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Home / Asian Food

Best Ever Fried Rice

This quick and easy recipe makes a delicious Chinese dinner or side dish for your favorite stir-fry.

Erren Hart

|

last Updated:

03/25/2025
4.97 from 33 votes
Jump to Recipe Video
Serves: 4 people
Prep: 10 minutes mins
Cook: 8 minutes mins
A close up of a bowl of fried rice with chop sticks next to it
A bowl of fried rice with chop sticks next to it

A close up of a bowl of fried rice with chop sticks next to it

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On the table in just 20 minutes, this homemade recipe for the Best Ever Fried Rice with egg is just as good as your favorite restaurant!

A bowl of fried rice with chop sticks next to it
Pin This Recipe For Later!

This recipe a budget-friendly, one-pot meal that will satisfy anyone you serve it to!

Who doesn’t love fried rice with egg? Whether it’s chicken, vegetarian, or pork, it’s loved around the world, but making it at home isn’t always easy.  With this guide, you can make it at home any time you want!

Why This Recipe Works

  • Using cold, precooked rice keeps the rice from getting overcooked and mushy.
  • The anchovy paste adds an authentic flavor that makes this dish stand out from other recipes.
  • Low sodium soy sauce keeps the recipe from being too salty.

When homemade Chinese food, you don’t have to use a lot of vegetables (although you can add some if you’d like).  Just basic, aromatic vegetables like onions or shallots, green onions, and garlic are all that’s needed.

A cutting board with two green onions, unpeeled, whole shallots and a head of garlic

What Rice is Best

white rice in a black bowl

Long or medium-grain rice like parboiled white, basmati or brown rice can all be used for fried rice. Just be sure to always use cold cooked rice.  The key to a perfect result is starting with chilled, day-old cooked rice that’s cooked with just a little less water than usual to keep the rice firm. 

How to Make Fried Rice

Heat your wok over high heat for a couple of minutes. Add about a tablespoon of oil (it will smoke).  Then, add the egg.

scrambled eggs cooking in a wok

Cook the egg until just undercooked, remove from the wok and set aside.

onions, green onions and garlic cooking with anchovy paste

Next, cook the onion, green onion, and garlic just until they’re fragrant, followed by the anchovy paste.

Add the cold rice.

The rice added to the wok with the aromatics

As soon as you add in the rice, increase the temperature, and add the soy sauce.

The soy sauce added to the rice mixture in the wok

Add whatever cooked meat you’re using along with the egg you fried earlier.  Mix to combine.

The best fried rice in the wok

Taste and season as needed.  Serve and enjoy.

A close up of a bowl of fried rice with chop sticks next to it

Tips for Best Results

  • Don’t use freshly cooked rice. It becomes overcooked and too soft.
  • Make the rice ahead and chill before frying.  The key is starting with chilled, day-old cooked rice that’s made with just a little less water than usual to keep the rice firm. 
  • Cook the egg until just undercooked, remove from the pan and set aside to add at the end. this prevents the eggs from becoming rubbery.
  • Don’t make ahead of time and reheat.  This will result in overcooked rice.
  • Dark soy sauce should not be high in sodium.  It’s used to add color.  Be sure to check your brand’s label and alter the amounts accordingly.
  • Don’t have anchovy paste? You can use fish sauce instead, but be careful – It’s salty!

More Delicious Chinese Recipes

  • Glazed Broiled Salmon
  • Chicken with Chinese Mushrooms
  • Chinese Chicken & Broccoli
  • Quick & Easy Chinese Noodle Soup

Rate This Recipe

Click here to leave a star rating!

A close up of a bowl of fried rice with chop sticks next to it

Recipe

Best Ever Fried Rice

This quick and easy recipe makes a delicious Chinese dinner or side dish for your favorite stir-fry.
4.97 from 33 votes
Print
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Cook Time: 8 minutes mins
Total Time: 18 minutes mins
Serves 4 people

Ingredients

  • Vegetable oil (or any mild oil of your choice)
  • 6 eggs (lightly beaten)
  • 1 small onion (chopped)
  • 2 green onions (trimmed and sliced into rounds)
  • 1 clove garlic (chopped)
  • 1 tablespoon anchovy paste
  • 2 cups long-grain rice (cooked and chilled)
  • 1 tablespoon light soy sauce (or more depending on taste)
  • 1 tablespoon low sodium dark soy sauce
  • Ground black pepper
  • 1 cup leftover chicken (or whatever meat you want to use)

Instructions

  • Heat your wok over high heat (although not all the way up) for a couple of minutes. Add about a tablespoon of oil (it will get smoky).  
  • Pour in the eggs and scramble, scraping the bits that stick to the wok. Once cooked, remove from the wok and set aside.
  • If needed, add a bit more oil. Add the onion, green onion, and garlic.  Cook just until they’re fragrant.  Stir in the anchovy paste.
  • Add in the rice, increase the temperature and add the soy sauce, seasoning, egg, and any precooked meat you are using. Stir-fry scraping the sides on the wok until heated through (2 or 3 minutes)
  • Taste and add more soy sauce or seasoning needed and serve hot. 

Tips

  • Don’t use freshly cooked rice. If you try to use freshly cooked rice, it becomes overcooked and too soft.
  • Make the rice ahead and chill before frying.  The key is starting with chilled, day-old cooked rice that’s made with just a little less water than usual to keep the rice firm. 
  • Cook the egg until just undercooked, remove from the pan and set aside to add at the end. this prevents the eggs from becoming rubbery.
  • Don’t make ahead of time and reheat.  This will result in overcooked rice.
  • Dark soy sauce should not be high in sodium.  It’s used to add color.  Be sure to check your brand’s label and alter the amounts accordingly.
  • Don’t have anchovy paste? You can use fish sauce instead, but be careful – It’s salty!
Show Nutrition Hide Nutrition

Nutrition

Calories: 520 | Carbohydrates: 78g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 270mg | Sodium: 769mg | Potassium: 348mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 455IU | Vitamin C: 3.9mg | Calcium: 86mg | Iron: 2.7mg
Created by Erren Hart
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Update Notes:  This recipe was originally posted in 2014, but was updated in March of 2019 with slight changes to the recipe, nutritional information, and a video and with new photos and tips in 2020.

4.97 from 33 votes (17 ratings without comment)

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53 responses

  1. Igbudu Blessing Avatar
    Igbudu Blessing
    12/20/2019

    Thanks for this wonderful content. It was very insightful and enjoyable. You have amazing pictures. I have bookmarked your website and will be checking from time to time for more contents. Thanks a lot for this great information.

    Reply
  2. Mindy Avatar
    Mindy
    09/04/2019

    First attempt made me an addict. I finally know how to make my daughter’s favorite dish. Thank you so much.

    Reply
    1. Erren's Kitchen Avatar
      Erren’s Kitchen
      09/04/2019

      That is awesome to hear Mindy, thank you!

      Reply
  3. Erona Avatar
    Erona
    03/21/2019

    Can I please know if i have to cook/boil the rice or just the way it is.
    And what kind of chicken,or what seasoning should i put in the chicken?
    And if i have to cook/boil. The rice what kind of seasoning should i put so I don’t put alot of seasoning.
    Thanks

    Reply
    1. Erren Avatar
      Erren
      03/27/2019

      You use cooked rice that is made a day in advance and chilled for at least 4 hours. Cook it in salted water teaspoon for 2 cups of water to 1 cup of rice will do.

      Reply
  4. Krista Avatar
    Krista
    03/18/2019

    I could eat fried rice everyday! I have to try this recipe!

    Reply
    1. Erren's Kitchen Avatar
      Erren’s Kitchen
      03/19/2019

      It really is delicious!

      Reply
  5. Taylor Avatar
    Taylor
    03/18/2019

    Fried rice is a family favorite! Easy, quick and full of flavor!

    Reply
    1. Erren's Kitchen Avatar
      Erren’s Kitchen
      03/19/2019

      It’s always a winner to find a recipe everyone enjoys in your home!

      Reply
  6. Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert Avatar
    Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert
    03/18/2019

    I know for sure this would be a huge hit in my house!

    Reply
    1. Erren's Kitchen Avatar
      Erren’s Kitchen
      03/18/2019

      That’s awesome to hear, Erin!

      Reply
  7. Anna Avatar
    Anna
    03/18/2019

    I’ve never made fried rice with anchovy paste! I need to try it soon!

    Reply
    1. Erren's Kitchen Avatar
      Erren’s Kitchen
      03/18/2019

      I’m sure you will love it!

      Reply
  8. Chrissie Baker Avatar
    Chrissie Baker
    03/16/2019

    I made this for the first time and omg my family said there never buying fried rice from the shops again.

    Reply
    1. Erren's Kitchen Avatar
      Erren’s Kitchen
      03/18/2019

      That’s made my day, Chrissie!

      Reply
  9. Steph Avatar
    Steph
    03/16/2019

    My family is a huge fan of fried rice! This looks so good I can’t wait to make a batch.

    Reply
  10. Beth Pierce Avatar
    Beth Pierce
    03/15/2019

    Fried rice is one of my favorite foods! This looks delicious too; better than a restaurant version!

    Reply
    1. Libba Gray Avatar
      Libba Gray
      06/29/2022

      Hi again Erren! I’ve commented a couple times about how much difference it makes to use Light & Dark soy sauces and the anchovy paste. For you folks out there not using the anchovy paste BIG MISTAKE! HUGE! The first time I used it I wasn’t excited about it but I thought why not after all these years I’ve had something missing why not and it absolutely was the missing something. But I was moved to comment here because no that we have instant pot that makes the perfect rice with one to one cup ratios and it is absolutely perfect every time and I’m eating this recipe more and more often just because of the simplicity of the instant pot. You just set it and go and my rice @ 1-1 ratio is easy to break apart several hours later or next day. If people have an instant pot they don’t avail themselves to they really should so you don’t have to worry about the rice being right it will be! I also wanted to ask you if you don’t have a pork butt for char sui but you have some pork chops how would you cook that to use as your meat in your pork fried rice how would you season it and how would you cook it? I know you got some tricks up your sleeve let’s have it 😂😂

      Reply
      1. Erren Hart Avatar
        Erren Hart
        06/29/2022

        Hi Libba, I’m so glad you like the fried rice as much as we do! Thanks so much for the great info! I’m sure my instant pot users will be grateful! Unfortunately, mine collects dust because I can’t seem to keep it from smelling bad! I have tried everything from baking soda to vinegar and lemon juice. I even bought a replacement seal with no help. What’s the secret?

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