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Sharing an easy, weeknight style…Better Than Takeout Sesame Ginger Chicken Fried Rice. Day-old rice is pan-fried with a Chinese inspired sauce, plenty of ginger, garlic, vegetables, scrambled eggs, and caramelized chicken. This fried rice is a touch salty, a touch spicy, and full of so much flavor. It’s heavy on the sauce and comes together in no time at all (about 30 minutes). Perfect for busy weeknights when you’re looking for something with a little more flavor, but still quick, healthy-ish, and DELICIOUS.
These “better than takeout” style recipes have officially become some of my favorite recipes to create and share with you guys. After so many requests from you all to keep sharing them, I’m thinking this should be a bi-weekly series here on HBH. What do you guys think? Would that excite you? We already have another one in the works and my ideas for “better than takeout” style dishes are not slowing down.
I have so many I want to create! What are some of your favorite take-out dishes?
Anyway, point is that I love these recipes so much and this fried rice is up there as a new top favorite. It’s actually shocking to me that it has taken me this long to create a fried rice recipe. This has been a staple in my kitchen for a few weeks now and I love making it with the leftover rice I seem to always have in the fridge. It’s perfect for using up leftovers and getting in plenty of vegetables too! Bonus? Even the picky eaters enjoy this recipe!!
The Inspiration…
Growing up, we didn’t eat a lot of chicken fried rice, but I do recall a very specific Christmas Eve day that I experienced my first bowl of chicken fried rice. My brothers got Chinese takeout…since my mom was busy cleaning the house for her annual Christmas Eve family gathering. All five of us siblings (so me plus all the brothers…well maybe not Red, he was just a baby) were randomly watching Pirates of The Caribbean. Even more randomly we were all enjoying some Chinese takeout.
My oldest brother must have ordered me some chicken fried rice. All that I really remember is that is was so good. I also remember thinking the takeout containers were very cool and that I was having way too much fun attempting to use chopsticks. Well, that was before I finally got annoyed and switched to a fork.
So that’s my first memory of chicken fried rice. I don’t recall the taste other than it was salty and full of rice. So of course…I loved it.
Here’s how you make this chicken fried rice.
I wanted to create a more traditional rice, so I used eggs, chicken, vegetables, and day-old rice. That said, you can easily make this vegetarian by omitting the eggs and the chicken. The rice is still just as delicious. If you wanted to add more protein, tofu or chickpeas would be great in this fried rice too.
Start by making the sauce. It’s a very simple mix of soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, and hoisin sauce (using my homemade Hoisin).
Once the sauce is made, grab your largest skillet and start cooking. I like to start with the eggs, then cook the vegetables, then the chicken, and toss the rice in right at the end. It’s all made in just one skillet and it’s very quick and so easy. There’s plenty of ginger and plenty of garlic. There’s also toasted sesame oil for added flavor, and my favorite vegetables, mushrooms, and greens.
The secret to great fried rice.
First up, if time allows, use leftover day-old rice. Using older rice will give you a crispier fried rice. If you’re cooking the rice the same day, the rice will have a high moisture content and will be trickier to get crispy.
Tip: if you’re cooking your rice just before making this recipe, cook the rice, then spread it out on a large rimmed baking sheet. Transfer the baking sheet full of rice to the freezer and freeze for fifteen to twenty minutes to help the rice dry out.
Next, make sure to really crisp your mushrooms before adding in the greens. This will allow the mushrooms to have the most flavor and not turn to complete mush once the sauce has been added.
For the vegetables, you can really use whatever you have on hand. I’m using mushrooms and baby bok choy, but broccoli, frozen peas, carrots, kale, and spinach would all be great. Use what you have…and or what you love most.
The leftovers are delicious the following day for lunch, especially when topped with a fried egg and additional herbs. Yum!
Excited to have this quick better than takeout fried rice in my recipe box. I already know I will be making this time and time again. It’s one of those dinners that everyone in the family loves. Added bonus? It’s perfect for getting the picky, non-vegetable eaters of the fam to actually eat and enjoy their vegetables.
Added bonus #2? I love how easily adaptable this recipe is. I can literally use whatever I have on hand and as long I have rice plus the ingredients for the sauce, I know it will turn out GOOD.
Nothing not to love!
Looking for other better than takeout style recipes?
30 Minute Creamy Sesame Miso Ramen with Crispy Mushrooms
Better Than Takeout Sweet Thai Basil Chicken
Better Than Takeout Kung Pao Cauliflower
Lastly, if you make this better than takeout sesame ginger chicken fried rice, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Better Than Takeout Sesame Ginger Chicken Fried Rice
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 459 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce (make sure to use GF, if needed)
- 1-2 teaspoon chili flakes use to your taste
- 3 eggs, beaten (optional)
- 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or sesame oil
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- 2 cups shiitake or cremini mushrooms, roughly torn
- 4 baby bok choy or 2 cups spinach, roughly chopped
- 4 green onions, chopped
- 2 inches fresh ginger, grated
- 4 garlic cloves, minced or grated
- 1/2 pound chicken breasts, cubed
- 4 cups cooked, day-old rice
- ½ cup fresh basil or cilantro, chopped
Instructions
- 1. To make the sauce. In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, hoisin sauce, and chili flakes.2. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the eggs (if using), season with salt and pepper, and let cook until the edges start to set, 1-2 minutes. Roughly scramble the eggs. Remove from the heat and transfer to a plate. 3. Return the skillet to medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons oil. When the oil shimmers add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are crisping on the edges, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and large pinch of pepper. Stir in the green onions, ginger, garlic, and bok choy. Cook another 2-3 minutes, until the mushrooms are caramelized. Remove from the heat and transfer the mushrooms and greens to the plate with the eggs. 4. Return the skillet to medium-high heat and add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Add the chicken and cook until browned, 5 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons of the sauce, cook another 1-2 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring occasionally, until toasted, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the remaining sauce, toss, cook another 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the mushroom, bok choy, and eggs. Remove from the heat. Add the basil or cilantro. 5. Divide the rice amoung bowls and top with additional green onions.
Notes
Homemade Hoisin: in a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce, 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter, 2 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon molasses, 1 teaspoon Chinese 5 spice powder, and a pinch of black pepper.
Cooking the Rice: 2 cups of dry jasmine or basmati rice yields 4 cups cooked rice. Make sure your rice is room temp and not hot before using. If you're cooking your rice just before making this recipe, cook the rice, then spread it out on a large, rimmed baking sheet. Transfer the baking sheet full of rice to the freezer and freeze for fifteen to twenty minutes to help the rice dry out.
Brown Rice: works just a well and is a delicious, healthy twist! Quinoa works too, though I prefer brown rice.
Hi! For the homemade hoisin sauce is there a sub for molasses?
Hey Kristine,
You can use some brown sugar. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Really tasty! Would have gone faster if I had a day old rice and the other ingredients chopped! It was yummy! If make more sauce! Yum!
Thank you so much Dana! I am really glad this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan
I think I am about 15 Tieghan recipes in at this point. I would say that 14 of the 15 have been 5 stars which is very impressive! Everyone at the house rated this as a “10 out of 10” which is a rare accomplishment over here. It had really good flavor, I only used one tsp of red pepper flakes and it was plenty spicy for our palate that likes spicy.
Wow that is seriously so amazing! I am really glad you all loved this recipe, Kristen! Thank you! xTieghan
Excellent! This was so umami and delicious. I used brown rice. I wanted to make your hoisin, but I didn’t have Chinese 5 spice so by accident, I used some red curry paste (thinking it was chile sauce) and some garlic chile sauce and other ingredients similar to yours. The rest of the recipe was truly all yours and it was really fabulous. Mine came out much lighter in color than yours – probably because of the hoisin. I’m going to have to purchase Chinese 5 spice and use your hoisin recipe next time.
I am so happy this turned out so amazing for you, Kate!! Thank you so much for trying this one! xTieghan
Delicious and easy. I had left over grilled chicken thighs and removed meat off the bone and cubed, gently warmed through before adding rice, and used spinach instead of bok choy. We’ll make it again
Thank you Victoria! I am so happy to hear that! xTieghan
I love this dish, really meets that takeout Chinese craving!!! Love it Ive made this a number of times and the family loves it as well.
Thank you Bernadette! I am really glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Absolutely delicious! The only thing I did differently was add some ginger with the chicken while it cooked to give it an extra kick. Otherwise I followed the recipe exactly. Love it!
Thank you so much Mackenzie! xTieghan
Love all your recipes, so good!
Thank you so much! xTieghan
This is my first meal cooked off your site and wow!!!
I said to my partner “I’m not sure it’s better than takeout but we can try!” It tastes EXACTLY like my favourite meal from my local takeaway! I could not be more impressed and can’t wait to make it again!
Wow that is so amazing!! I am so glad this turned out so well for you both! xTieghan
The flavour was exquisite, but just a little too salty for my taste. Next time I will use a little less soy sauce which will raise the suculence level to my likeing.
Thank you so much! xTieghan
Ahhhhmazing! This recipe is the best (like all HBH recipes are). Thank you for continuing to teach me how to cook!
Thank you so much Maria! xTieghan
This was a most succelent a tasty dish. I will be trying many more of your succulent looking taste treats.
Thank you so much! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Hi! I made the hoisin sauce and I was wondering if it needed to be refrigerated or it could stay in the pantry!
Thanks!
Hi Kelly! I personally would refrigerate it! Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan, I love your recipes! I wanted to add chopped broccoli and carrots (quarantine substitution!). When would I add those?
Hi Erin,
You can just add those with the mushrooms. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions!
Wow – talk about the perfect “clean up” meal! Went with spinach, store-bought hoisin, ginger powder, and a small can of canned mushrooms from the pantry. Totally DELICIOUS! Hoping for leftovers, but doubt there will be any by the time hubs gets to it. Thank you for a simple and fantastic recipe to use up the odds and ends around the kitchen!
Wow that is so amazing to hear Megan! I am really glad this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan