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Easy Budget-Friendly Chicken Fried Rice Recipe for Family Meals

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A quick, affordable, and delicious chicken fried rice recipe perfect for busy weeknights and family meals, using simple pantry staples and leftover rice for the best texture.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 4 cups day-old white or jasmine rice (about 800g)
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 1 cup frozen peas and carrots mix (or fresh diced carrots and peas)
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (canola or sunflower)
  • 2 stalks green onions, sliced thin
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper or black pepper (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients: chop chicken into bite-sized pieces, mince garlic, finely chop onion and green onions, beat eggs and set aside.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet or wok. Add chicken pieces, season lightly with salt and pepper, cook until golden and cooked through, about 4-5 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
  3. Add remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil to the pan. Sauté chopped onion and garlic until fragrant and translucent, about 2 minutes. Add frozen peas and carrots and cook until heated through.
  4. Push veggies to one side of the pan. Pour beaten eggs into empty side and scramble gently until just set but still moist. Mix eggs with veggies.
  5. Add cold rice in batches, breaking up clumps with spatula. Stir constantly to combine rice with eggs and veggies. Return chicken to pan and stir to mix evenly.
  6. Drizzle soy sauce evenly over rice. Add sesame oil if using. Stir well to coat all ingredients. Taste and adjust seasoning with more soy sauce or pepper if needed. Rice should be slightly crispy in spots but not dry.
  7. Remove pan from heat. Sprinkle sliced green onions on top and give a quick stir. Serve immediately while warm.

Notes

Use day-old rice for best texture to avoid mushiness. Cook in batches if pan is small to avoid overcrowding. Use low-sodium soy sauce to control saltiness. For vegetarian version, omit chicken and add extra veggies or tofu. Fresh rice can be dried on a baking sheet before use. Reheat leftovers with a splash of water to keep moist.

Nutrition

Keywords: chicken fried rice, easy fried rice, budget-friendly dinner, quick chicken recipe, family meals, leftover rice recipe

Find it online: https://breezybake.com/easy-budget-friendly-chicken-fried-rice-recipe-for-family-meals/