• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Oh, That's Good!

menu icon
go to homepage
  • All Recipes
  • For Two
  • Collections
  • Meal Plans
  • Tips
  • Appetizers
  • Soups
  • Cookies
  • Pies & Tarts
  • Cake & Muffins
  • Sides
  • Savory Breakfast
  • Sweet Breakfast
  • Pasta & Rice
  • Bread & Pastry
  • Ice Cream & Puddings
  • Beef
  • Poultry
  • Pork
  • Sandwich & Burger
  • Pizza
  • Sauce & Condiments
  • Asian
  • Mediterranean
  • Tex-Mex
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • All Recipes
    • For Two
    • Collections
    • Meal Plans
    • Tips
    • Appetizers
    • Soups
    • Cookies
    • Pies & Tarts
    • Cake & Muffins
    • Sides
    • Savory Breakfast
    • Sweet Breakfast
    • Pasta & Rice
    • Bread & Pastry
    • Ice Cream & Puddings
    • Beef
    • Poultry
    • Pork
    • Sandwich & Burger
    • Pizza
    • Sauce & Condiments
    • Asian
    • Mediterranean
    • Tex-Mex
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    HOME » Recipes » Pasta & Rice

    Published: Jun 27, 2022 · Modified: Oct 22, 2022· This website generates income via ads ·

    Fried Rice from Leftover Rice

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Pin Recipe

    We love fried rice, especially BBQ pork fried rice. Fried rice can be made with BBQ pork, chicken, beef, shrimp, or any other meat you choose. A favorite around here is House Fried Rice which contains all four of these meats. Fried Rice from Leftover Rice is delicious! A steaming hot bowl of this fried rice will make you forget all about Chinese restaurant take-out!

    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Bonus: How to make "leftover" rice from fresh rice
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • Instructional Video
    • Variations
    • Recipe FAQ'S
    • Looking For More Leftover-Rice Ideas?
    • Equipment
    • Food Storage Tips
    • Expert Tips
    • Perfect Pairings
    • Recipe

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    Fried rice is, at its core, comfort food. One of the best things about this recipe is that the ingredient list is short and forgiving of substitutions. My Fried Rice Leftover recipe uses day-old rice. You can also add leftover ingredients like pork, chicken, beef, shrimp, bok choy, or other fresh vegetables. Fried rice is easy to make and very adaptable. Create your signature fried rice to impress friends and family.

    If you love fried rice you might also like my Chicken and Steak Stir Fry.

    Ingredients

    Ingredients for Fried Rice from Leftover Rice.
    • cooked medium-grain rice (Leftover white rice works best for your first time making this dish. The next time you might try other varieties of rice.)
    • white onion (diced)
    • green onions (green tops and white bottoms) 
    • carrot (diced)
    • frozen green peas
    • ham/pork, chicken, shrimp, or cooked sliced beef
    • eggs 
    • garlic
    • ginger (use very little) 
    • sesame oil (optional, but it really creates the familiar fried rice flavor) 
    • salt and black pepper
    • soy sauce
    • peanut oil

    Full ingredients list & measurements provided in the recipe card.

    Bonus: How to make "leftover" rice from fresh rice

    Baking tray with white rice spread from corner to corner.

    Start by cooking rice in a rice cooker if you have one, or on the stovetop following the directions on the package. Remove the rice immediately and spread it out on a large baking sheet with a Silpat or other silicone mat. Don't use foil, plastic wrap, parchment paper, etc. The rice will stick to all of those. If you don't have a silicone mat, rub a little olive oil on the sheet pan and place the rice directly on the surface. Use two forks to separate the grains of rice. Leave the pan out at room temperature for a couple of hours, fluffing the rice frequently to dry it out. Refrigerate until you are ready to make my Fried Rice from Leftover Rice. Use your "leftover" cold rice directly from the fridge.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    Pouring oil into hot wok.

    Add oil to hot wok.

    Carrots, garlic, ginger, and onions in wok.

    Add carrots, ginger, garlic, and onions.

    Stir frying until the vegetables soften.

    Stir in the hot oil until softened.

    Adding the meat and peas to the wok.

    Add peas and meat.

    Stir frying all the foods together.

    Stir fry until meat and peas heat up.

    Adding the egg and a beaten egg.

    Push food to one side, add oil then egg.

    Scrambling the egg in the wok.

    Lightly scramble the egg. Do not brown!

    Add the cooked rice.

    Adding the Add sesame oil, salt, pepper, and soy sauce.

    Add sesame oil, salt, pepper, soy sauce.

    Stir frying until everything is piping hot.

    Stir fry until piping hot and mixed well.

    Instructional Video

    Variations

    • Buy BBQ pork at your local Chinese restaurant. Dice it in small pieces to make pork fried rice. (This is what I did for this post)
    • Omit the egg in the fried rice, then serve the fried rice topped with a sunny-side-up fried egg. The only thing you need now is the hot sauce! This is one of my favorite ways to enjoy fried rice.
    • Go completely vegetarian and use only fresh and/or frozen vegetables. This is a great way to clean out the vegetable drawer.
    • Make plain veggie fried rice and use it as a base for a beautiful piece of miso-glazed salmon.
    • Make scrambled egg and jalapeño fried rice. Wrap as much rice as you like in warm buttered flour tortillas for an amazing breakfast.

    Recipe FAQ'S

    Why do people put egg in fried rice?

    The egg adds protein to the dish as well as flavor and texture. It adds a protein element to plain vegetable fried rice.

    What kind of rice is used for fried rice?


    Fried rice recipes usually call for long grain or medium grain rice. Thai versions use fragrant jasmine rice (my favorite), and Japanese-style fried rice can even be made with short-grain sushi rice.

    Where is fried rice from?

    While the exact origins of fried rice are up for debate, it's believed that it was invented sometime during the Sui dynasty (A.D. 589–618).

    Looking For More Leftover-Rice Ideas?

    Tow ramekins of Fennel Leek Casserole.

    My Fennel Leek Casserole is delicious.

    Plate of Mexican rice.

    Try my Restaurant Style Mexican Rice.

    Equipment

    • Sharp knife
    • Wok - I use a carbon-steel, double-handled, perfectly seasoned wok. I do a lot of stir fry meals, so I went a bit overboard. If you have a large, non-stick skillet with high sides that will be fine.
    Stovetop with raised wok burner in center.

    I installed a stovetop with a high-heat designated wok burner in the center.

    Wok on burner.

    This is my prized possession, a perfectly seasoned carbon steel wok.

    • Spatula for flipping rice and vegetables. I use this special spatula made for stir fry. You can use a rigid non-metal spatula instead. This one is great of you do a lot of stir-fry like I do.
    Large stainless steel spatula for flipping stir fries in a wok.

    Food Storage Tips

    Fried rice keeps for 1-2 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To reheat fried rice, I put it in a cold frying pan and heat it slowly over medium heat. I have an awesome "re-heat" feature on my microwave, so I mostly use that.

    Expert Tips

    • I use a large, screaming hot, carbon-steel wok to make fried rice. It is great if you have one, but if you don't, a large non-stick pan will do.
    • Cut your vegetables and meat into like-sized cubes for even cooking. I like mine about ½ inch square.
    • Carrots take a long time to cook, so I par-cook mine by placing the diced carrots in a small microwave-safe bowl, covered with water, and microwaving for one minute. This softens them so that they are cooked, but a little crunchy in the fried rice. Start with 30 seconds in the microwave and add more time as needed. You do not want them mushy.

    Perfect Pairings

    • My Crispy Asian Dumplings would make a perfect pairing with Wok Fried Rice from Leftover Rice.
    • Restaurant Style Potstickers would be great with this dish. This recipe has a lovely dipping sauce too.
    • As for spirits to pair with Wok Fried Rice, China Wine Competition says dishes that go well with Junmai Sake are stir-fried vegetable or meat dishes. A rice bowl of any description makes for an easy-to-make, no-fuss option. 

    Recipe

    Fried Rice from Leftover Rice

    Recipe for take-out style pork fried rice at home using leftover rice. Easy enough for a beginner cook.
    4.91 from 44 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 12 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Course
    Main Course
    ,
    Side Dish
    Servings 4

    Equipment

    • Wok or large skillet

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 cups cooked medium grain rice leftover rice works best!
    • ¼ cup chopped green onions the white part
    • ¼ cup white onion diced
    • ⅓ cup chopped carrot
    • ⅓ cup frozen green peas
    • ⅓ cup diced ham/pork chicken, shrimp, or cooked sliced beef
    • 2 eggs beaten
    • 1 small clove garlic pressed or finely minced (optional)
    • ½ inch ginger knob finely chopped
    • ½ teaspoon sesame oil optional
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 2 TBS soy sauce
    • 2 teaspoon peanut oil
    • Green onion tops sliced for garnish
    • ¼ teaspoon black or white pepper I like white pepper in this dish

    Instructions
     

    • Heat 1 teaspoon of peanut oil in a wok or a large skillet on medium-high heat.
    • Put the carrots, ginger, and garlic in the pan and cook until softened.
    • Add the frozen peas and meat to the wok and stir to combine with the other vegetables.
    • Push the vegetables and meat to one side and add the second tablespoon of peanut oil.
    • Pour the lightly beaten eggs into the wok or skillet and cook as you would for scrambled eggs. Do not brown the eggs!
    • Add the rice and stir-fry together until heated through.
    • Turn the heat down to low, pour soy sauce, salt, and sesame seed oil (if using) and stir fry quickly.
    • You may lead less or more salt depending on taste and the meat you used. Garnish with sliced green onion tops.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 321kcalCarbohydrates: 56gProtein: 11gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 87mgSodium: 958mgPotassium: 194mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 2056IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 31mgIron: 4mg

    Approximate nutrition information is provided as a convenience and courtesy only. You are encouraged to do your own calculations if precise data is required.

    We take every effort to ensure that the estimated meal cost per serving is accurate. We use a meal cost analysis application that estimates the cost of a recipe based on groceries purchased at a Walmart store in my geographical area, northern California.

    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    Large wok with cook pork fried rice.

    More Pasta & Rice

    • My Top 10 Recipes with Rice
    • 21 Valentine's Day Pasta Recipes for Two
    • TikTok Feta Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes
    • Creamy Parmesan Rice Recipe Copycat

    Sharing is caring! Thanks for supporting us!

    15 shares
    • Facebook
    • Email

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Comment Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Julia says

      June 30, 2022 at 8:08 am

      5 stars
      Using leftover rice is really the key here! This tasted much crispier instead of soggy when we make fried rice with fresh rice. Super easy to follow recipe.

      Reply
      • Mary says

        July 10, 2022 at 6:20 pm

        I agree. I was always making it wrong too!

        Reply
    2. Oscar says

      June 29, 2022 at 6:04 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe was just what I needed. I always have leftover rice but never thought of using it for fried rice. I made it with pork and the combo of the garlic with the ginger totally hit the spot for me. Thanks for the recipe.

      Reply
      • Mary says

        July 10, 2022 at 6:20 pm

        Let me know if you like it.

        Reply
    3. nancy says

      June 29, 2022 at 1:37 pm

      5 stars
      i love fried rice - this easy recipe with freezer staples is wonderful!!

      Reply
      • Mary says

        July 10, 2022 at 6:21 pm

        It is very versatile for sure. Hope you enjoy it.

        Reply
    4. Debra says

      June 28, 2022 at 8:04 pm

      5 stars
      Made this with leftover crispy tofu cubes and it was awesome. A great assortment of veggies!

      Reply
      • Mary says

        June 28, 2022 at 8:42 pm

        Never thought of adding tofu! Smart. Glad you liked it.

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    I am Mary, the blogger behind "Oh That's Good!" I am a former nurse, former hobby farm blogger, former vintage shop owner, and current food blogger. I live with my husband and our little mutt Tucker in a lovely retirement community. I am cooking for two and taking inspiration from old cookbooks, magazines, and memories of watching my mother and grandmother cook. I like reducing my food waste and exorbitant grocery bills! I am busy rewriting my recipes for two servings with the option of adjusting the recipe up to four or six servings with just one click.

    more about

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    • Privacy Policy
    • Nutritional Disclaimer
    • Contact
    • 9 Top Tips on Cooking for Two