Restaurant-Style Chicken Fried Rice
Posted: 03/02/22
Updated: 01/02/23
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This chicken fried rice tastes just like your favorite hibachi restaurant! That’s because we took this recipe straight from the hibachi grill and our mega-popular Hibachi Chicken recipe. On the table in just about 20 minutes, this fried rice is perfect as a main course or a side dish, and it’s guaranteed to please the whole family.
What Makes This Recipe So Good
- This hibachi-inspired chicken fried rice tastes just like the rice you’d order at your favorite restaurant, but it’s made right in the comfort of your own kitchen.
- Depending on your portion sizes, this is filling enough to be its own meal, or you can pair it with something like my hibachi chicken or Instant Pot orange chicken. If you’re making it as a stand-alone dish, feel free to double the amount of chicken you put in the rice, to really pack in the protein.
- All of the cooking happens right in one skillet, so clean up is a breeze! You’ll cook the chicken first, then set it aside and wipe out the skillet to start over with the veggies and rice.
Key Ingredients
Rice – Fried rice is traditionally a way to use up leftover rice, and leftover rice absolutely gives you the best “fried rice” texture. You can cook the rice ahead of time, or use pre-cooked rice from the grocery store. If you use fresh rice, it’ll be way too moist and clumpy.
Soy Sauce – Coconut aminos or lite tamari would also work here, so feel free to substitute if you’re avoiding soy. I like to use a low-sodium soy sauce, then just salt the rice and chicken to my preference.
Chef’s Tips
- Don’t rely solely on the soy sauce to season your chicken fried rice. If that’s where all your seasoning comes from, you’ll end up using so much that the rice is soggy and too soy-flavored. I use plenty of salt and lots of pepper in both my chicken and fried rice.
- You can also use this method for pork fried rice instead of chicken, or you can skip the meat altogether for a plain fried rice with egg. If you’re looking for a low-carb variation, use riced cauliflower instead of typical rice.
- No need to thaw the peas and carrots, just toss them in the skillet straight from the freezer! You can use other vegetables, too, if you’d rather.
More Restaurant-Style Recipes You’ll Love
- Whole30 Burgers – Burger Joint Style (Paleo, Low Carb)
- Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets (Chick-Fil-A Style)
- Best Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe (Restaurant Style)
- Big Mac Salad
- Chili’s Southwest Chicken Soup
Restaurant-Style Chicken Fried Rice
This chicken fried rice tastes just like your favorite hibachi restaurant! That's because we took this recipe straight from the hibachi grill and our mega-popular Hibachi Chicken recipe. On the table in just about 20 minutes, this fried rice is perfect as a main course or a side dish, and it's guaranteed to please the whole family.
servings
Ingredients
- 1 ½ teaspoons sesame oil
- 4 teaspoons neutral oil like avocado or canola; 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon, divided
- ¾ pound chicken breasts cut into very small pieces, roughly half of "bite-sized"
- 5 tablespoons soy sauce divided
- 4 tablespoons butter divided
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
- ½ cup diced white onion
- 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables peas, carrots
- 2 large eggs
- 4 cups cooked rice cool to touch, see Notes
- sesame seeds optional, for garnish
Equipment
- 1 large skillet or work
- Spatula
- Paper towels
- 1 Medium bowl
Instructions
For the Chicken
- In large skillet or wok over medium-high heat, warm 1 ½ teaspoons sesame oil and 1 tablespoon (3 teaspoons) neutral oil. Once oils are hot, add chicken pieces. Let chicken cook for 1 minute without stirring.
- Add 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon butter, 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice, salt, and pepper to skillet. Cook until chicken is no longer pink, approximately 1 to 3 minutes. Stir no more than once or twice so that chicken will brown nicely.
- Transfer cooked chicken to medium bowl and set aside. Wipe out skillet (or wok) to use again.
For the Fried Rice
- Heat 1 teaspoon neutral oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and frozen vegetables. Sauté until onions are almost translucent, approximately 3 minutes.
- Move vegetables to one side of skillet. Crack eggs into skillet and scramble with spatula until cooked through.
- Add 4 cups cooked rice and 3 tablespoons butter to skillet. Stir frequently and cook 5 minutes, then stir in 3 tablespoons soy sauce and cook 1 additional minute.
- Stir in chicken, salt, and pepper. Cook until everything is well combined and warmed through, then portion into bowls, garnish with sesame seeds if desired, and serve warm.
Notes
- Chicken: You can double the amount of chicken for more protein.
- Rice: Don’t use fresh rice – it’ll be clumpy and way too moist. Leftover rice works best, and I like to use microwaveable ready rice, too.
- Flavor: Be sure to salt and pepper your fried rice! Don’t rely solely on the soy sauce – if you rely on it to season to taste, you’ll end up with soppy rice that’s overly soy-flavored. I use plenty of salt and lots of pepper in this recipe.
Nutrition Information
Serving Size: 1serving, Calories: 359kcal, Protein: 20g, Fat: 15g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 118mg, Sodium: 1010mg, Potassium: 389mg, Total Carbs: 36g, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 1g, Net Carbs: 34g, Vitamin A: 1881IU, Vitamin C: 5mg, Calcium: 39mg, Iron: 1mg
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.
I have not made this yet. However, I refuse to eat peas so to do the Cannes of mixed veg does not work. Can you suggest other vegetables maybe even fresh mushrooms broccoli asparagus is any of these OK instead of next veggies.
You’re welcome to put whatever you like in your version, absolutely. If peas are the only thing you don’t like about the recipe as it’s written here, you can just use carrots and leave the peas out, or use carrots, corn, and green beans. Mushrooms, asparagus, or broccoli would work, too. Totally up to you!
Me and my man love Chinese food and I always do a meal prep for him for work! This recipe has made it so much easier for me to make sure he’s set for the week with lunches. I always try to add different seasoning along with some broccoli to the dish!
So glad to hear that it’s been so helpful and that y’all enjoy it! Thanks for sharing! 😊
The best fried rice I have ever made!!!! Will definitely make again!
So glad to hear, Cynthia! Thanks for sharing! 😊
Just made it. Super easy. Going to try again with garlic butter like they do at Benihanas. Mine didn’t come out so brown like the pic even after I put more soy sauce. 😐
Garlic butter sounds like a delicious addition! 😋
I just cooked this recipe and it’s delicious! I am so happy about it! Thank you
So glad you loved it, Neva! Thanks for sharing. 😊
Absolutely delicious
So glad you enjoyed it, Susan! 😊
This was so simple & yummy. Who knew butter & lemon juice make a difference in fried rice!
So glad you enjoyed the meal! Thanks for sharing, Kathleen!
Absolutely Delicious!!!!
So glad you enjoyed them, Madalynn! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Quick and easy, yet so delicious. Thank you.
So glad you enjoyed, Jennifer! Thanks for your great review!
Amazing!!!!
Yay! Thanks for your review, Ally!