Chicken Fried Rice is a delightful Chinese-inspired dish prepared by stir-frying cooked rice with diced chicken and assorted vegetables. Seasoned with soy sauce, garlic, and a blend of spices, this flavorful meal is both simple to make and a tasty choice for a homemade dish.

About The Recipe

Fried Rice has been around for a long time and is thought to have originated in China many years ago. It’s basically a dish where rice is stir-fried with veggies and eggs. Chicken fried rice is a version of this dish that includes chicken along with the veggies and rice.

As time passed, this dish became famous outside of China and is now a common dish in many Asian countries, known as part of Indo-Chinese cuisine, as well as in the West. You can find it in the restaurants worldwide and easily prepare it at home for a delicious and satisfying meal.

What Makes It Special

What makes it special is that you have rice, veggies, and protein all in one bowl. It’s a complete meal in one pot, packed with all the essential nutrients that you need in your diet. Also the taste is great. I believe the original version must not be too spicy, but we Asians love spicy food, so many variations have been recorded 😀

After trying many recipes, here is my final verdict on how Chicken Fried Rice should be. Give this recipe a try, and I’m sure you’ll love it too!

How To Make Chicken Fried Rice

1. Utilise any leftover rice for this dish. Alternatively, for a scratch recipe, start by boiling 1 cup of rice in water for 7-10 minutes or until fully cooked.

2. Marinate the chicken by seasoning it with salt, cumin powder, coriander powder, red chili powder, vinegar, and soy sauce. Allow the chicken to marinate for around 30 minutes before cooking.

3. Heat oil in a pan and sauté onions until translucent. Add minced garlic and continue cooking until it turns golden brown.

4. Add the marinated chicken into the pan and cook until it changes colour and becomes tender, which typically takes 5-7 minutes.

5. Add vegetables into the pan and stir-fry on high heat to cook them evenly.

6. Once the vegetables start to soften, add ketchup and soy sauce. To thin the sauce, you can add 1/4 cup of stock.

7. Gradually combine the cooked rice into the mixture, stirring well to evenly distribute the flavours.

8. Sprinkle garlic powder and chicken powder over the dish and garnish it with chopped green chilies, green onions, and fresh cilantro.

9. Serve hot with a side of sweet & sour chicken or any side of your choice.

Pro Tips

• For the best texture, use cold, cooked rice. Freshly cooked rice can turn mushy, so refrigerated rice works best. After boiling the rice, allow it to cool to room temperature and then refrigerate it for 30 minutes before mixing.

• Have all your veggies chopped and ready to go before you start cooking. This helps in quick and efficient stir-frying. Avoid overcooking to retain the crunch.

• Cook the chicken pieces first until they are no longer pink before adding the rest of the ingredients.

• Stir-fry on high heat after combining rice with chicken and vegetables for a short time to keep the ingredients crispy and prevent them from getting soggy.

• Combine rice in small batches to prevent overcrowding the pan, allowing each grain to combine evenly and retain its taste.

• Use any long grain rice for better texture and consistency. Sella-basmati works best in this recipe.

• For the chicken, you can use any leftover or cooked chicken. Alternatively, you can also use diced chicken for a stir-fry from scratch.

What To Serve With Chicken Fried Rice

It is a complete and fulfilling meal that can be enjoyed on its own.

For additional options, you can enjoy it alongside dishes like Chicken Manchurian and Chicken Jalfrezi

Storage Suggestion

• For best flavor, it’s ideal to enjoy chicken fried rice fresh, as the taste can’t be beat. If you choose to freeze it, store it in an airtight container to maintain the quality.

• When reheating, you can use a microwave or oven to warm up the chicken fried rice.

• To reheat on the stove, transfer the frozen rice to a pan, sprinkle a small amount of water (about 1/4 cup or less), cover with a lid, and allow it to steam for around 10 minutes before uncovering.