Chicken Fried Rice with Thai Peanut Sauce

Chicken Fried Rice with Thai Peanut Sauce is a one-skillet healthy dinner recipe that's ready in just 20 minutes! Full of lean protein, veggies, and healthy fats, it's a convenient and delicious way to feed your family.

I do a little happy dance each time I create a new recipe that is fast, nutritious, and devoured by my kids. What more could a busy mom ask for?!

This recipe is actually just a spin on another one of our favorite dinners: Cold Peanut Sesame Noodles. The dressing that I created a few years ago for that noodle dish is just so darn good…I needed another excuse to enjoy it! With some leftover rice, some frozen veggies, and a store-bought rotisserie chicken, this Thai Chicken Fried Rice was born!

What is Chicken Fried Rice?

Chicken fried rice is a stir-fry dish that includes cooked rice, chicken, and often eggs and vegetables in a soy-based sauce.

Is Chicken Fried Rice healthy?

Since the title includes the word "fried," you might be wondering: how bad is Chicken Fried Rice for you? 

I'm happy to report that this particular chicken fried rice recipe is healthy! It's loaded with lean protein, filling, nutrient-dense vegetables, and healthy fats. The nutrition facts are included below, but 1 cup of the fried rice contains about 266 calories.

Is Chicken Fried Rice high in protein?

Yes! In just 1 cup, this recipe includes 15 grams of protein!

How to make Chicken Fried Rice with Egg at Home:

First, prepare the Thai Peanut Sauce by whisking together peanut butter, soy sauce, canola oil, sesame oil, honey, rice vinegar, ground ginger and garlic. 

Chicken Fried Rice Ingredients:

Set the sauce aside, and then it's time to stir-fry! You'll start with 2 eggs, lightly beaten.

In a large skillet, cook and stir the eggs over medium heat. Remove the eggs from the skillet and set them aside.

Next, in the same pan, stir-fry the bell pepper, broccoli and peas.

This should only take about 2-3 minutes, since the broccoli is already steamed.

Add the cooked chicken, cooked rice, and about half of the peanut sauce.

If I don't have any leftover cooked rice on hand, I often use a pouch of this microwaveable rice for a shortcut. One pouch contains 2 cups, and you can cook it in the microwave in about 90 seconds.

Finally, add the cooked eggs and the green onions to the skillet.

At this point, give the fried rice a taste and add any of the remaining peanut sauce, to taste.

Give it all a good stir, and serve! This dish is great when garnished with chopped peanuts or toasted sesame seeds.

Can Chicken Fried Rice be frozen?

Yes! Any leftovers can be frozen in individual portions for quick meals at a later date. Allow the fried rice to cool completely, package in airtight containers, and freeze for up to 3 months.

Can you reheat Chicken Fried Rice?

Yes! Microwave the fried rice (covered) until heated through, or warm in a skillet on the stovetop over medium heat with a bit of oil.

What to serve with Chicken Fried Rice:

Wondering what goes with Chicken Fried Rice? The truth is, this easy fried rice recipe is an entire meal on its own! You've got veggies, protein, and grains all in one pan. That said, if you'd like to add a side dish to your table, here are a few good options:

• Egg rolls or spring rolls! I often buy the frozen egg rolls at the grocery store for a quick Asian-inspired side dish at home.
• Dumplings. Again, our family enjoys the frozen vegetable or chicken dumplings that you can buy at the grocery store (or at Costco). 
• Mandarin oranges.
• A simple Asian-inspired green salad with a sesame vinaigrette. Try adding slivered almonds or peanuts, chow mein noodles, sliced green onion, and mandarin oranges.

COOK'S TIPS AND RECIPE VARIATIONS:

• I showed you how to make Chicken Fried Rice with chicken, but if you have leftover ground beef, turkey, pork, or steak, those proteins will all work well in this dish too! You can even make canned chicken fried rice by using chicken from a can.
• Mix up the veggies and use whatever your family loves most. You can use corn, frozen mixed vegetables, frozen stir-fry blend, snow peas, carrots, celery, onion, or anything else that you've got stashed in your vegetable drawer!
• Use any rice that you prefer. Brown rice works well, but so does white rice, jasmine rice, or basmati rice!
• How do you make Cauliflower Chicken Fried Rice? Substitute 2 cups of cauliflower rice for the regular rice called for in the recipe. All other instructions remain the same!

Other chicken and rice recipes that you might enjoy:

• Southern Chicken and Rice Salad
• Dump-and-Bake Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
• Dump-and-Bake Shrimp and Rice Casserole
• Dump-and-Bake Italian Chicken and Rice

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Chicken Fried Rice with Thai Peanut Sauce

Chicken Fried Rice with Thai Peanut Sauce is a one-skillet healthy dinner recipe that's ready in just 20 minutes!

Course Dinner

Cuisine Asian

Keyword chicken fried rice, fried rice recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Servings 7 cups

Calories 266kcal

Author Blair Lonergan

Ingredients

For the Sauce:

• 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
• ¼ cup less sodium soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon canola oil (or other mild oil of your choice)
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic

For the Fried Rice:

• 2 eggs lightly beaten
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 2 cups frozen baby broccoli florets steamed in the microwave until just crisp-tender (about 1 ½ - 2 minutes)
• 1 cup frozen peas or shelled edamame, (NOT thawed)
• 1 ½ cups cooked, diced chicken (I like to use the meat from a store-bought rotisserie chicken)
• 2 cups cooked rice
• 4 green onions, sliced
• Optional garnish: toasted sesame seeds; chopped peanuts

Instructions

Prepare the Sauce:

• Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl until smooth. Set aside.

Prepare the Fried Rice:

• In a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, cook and stir eggs over medium heat until no liquid egg remains, breaking up eggs into small pieces. Remove from pan; wipe skillet clean if necessary.
• In same pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add bell pepper, broccoli, and peas; stir fry 2-3 minutes or until tender. Add chicken, rice, and approximately half of the sauce to the skillet. Stir until combined.
• Add cooked eggs and green onions; heat through.
• Stir in additional sauce, as desired. Top with chopped peanuts and sesame seeds.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 266kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 375mg | Potassium: 352mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 920IU | Vitamin C: 53.3mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 1.7mg

This post was originally published in April, 2015. It was updated in February, 2019.