From savory Chinese restaurant style fried rice, Japanese yakimeshi and Filipino garlic rice, these fried rice recipes are delicious and so easy to make at home. Follow the step-by-step instructions – or add your own touches and make it truly yours. Either way, these recipes are the perfect takeout fakeout!
Fried rice is one of my favorite meals to make at home. Itโs fast, comforting, and incredibly versatile โ and loaded with savory flavors.
Over the years, Iโve tested dozens of fried rice variations in my kitchen, and these are the ones I come back to again and again. This collection is a mix of fried rice recipes I’ve fallen in love with from different parts of Asia.
If youโd like to learn the fundamentals โ from choosing the right rice to mastering heat and seasoning โ be sure to check out my complete fried rice guide here.
Tips for Making Fried Rice at Home
Here are a few guidelines to follow in order to make delicious fried rice.
- Always start with cooled rice
- Use a large pan or wok
- Cook in batches if needed
- Add sauce around the edges of the pan
- Taste and adjust before serving
New to fried rice? Read these guides on how to make jasmine rice and Japanese rice to make the best rice for your meal.
Egg Fried Rice
Tender, chewy and partially crispy stir-fried rice mixed with puffy eggs and aromatic chopped scallions. Itโs flavored with a simple dash of soy sauce, salt and pepper โ and I personally like to add a bit of sesame oil. Deceptively easy (seriously, it only takes 5 minutes to cook). The end result is smoky, savory Chinese comfort food perfection.
Shrimp Fried Rice
Ready in less than 15 minutes and with delicately sweet, savory and briny flavors. This shrimp fried rice recipe beats takeout any day!
Chop the shrimp up and incorporate them into the fried rice – or pan fry whole shrimp and serve them on top. You won’t believe how tasty this simple fried recipe is!
Chicken Fried Rice
Do you have leftover chicken, some frozen peas, a couple garlic cloves โ and maybe a carrot rolling around in the vegetable crisper? Well, you wonโt need much more than that to make this Japanese tori chahan. And that goes for the seasoning as well. You see, I love using powdered chicken stock or dashi powder. Theyโre always in the cupboard โ and either one boosts the flavor without flooding your fried rice with additional moisture. This is the best easy fried rice recipe to make if youโre short on ingredients and short on time. Itโs ready in around 10 minutes from start to finish!
Vegan Fried Rice
Now, most fried rice can actually be made vegan. Just leave the egg out and be sure to use a vegan protein. This is a version of takeout vegetable fried rice โ but Iโm using brown rice instead. It runs higher on the health meter than the usual version. But donโt let that scare you! Itโs still savory and perfect. The secret is the sesame oil and cashews you stir in after you turn the heat off, but before you plate it up to serve.
Japanese Fried Rice (Yakimeshi)
No Teppanyaki grill top needed to whip up this simple and savory Japanese Fried Rice recipe. Yakimeshi can be made in a skillet and beย ready to serve in just 15 minutes!
Restaurant Style Fried Rice
Start here. Why? Because this is the recipe that most closely represents the classic Chinese buffet or takeout classic. And it’s also proof that you can stir fry rice at home with minimal effort – maximum flavor. Anytime I’m staring at a mostly empty fridge with a few odds and ends in the vegetable crisper, my mind hones in on this easy fried rice recipe. Think of the recipe itself as a template and use your own favorite ingredients Tip: use medium to long grain rice for this one.en, and are craving simple Chinese food.
Thai Fried Rice
Full of savory, smoky and slightly pungent flavors, and packed with aromatics that will take you straight to Thailand – There is nothing bland about this Thai fried rice recipe!
Breakfast Fried Rice
Wondering how to turn breakfast sausages and eggs into the most delicious Asian comfort food of all? This is how. There are no real rules when it comes to making this fried rice. So you can make yours with your favorite meat or plant based sausages. Itโs ready in just 17 minutes from start to finish. Get cooking!
Omurice โ ใชใ ใฉใคใน
Of all possible permutations of global fried rice recipes, this Japanese version reminds me of my childhood the most. Omurice is a Western-influenced Japanese dish consisting of fried rice seasoned with ketchup, wrapped in a thin omelette, and topped with more ketchup. Itโs popular comfort food served at home, in family restaurants and cafes all across Japan. Watch the step-by-step video and try it for yourself at home. Btwโฆ your kids will LOVE this one.
Kimchi Fried Rice (Kimchi Bokkeumbap)
If you think fried rice sometimes comes across as a little meek in the flavor department, this will obliterate that notion. Kimchi bokkeumbap (๊น์น ๋ณถ์๋ฐฅ), is a popular Korean dish made of leftover rice pan fried with kimchi. Then a mixture of soy sauce, gochujang (Korean chili paste) or gochugaru (Korean pepper flakes) brings umami and heat. Most fried rice recipes call for scrambled egg. However, for this one, I find a fried egg with a runny yolk provides the perfect creamy counterpoint to the otherwise aggressive flavors.
Filipino Garlic Rice (Sinangag)
This Filipino garlic rice is infused with fragrant garlic oil and absolutely chock-full of crispy garlic chips. While this is a breakfast staple in the Philippines, you can make sinangag anytime you need an infusion of comfort food in your life. It’s a great use for that leftover Jasmine rice sitting in your fridge right now. Also, since there’s no egg in traditional garlic rice – this is a perfect vegan dish. Bonus: itโs ready in just 10 minutes from start to finish.
Hong Kong Style Western Fried Rice
That title is a mouthful โ and the concept bends the mind. Hong Kong style Western fried rice? Yep! You see, this is a mash up of Cantonese fried rice that just happens to feature very North American ketchup. During the years I spent in Hong Kong, I had this in my favorite local joint all the time. Itโs salty, sweet and perfect. I left out the sausage youโd typically use in this Hong Kong classic. But feel free to add it in if you so desire. Think of this recipe as comfort food 2.0.
