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Meet your new go-to dish for quick, flavorful, and satisfying meals: single serving Fried Rice For One. This foolproof recipe transforms leftover rice and a few simple ingredients into a scrumptious dish that’s perfect for anyone cooking for one. This recipe is ready in 20 minutes!
If you have a rotisserie chicken, you can make this meal as well as 4 other meals as shown in 5 Meals From 1 Rotisserie Chicken.
Looking for more single serving fried rice recipes? Try our Chicken Fried Rice and our Shrimp Fried Rice Recipes.
Why You’ll Love This Fried Rice Recipe
- Simple: Just a few pantry staples and you’re ready to create a delicious meal.
- Quick: This meal comes together in about 20 minutes.
- Versatile: Easily customizable to suit your preferred ingredients or dietary needs.
- Economical: A great way to use up leftover rice and veggies.
- Doubles Easily: Perfect for serving a small crowd, just double the recipe.
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this easy fried rice recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Salted Butter: I prefer using salted butter to enhance the dish’s flavor profile. If you only have unsalted butter, you can add a pinch of salt.
- Onions and Garlic: Essential for building depth of flavor, chopped onions and garlic should not be skipped.
- Cooked Rice: Both white rice and brown rice are excellent options, depending on your preference or what you have available. You can even use cooked quinoa if you’d like.
- Egg: One large egg adds protein and a traditional touch to your fried rice.
- Frozen vegetables: Peas and corn are my go-tos because I always seem to have them on hand, but this recipe is versatile—swap in any frozen veggies you like or have in your kitchen. Consider using leftover vegetables in Chicken Tortilla Soup or Vegetable Soup.
- Soy sauce, salt, and black pepper: These are your core seasonings. If you’re looking to lower the sodium, consider low-sodium soy sauce.
This is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why I used them. For the full recipe please scroll down to the recipe box at the bottom of the post.
Making Fried Rice: A Step-By-Step Guide
- In a medium-sized skillet, melt the butter and sauté the onions and garlic until softened.
- Incorporate the cooked rice into the skillet, stirring briefly for about 30 seconds.
- Move the rice mixture to the skillet’s edges, creating an empty space in the center. Crack an egg into this space, stirring gently until it’s nearly fully cooked. Combine it with the rice mixture.
- Introduce the frozen vegetables to the pan. Continue to stir and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Season the mixture by stirring in soy sauce, salt, and black pepper.
Optional: Chicken Fried Rice Variation
To elevate your dish to chicken fried rice, follow steps 1-3 as usual. During step 4, add a cup of cooked, diced chicken along with the frozen vegetables.
Recipe Variations
Fried rice is incredibly versatile and lends itself well to a variety of flavors and ingredients. Here are some enticing variations you might consider.
- Kimchi Fried Rice: Add a spicy kick by including some chopped kimchi and a dollop of gochujang (Korean red chili paste).
- Hawaiian Fried Rice: Incorporate pineapple chunks and ham for a tropical twist, offering a blend of sweet and savory flavors.
- Breakfast Fried Rice: Start your day uniquely by adding breakfast sausage and extra eggs. You might even want to drizzle a little hot sauce on top!
- Mushroom and Spinach Fried Rice: For an earthy take, add sautéed mushrooms and wilted spinach. This version adds a different texture and a burst of greens.
- Curry Fried Rice: Spice things up with some curry powder and extra veggies like bell peppers and carrots for a flavorful, aromatic alternative.
Expert Tips
- Stocking up on Frozen Vegetables: It’s a smart idea to have frozen veggies on hand for those who cook for one or two. They offer both convenience and longevity, allowing you to take out only what you need and store the rest without spoilage worries.
- Fresh Vegetable Options: If you’re more of a fresh produce fan, you’re in luck. You can easily replace frozen vegetables with fresh ones. Broccoli florets and finely diced carrots are stellar choices.
- Versatility is Key: The best part about this fried rice recipe is its adaptability. Whether you’re a fan of chicken, partial to shrimp, or leaning towards tofu, this dish is customizable. Feel free to add your choice of cooked protein to make it your own.
What To Serve With Fried Rice
Pairing your single serving fried rice with the right dish can elevate your meal experience to a whole new level. Here are some scrumptious choices that harmonize well with the rich flavors of fried rice.
- Pepper Steak: Thin slices of steak sautéed with bell peppers and onions in a savory sauce make this dish a protein-packed partner to your fried rice.
- Cashew Chicken: Tender chicken pieces tossed in a rich sauce and topped with crunchy cashews offer a mix of textures and flavors that synergize wonderfully with fried rice.
- Chicken Tenders: Lightly breaded and baked to perfection, these chicken tenders provide a crispy contrast to the soft grains of rice.
- Fresh Tomato Salad: A bowl of ripe tomatoes, sliced red onions, and a light vinaigrette can act as a refreshing palate cleanser alongside your hearty fried rice.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you don’t already have leftover rice, consider trying our single serving recipes for Baked Brown Rice or Baked White Rice. These methods guarantee perfect rice consistently. To prepare more servings, simply double the ingredients for equally impressive results.
For optimal cooking, I recommend using a 10-inch skillet. A similar-sized pan will ensure that your ingredients are evenly cooked and well incorporated.
If you would like more information on the cooking and baking dishes I use in our “recipes for one”, please visit our FAQ page.
Examples of the dishes used at One Dish Kitchen can be found at our Store page.
Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Absolutely, just use a larger pan and double the ingredients.
RELATED: Comfort Food Recipes For One
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve tried this easy fried rice recipe or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
If you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see!
Fried Rice For One
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ tablespoon salted butter
- ½ cup chopped onions
- 1 clove garlic , minced
- ¾ cup cooked brown rice , or cooked white rice
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup peas
- ½ cup corn
- 1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
- salt , to taste (optional)
- pepper , to taste (optional)
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a medium-sized pan over medium heat. Add the chopped onions to the pan and cook, stirring occasionally for 2 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic to the pan and cook, stirring occasionally for 1 minute.
- Add the cooked rice to the pan and cook, stirring for 30 seconds. Push the rice, onions, and garlic to the sides of the pan.
- Add the egg to the center of the pan and cook the egg until scrambled. When the egg is almost completely cooked mix it in with the rice/onion mixture.
- Add the peas and the corn to the pan and cook, stirring for 1 minute.
- Stir in the soy sauce and taste. Add salt and pepper, if necessary.
Notes
- Stocking up on Frozen Vegetables: It’s a smart idea to have frozen veggies on hand for those who cook for one or two. They offer both convenience and longevity, allowing you to take out only what you need and store the rest without spoilage worries.
- Fresh Vegetable Options: If you’re more of a fresh produce fan, you’re in luck. You can easily replace frozen vegetables with fresh ones. Broccoli florets and finely diced carrots are stellar choices.
- Versatility is Key: The best part about this fried rice recipe is its adaptability. Whether you’re a fan of chicken, partial to shrimp, or leaning towards tofu, this dish is customizable. Feel free to add your choice of cooked protein to make it your own.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Fried rice was very tasty.
Can this be reheated in the microwave?
Absolutely, you can reheat the fried rice in the microwave by adding a splash of water to help retain moisture. However, I personally prefer heating it up in a skillet with a little butter or oil—it gives the rice a wonderful texture and extra flavor. Either method works well, so choose what’s easiest for you.
This is a good recipe that I have made before. However this time I had oyster sauce and that really made a difference in the taste.
It went from good to great.
Thank you for another great recipe!
Thank you! We love your recipes. The fried rice was delicious
Thank you!
Hi Joanie! This fried rice recipe was really delicious. I had rice pilaf leftover from a burrito recipe so it was perfect. I also had a chicken tender from your recipe the other night. All in all, it was a good dinner. Thanks for your great recipes. Kathy
Your recipes never disappoint! This was easy and delicious.
Very easy and I like the recipe lay out
Being a lazy cook, I would start with a bag of that microwavable rice (and dry it out a bit first)
Very good. I didn’t use the vegetables or the onions or garlic and it was still delicious!
Delicious… totally recommend. I put in some chicken and it was delicious perfect size for one.
Absolutely delicious looking fried rice! That serving bowl looks really very pretty.