Chicken Fried Rice (鸡肉炒饭)

Jump to:

• About the dish
• Top Tips
• Ingredients & substitutes
• Cooking procedure
• Serving ideas
• Other takeout dishes
• 📋 Recipe card

About the dish

Many of my blog readers are interested in cooking their takeout favorites at home. Today’s recipe, Chicken Fried Rice (鸡肉炒饭), is definitely worth adding to your menu.

Tender chicken cubes are tossed with springy rice and crunchy vegetables, all flavored with a soy sauce-based seasoning mixture. It’s light, flavorful, and very comforting indeed.

Like other classic fried rice dishes such as Egg Fried Rice, Pork Fried Rice, Soy Sauce Fried Rice, and Yangzhou Fried Rice, this dish is a great way to use up leftover rice from a previous meal. You’re also free to improvise with your choice of vegetables.

 

Ingredients & substitutes

Chicken and cornstarch

Any skinless, boneless chicken cuts work well for this recipe, such as breasts, thighs, and legs. You’ll need a little cornstarch to briefly marinate the meat. It helps to produce a tender, moist texture.

Cooked rice

Jasmine rice is my favorite type of rice for this recipe. You may also use other varieties. Although basmati rice is not used in Chinese cuisine, it’s a fine option too.

It’s best to use day-old cooked rice that has been refrigerated, as the rice grains are drier and tend not to be overly sticky.

If you wish to go the extra mile, check out my post that introduces the parboil-steam method for cooking rice, which produces the optimal texture for any fried rice dish.

Vegetables

When testing this recipe, I chose onions, button mushrooms, peas, and red peppers for their varied flavors, textures, and colors. However, you are by no means limited to these choices. Feel free to improvise with whatever vegetables you have on hand. Asparagus, carrots, celery, sweetcorn, and bok choy are all excellent options.

Seasonings & aromatics

To season the dish, you’ll need light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, white pepper, and sesame oil. Additionally, use some garlic and scallions for extra aroma.

Cooking procedure

Step 1: Marinate the chicken

Lay the chicken on a chopping board and cut it into small cubes, about ⅓ inch (1 cm) in size.

In a bowl, mix the chicken with cornstarch, salt, and a little water until well combined. Let it marinate while you cut the vegetables.

Step 2: Mix the seasonings

Remember to prepare the seasonings before you start cooking as you won’t have time to measure everything while stir-frying. In a small bowl, mix all the condiments – light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, white pepper, and sesame oil – and set aside.

Step 3: Sear the chicken

To avoid sticking, it’s crucial to first heat the wok until it’s very hot, then pour in the oil and swirl to cover a large area.

Add the marinated chicken, spreading the pieces out. Leave them to fry over high heat undisturbed until the side touching the bottom changes color. Then flip and toss to ensure the chicken fries evenly.

Once all the pieces lose the pinkness, dish them out and move on to the next step.

🌟 NOTE: If using cookware with a non-stick coating, do not heat it empty. Instead, add oil first then heat up.

Step 4: Stir fry the vegetables

Add a little more oil. First sizzle minced garlic and diced onion until fragrant.

Then put in the mushrooms, peppers, and peas. Stir fry until the mushrooms start to wilt. This takes about 1 minute.

Step 5: Combine the dish

Add the cooked rice, along with the seasoning mixture. Toss swiftly and loosen any rice lumps with a spatula.

When the rice is evenly heated, put in the cooked chicken. Stir fry for another 30 seconds.

Finally, add finely chopped scallions and give everything a final toss.

Serving ideas

A plate of chicken fried rice offers everything you need in a healthy meal: protein, vegetables, and starch, making it perfect to enjoy on its own. When I have extra time, I also like to cook a simple soup to balance the meal’s dryness, such as Egg Drop Soup or Tofu & Vegetable Soup.

This dish is also a great addition to dinner parties or potlucks, especially when paired with centerpieces like Char Siu Pork, Aromatic Crispy Duck, or Sweet & Sour Salmon. You can prepare it in advance and simply reheat it when it’s time to serve.

Other takeout dishes

Looking for more recipes for your takeout favorites? Check out these popular ones:

📋 Recipe card

Love this recipe? Please leave a 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating and a comment. Thank you!