Chinese
Simple Fried Rice with Egg and Chicken
A classic fried rice made with leftover rice, scrambled egg, and diced chicken, seasoned with soy sauce.
About this recipe
Simple Fried Rice with Egg and Chicken 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 chicken, 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
- 1 egg
- 100g chicken
- 1/4 onion
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 stalk spring onion
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 2 tbsp cooking oil
- to taste salt
- pinch white pepper
Equipment
Method
- 1
If rice is freshly cooked, spread it on a plate and let it cool slightly. If using leftover rice, break up any clumps. DiceDice.Cut into even cubes so the pieces cook at the same rate.Glossary → chicken into small pieces. Finely chop onion and garlic. Chop spring onion.
~5 min
- 2
Heat 1 tbsp of cooking oil in a wok or frying pan over medium-high heat (setting 7/9 on gas stove). Add dicedDice.Cut into even cubes so the pieces cook at the same rate.Glossary → chicken and stir-fryStir-fry.Cook small pieces fast over high heat while constantly moving them.Glossary → until cooked through. Remove chicken from wok and set aside.
~4 min
- 3
Add the remaining 1 tbsp of cooking oil to the wok. Add chopped onion and garlic, stir-fryStir-fry.Cook small pieces fast over high heat while constantly moving them.Glossary → until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
~1 min
- 4
Push the onion and garlic to one side of the wok. Crack the egg into the empty side and scramble it until almost cooked. Then, mix it with the onion and garlic.
~2 min
- 5
Add the cooled rice to the wok. Break up any remaining clumps 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
- 6
Return the cooked chicken to the wok. Add soy sauce, salt, and white pepper. Stir-fryStir-fry.Cook small pieces fast over high heat while constantly moving them.Glossary → everything together until well combined and heated through, about 3-4 minutes.
~4 min
- 7
Stir in the chopped spring onion and sesame oil. Serve immediately.
~1 min
Smart swaps
Out of something? Try one of these.
- Chicken
- pork, prawns, or firm tofu — keep pieces thin so they cook fast.
- Garlic
- garlic powder (¼ tsp per clove) at a push.
- Spring onion
- thinly sliced onion or chives for the finish.
- Soy sauce
- tamari (gluten-free) or, in a pinch, a mix of Worcestershire sauce and water.
- Sesame oil
- use sparingly — a tiny bit of tahini, or just skip it; it’s a finishing flavour.
Cook's notes
- Smash each clove with the flat of your knife first — the skin slips off and it minces in seconds. How to mince garlic →
- 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 →
- Keep the white and green parts separate — whites go in early with the aromatics, greens at the end. How to chop spring onions →
- Slice chicken thinly across the grain — it cooks faster and stays tender. How to slice chicken thinly →
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 with Egg and Chicken 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, gas stove, 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: Chicken → pork, prawns, or firm tofu — keep pieces thin so they cook fast; Garlic → garlic powder (¼ tsp per clove) at a push; Spring onion → thinly sliced onion or chives for the finish. See the full list of smart swaps above.
Can I make Simple Fried Rice with Egg and Chicken 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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