Chinese
Simple Fried Rice
A quick and easy fried rice using leftover rice, chicken, and vegetables. Great for using up small amounts of ingredients.
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 chicken and egg, and it takes around 25 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
- 3 cups, preferably day-old cooked rice
- 150g, diced chicken
- 2 egg
- 1/2 medium, chopped onion
- 1 small, diced tomato
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper
- 2 tbsp cooking oil
- 2 cloves, minced garlic buy
- 2 tbsp soy sauce buy
Equipment
Method
- 1
Heat 1 tbsp of cooking oil in a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat (setting 7/9). Add the chopped onion and mincedMince.Cut very finely (releases stronger flavour, but burns faster).Glossary → garlic, stir-fryStir-fry.Cook small pieces fast over high heat while constantly moving them.Glossary → until fragrant.
~2 min
- 2
Add the 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 almost cooked through. Add the diced tomato and cook for another minute.
~4 min
- 3
Push the chicken and vegetables to one side of the wok. Pour in the beaten eggs and scramble them. Once cooked, mix them with the chicken and vegetables.
~3 min
- 4
Add the cooked rice to the wok. Break up any clumps. Stir-fryStir-fry.Cook small pieces fast over high heat while constantly moving them.Glossary → for 3-5 minutes until the rice is heated through.
~5 min
- 5
Season with soy sauce, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to combine.
~2 min
- 6
Serve hot.
~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.
- Soy sauce
- tamari (gluten-free) or, in a pinch, a mix of Worcestershire sauce and water.
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 →
- Slice chicken thinly across the grain — it cooks faster and stays tender. How to slice chicken thinly →
- 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 25 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: induction hob, wok or frying pan, spatula, knife, cutting board. 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; Soy sauce → tamari (gluten-free) or, in a pinch, a mix of Worcestershire sauce and water. 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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