sweet carrots work perfectly to round all the flavors out.

Get the Recipe: Sweet and Spicy Chicken and Cashew Fried Rice

Chicken and Snow Pea Fried Rice with Peanuts

The one thing we really love about this fried rice is the chopped, salted peanuts. They're a nice surprise, and lend just the right amount of crunchy texture to the finished dish.

Get the Recipe: Chicken and Snow Pea Fried Rice with Peanuts

Kimchi Fried Rice

Fried rice breathes new life into leftover grains. We’ve included instructions for making a quick kimchi, but this fried rice is also a tasty way to use up older kimchi you may have in the back of the fridge.

Get the Recipe: Kimchi Fried Rice

Blackstone Mushroom and Kimchi Fried Rice

This griddle-cooked version of beoseot kimchi bokkeum bap (Korean for “mushroom kimchi fried rice”) gets extra umami from a mix of mushrooms and a veggie boost from zucchini and carrots. Topped with a sunny egg, each bowl is an all-in-one meal that’s super satisfying. The large surface area of a Blackstone® flat-top style griddle allows you to cook a big batch all at once, so it’s an affordable way to feed a crowd with minimal effort. While the recipe doesn’t take much work or time, we really encourage making the rice a day ahead. That way the gochujang-butter sauce will coat each grain evenly and the rice will crisp up for added texture.

Get the Recipe: Blackstone Mushroom and Kimchi Fried Rice