Chinese
Simple Fried Rice
A quick and easy fried rice using leftover rice, eggs, and onions. Customizable with any leftover protein you might have.
About this recipe
Simple Fried Rice is a chinese lunch for 2 that is a fast, high-heat stir-fry — have everything chopped before the wok gets hot. It’s built around egg, and it takes around 20 min start to finish. We sized it for a small household and ranked it on OneToCook by how much of it you already have in the fridge.
Good to know
* Dietary flags are derived from the listed ingredients — always check labels and your own needs for allergens.
Ingredients
- 2 cups Cooked rice
- 2 Egg
- 1/2 medium Onion
- 2 tbsp Soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Oyster sauce
- 1 tsp Sesame oil
- 1/4 tsp White pepper
- 2 tbsp Cooking oil
Equipment
Method
- 1
If you don't have leftover rice, cook 1 cup of uncooked rice using your rice cooker and let it cool slightly (or chill it in the fridge for faster, better fried rice).
~5 min
- 2
Chop the onion finely.
~2 min
- 3
Beat the eggs in a small bowl with a pinch of salt and white pepper.
~1 min
- 4
Heat 1 tbsp of cooking oil in the wok/frying pan over medium-high heat. Pour in the beaten eggs and scramble them until just cooked. Remove from wok and set aside.
~3 min
- 5
Add the remaining 1 tbsp of cooking oil to the wok. Add the chopped onion and stir-fryStir-fry.Cook small pieces fast over high heat while constantly moving them.Glossary → until softened and fragrant, about 2-3 minutes.
~3 min
- 6
Add the cooked rice to the wok. Break up any clumps with your spatula and stir-fryStir-fry.Cook small pieces fast over high heat while constantly moving them.Glossary → for 2-3 minutes until heated through.
~3 min
- 7
Add the soy sauce, oyster sauce, and white pepper to the wok. Stir well to combine and coat the rice evenly.
~2 min
- 8
Return the scrambled eggs to the wok. Stir everything together for another minute.
~1 min
- 9
Drizzle with sesame oil and give a final stir. Serve immediately.
~1 min
Smart swaps
Out of something? Try one of these.
- Soy sauce
- tamari (gluten-free) or, in a pinch, a mix of Worcestershire sauce and water.
- Oyster sauce
- hoisin loosened with a splash of soy, or soy sauce + a small pinch of sugar.
- Sesame oil
- use sparingly — a tiny bit of tahini, or just skip it; it’s a finishing flavour.
Cook's notes
- Dice the onion before anything heats up so it’s ready when the pan is — a even dice cooks evenly. How to dice an onion →
- Rinse the rice until the water runs (mostly) clear for fluffier, less gummy grains. How to wash & cook rice →
Storage & leftovers
Cooked rice needs care: cool it quickly (within an hour), refrigerate in a covered container, and eat within a day — reheating it until piping hot all the way through. Don’t leave cooked rice at room temperature.
Frequently asked
How long does Simple Fried Rice take to make? +
Around 20 min from start to finish, almost all of it hands-on.
How many people does this recipe serve? +
As written it serves 2. To cook for 4, roughly multiply the ingredients — but cook in batches if the pan gets crowded, so things sear instead of steaming.
What equipment do I need? +
You’ll want: frying pan / wok, rice cooker. OneToCook only suggests recipes that fit the equipment you tell it you have, so you can filter these out if your kitchen is more minimal.
What can I use if I'm missing an ingredient? +
Common swaps for this dish: Soy sauce → tamari (gluten-free) or, in a pinch, a mix of Worcestershire sauce and water; Oyster sauce → hoisin loosened with a splash of soy, or soy sauce + a small pinch of sugar; Sesame oil → use sparingly — a tiny bit of tahini, or just skip it; it’s a finishing flavour. See the full list of smart swaps above.
Can I make Simple Fried Rice ahead of time? +
Cooked rice needs care: cool it quickly (within an hour), refrigerate in a covered container, and eat within a day — reheating it until piping hot all the way through. Don’t leave cooked rice at room temperature.
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