If you have leftover rice, here are some of the best leftover fried rice recipes you can make at home.
Do you have leftover rice in your fridge? Let’s sprinkle some magic into it and turn it into a bowl of delectable fried rice using this collection of recipes.
Fried rice is, at its core, comfort food, and we all love it, whether in a bowl from takeout or homemade. Please note that leftover rice is ideal for these recipes because it’s drier and cooks great in your skillet. Any moisture needed in these recipes should only come from the bit of oil and the veggies.
Since fried rice is easy to make and adaptable, you can twist the recipes below to impress your friends and workmates. For a sweet note, try Spicy Mango Fried Rice and Thai Pineapple Fried Rice. From Korean Gochujang, Tuna Fried Rice (canned! I know, right? But it works!), BBQ Chicken Fried Rice, and more, you’ll love the variety here, so you’ve probably got ingredients for at least one or two of these!
Or try recipe #30 for a nutty and creamy twist added to your leftover fried rice.
One popular way to use leftover rice is to make this classic Chinese fried rice. This straightforward recipe features eggs and some veggies—so versatile!
This recipe highlights the freshness of onions, the savory notes of peas, and the earthy sweetness of carrots. But aside from these veggies, you can add more, like mushrooms, chopped broccoli, or bell peppers.
This one will give you a bowl of savory and fluffy fried rice with juicy-tender chicken, eggs, peas, carrots with garlic, and shallots.
Shallots and garlic, the aromatics in this recipe, are the key to the fragrant chicken fried rice, but the garlic stands out more.
In this recipe, garlic adds a very aromatic taste, one reason for its popularity in many Asian cuisines.
I’m sure you have bacon in your fridge!
Now, don’t just fry them for breakfast; add them to your leftover rice to make a fried rice recipe that you’ll cook on repeat every morning.
Aside from the addition of bacon, this recipe is unique in that it uses not only soy sauce as its flavor base but a combination of four ingredients, such as oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, and butter.
Let’s take a break from the Chinese flavors in your fried rice and focus on this classic Japanese dish that is ready in just 30 minutes!
If you are craving tender rice, eggs, and veggies cooked quickly together with bold flavors but are too tired to go to nearby restaurants, this Japanese fried rice recipe is sure to satisfy.
Although you may need to gain the entertaining griddle skills of a Japanese hibachi cook, you can still make this irresistible Hibachi fried rice at home!
Do you have leftover ham and leftover rice at home? If you answer yes, spare some 15 minutes of your time, and you’ve got yourself a fast-fix and affordable meal, especially if you only have 30 minutes of lunchtime on weekdays.
This is another chicken fried rice recipe to use up your leftover rice, but this highlights the tasty flavor profile of the yum yum sauce.
The creamy sauce and rice are so perfect together, and it’s ready in just 30 minutes!
Yum Yum sauce is a creamy sauce made with mayo, ketchup, and a few other ingredients for a sweet, tangy flavor that pairs well with everything from chicken and shrimp to vegetables and rice.
A drizzle over this chicken fried rice recipe elevates the dish!
Have you heard of oil-free fried rice? Try this recipe at home!
Spicy Mango Fried Rice is an oil-free and versatile recipe, as you can lessen or increase the dish’s spiciness. The spicy, fiery heat created by the red chili flakes pairs beautifully with this recipe’s floral, fruity, and sweet mango flavors–this is something to look forward to!
Leftover prime rib, leftover rice, frozen peas, and carrots make this easy Prime Rib Fried Rice a snap to whip up!
You know how savory prime rib is, especially the leftovers, and believe me, this recipe takes umami to new levels of absolute flavor! Pro tip: A wok with searing hot oil is best for this recipe.
This one is a kid-friendly recipe. And this will indeed become a family favorite since it only takes approximately 20 minutes to prepare.
In addition to rice and soy sauce, you only need ground turkey and vegetables such as carrots, peas, and corn, but you can substitute any other seasonal vegetables. You can even switch things up by adding peppers and zucchini!
This shrimp and rice with veggies and eggs is a protein-packed and easy dinner. The star ingredient in this recipe is the shrimp, which gives off a mild combination of buttery, salty, and sweet hints in your fried rice.
Pro tip: Add ingredients to the pan separately and strictly follow the recipe’s procedure for a perfect result.
As the name suggests, this recipe uses a mix of vegetables, leftover rice, and some eggs for protein, and it’s ready in half an hour. This one uses carrots, peppers, and broccoli, but you can change the vegetables.
Sprinkle some scallions over your finished fried rice and serve right away.
This leftover fried rice version uses brown rice, which is more hearty than white rice. To make egg-fried brown rice, you will need cooked brown rice, mixed vegetables, meat, eggs, sesame oil, and soy sauce.
You can also add any other stir-fry sauces if you wish. For the veggies, the frozen vegetable mix we can buy at the nearest grocery store works great here.
13. Spam Fried Rice
This recipe features delicious white rice fried with diced Spam, scrambled eggs, green peas, and corn with sesame oil, soy sauce, and oyster sauce.
It’s savory and filling and hits the spot. This easy meal comes together quickly if you have leftover rice and a can of Spam in your pantry.
The name suggests something for breakfast, and yes, this is great for that particular meal, but this can also fill you up with all the mouth-watering flavors any time of the day!
Plus, you only need four ingredients here! Leftover fried rice is the base ingredient here, and you can even add other leftover breakfast staples such as bacon and eggs.
You can have it ready to eat in only 15 minutes–isn’t that a breakfast win?
This one is also a Chinese-style fried rice but with a hint of sweet and savory, dark, rich Hoisin sauce.
It’s also incredibly flexible and easy to adapt to your family’s likes or what you have on hand. Hoisin is a Chinese sauce that’s a little sweet, salty, and earthy with a hint of other spices. It’s commonly used in sauces and as a glaze; it’s like Chinese BBQ sauce and adds flavor to many dishes.
This leftover fried rice recipe features leftover rice, turmeric-seasoned chicken pieces, broccoli, and egg as its main ingredients to create a delicious and easy-to-make meal.
The turmeric-seasoned chicken in this recipe combines a sweet and savory aftertaste in every bite of this fried rice.
Plus, the addition of the beautiful broccoli gives off a harmonious blend of flavors your family will surely want to taste over and over.
17. Vegan Fried Rice
This Vegan Fried Rice has several ingredients, but if all are ready on the table before you start cooking, you can whip this up in only 20 minutes.
For this one, you will need olive oil, tofu, yeast, salt, turmeric, diced onion, green onions, diced carrots, frozen peas, leftover rice, low-sodium soy sauce, and toasted sesame oil.
The tofu replaces the eggs, and the toasted sesame oil elevates the fried rice to a new level.
Your leftover fried rice can be made savory by adding chicken breasts with a simple BBQ rub and Japanese BBQ sauce.
Although not on the ingredient list, you can add the veggies you love here to make the recipe more filling.
The dry and hardened texture of leftover rice is just the right quality for the fried rice in this recipe; I bet you would not want mushy Thai Pineapple Fried Rice!
This is a one-pot wonder stuffed with flavors of curry powder, pineapple chunks, and other fresh ingredients. The curry powder offers a nice finish.
Pan-seared salmon is stir-fried with mixed vegetables, eggs, garlic, leftover rice, soy sauce, and other ingredients nicely picked for a savory fried rice recipe.
But while Salmon is our star here, you can also use any other type of fish you may have–tuna, tilapia, cod, etc.
The rustic flavors of onions, garlic, and tomatoes bring this leftover fried rice to the next level; they are simple ingredients, but I tell you, your tastebuds will like how they added a nice twist to your bland leftover rice.
By the way, tomato sauce helps add a deep, home-style flavor to your fried rice and also adds color.
Let’s go Korean this time!
Gochujang, also known as fermented red pepper paste, is a famous condiment used in Korean cooking.
It is umami and spicy, making your leftover fried rice a real-deal crowd-pleaser!
Add veggies of your choice plus a few other ingredients, and you’ve got a bowl of luscious fried rice brimming with Asian flavors.
This recipe is an adventure in a bowl, considering a mix of different flavors and textures.
Build this tasty side with onion, garlic, and jalapeno, then fry the rice with corn, black beans, and a splash of lime juice before tossing in soft scrambled eggs.
Since garnish makes a dish, top your fried rice with salsa, avocado, sour cream, or shredded cheddar and plenty of lime wedges!
24. Tuna Fried Rice
Do you have canned tuna at home?
Let’s use it for something deliciously creative!
Bring out those cans of tuna in your pantry, plus the peas, corn, and carrots, in your fridge, and start making this straightforward and inexpensive fried rice recipe.
And I’m sure you will love the zesty, fruity, and salty aftertaste the Toyomansi gives.
Toyomansi is a Filipino-style sauce, a combination of soy sauce and lemon.
Want tasty restaurant-style fried rice?
This Mushroom Fried Rice is the key!
This is a Chinese-inspired dish made using leftover rice, mushrooms, and Chinese sauces.
A mix of mushroom varieties works well in this recipe; this goes the same with other veggies.
Plus, you’ll need sesame oil for that authentic Asian taste!
This recipe is a lifesaver for days when you have leftover pork and rice!
Yes, you can just reheat your pork, especially if you only roasted it the night before.
But wouldn’t it be more flavorful if it’s mixed with the famous leftover rice, mixed veggies, and other herbs and spices?
You would want that!
Finish with sprinkles of apple cider, mirin, sherry wine, or something acidic for a sharp, tangy aftertaste.
27. Egg Fried Rice
Egg Fried Rice is a popular choice when dining at a Chinese restaurant and a swift one to cook at home!
This is a classic recipe, but you will love how the fresh green onions create a bold, fresh aftertaste.
Add leafy greens like bok choy and a fried egg to make this a wholesome meal.
Fuiyoh!
This is one of the comfort foods in Korea, especially since it has ripe kimchi in its ingredient list.
It’s a quick and easy meal that’s a favorite in Korean households.
Spam pairs well with kimchi because they’re both salty and intensely flavored, and kimchi’s bright flavors cut through the spam’s fattiness.
This is another one-pan meal that will satisfy your Chinese takeout craving.
If you have leftover rice, Chinese ham, shrimp, eggs, and some veggies, you’re all equipped for this savory recipe.
Add soy sauce, white pepper, and green onions, and you have a meal brimming with umami flavors!
The last recipe, but the best one, might get you cooking fried rice every day!
This recipe features all your classic fried rice ingredients with the addition of brisket and the lovely flavors of coconut milk.
The coconut flavor in this brisket fried rice fantastically pairs with the fresh ginger and garlic-infused oil, cilantro, and onions.
This fried rice is light and aromatic with minimal sauce, so the vegetables and brisket stand out.
The bottom line
There you have it–great recipes for using leftover rice that will leave you hungry for more!
With all these savory leftover fried rice recipes we have listed for you, I’m sure you’ll never eat your leftover rice the same way you did before.
More Recipes+FAQ
30 Leftover Fried Rice Recipes
If you find yourself with leftover rice, no need to worry as we’ve gathered some of the best leftover fried rice recipes you can make at home.
Ingredients
- 20-Minute Fried Rice
- Chinese Chicken Fried Rice
- Fried Rice With Bacon
- Japanese Hibachi Fried Rice
- Ham Fried Rice
- Chicken Fried Rice With Yum Yum Sauce
- Spicy Mango Fried Rice
- Prime Rib Fried Rice
- Fried Rice Recipe (Turkey And Vegetables With Leftover Rice)
- Shrimp Fried Rice Recipe
- Vegetable Fried Rice
- Egg Fried Brown Rice
- Spam Fried Rice
- Breakfast Fried Rice
- Hoisin Fried Rice
- Chicken Broccoli Fried Rice
- Vegan Fried Rice
- BBQ Chicken Fried Rice
- Thai Pineapple Fried Rice
- Salmon Fried Rice
- Tomato And Garlic Fried Rice
- Korean Gochujang Fried Rice
- Mexican Fried Rice
- Tuna Fried Rice
- Mushroom Fried Rice
- Fried Rice With Leftover Pork Loin
- Egg Fried Rice
- Kimchi Fried Rice With Spam
- Yong Chow Fried Rice
- Coconut Fried Rice With Brisket
Instructions
- Take a look at our Leftover Fried Rice Recipes list!
- Bring the ingredients to create a new favorite fried rice dish.
- Woohoo! You created a home-cooked meal!
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