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Bowl of chicken fried rice with golden chicken, egg, peas, and green onions for a weeknight dinner

Easy Chicken Fried Rice Ready in 35 Minutes

Juicy chicken thighs, soft scrambled egg, and cold rice fried until golden make a takeout style dinner in one skillet. Day-old rice keeps every grain separate.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 About 1 3/4 cups
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Chinese
Calories: 535

Ingredients
  

For the chicken
  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
For the fried rice
  • 4 cups cooked chilled long-grain white rice (about 1 1/3 cups uncooked jasmine rice)
  • 3 large eggs beaten
  • 1 cup frozen peas and carrots 5 ounces, thawed and drained
  • 4 green onions white and green parts sliced and kept separate
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger finely grated
  • 3 tablespoons avocado oil or canola oil divided
For the sauce
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper

Equipment

  • 12 inch skillet or 14 inch flat bottom wok
  • Rimmed half sheet pan
  • Wide metal spatula
  • Fine-mesh strainer
  • Instant-read thermometer

Method
 

  1. Toss the chicken with 1 tablespoon soy sauce and 1 teaspoon cornstarch. Let it rest 15 minutes while you prep the rest.
  2. Stir the sauce ingredients together and beat the eggs. Break up the cold rice with wet fingertips, and slice the green onions, keeping the white and green parts separate.
  3. Heat a 12 inch skillet over medium high heat for 2 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon oil and spread the chicken in one layer. Cook 2 minutes without moving it until the underside is golden, then stir 2 to 3 minutes more until no pink remains and a thermometer reads 165°F. Move the chicken to a plate.
  4. Lower the heat to medium, add 1 tablespoon oil, and pour in the eggs. Let them sit 10 seconds, then scramble into small curds for 45 seconds until just set but still glossy. Add them to the chicken plate.
  5. Turn the heat to high and add the last tablespoon of oil. Stir the peas, carrots, and white parts of the green onions for 1 minute until the carrots look glossy, then add the garlic and ginger and stir 30 seconds until fragrant.
  6. Add the rice, press it flat with the spatula, and leave it alone for 45 seconds. Stir, press again, and repeat for 3 to 4 minutes until the grains are hot, separate, and starting to crackle and turn golden.
  7. Pour the sauce around the edge of the pan so it sizzles for 10 seconds. Toss 1 minute until every grain is evenly tan with no wet patches.
  8. Return the chicken and eggs to the pan and add the green onion greens. Toss 1 to 2 minutes until everything is steaming and the center of the rice reads 165°F, then serve right away.

Notes

Use rice cooked a day ahead and chilled at least 8 hours. With only fresh rice, spread it thin on a sheet pan and freeze it 15 to 20 minutes, then use it within the hour.
Chicken breast works in place of thighs (slice it thin), and tamari labeled gluten-free makes the recipe gluten-free.
Storage: Refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze up to 3 months.