Easy 30-Minute Chicken Fried Rice – The BEST Healthy Weeknight Dinner!
Chicken fried rice is one of my favorite go-to’s when it comes to busy weeknight dinners. It’s easy to make, the kids love it, and we can keep eating the leftovers for days! But what makes this recipe extra special is that it’s a healthier take on chicken fried rice, it can be made entirely in a single large non-stick pan, and it can be made in just 25-30 minutes.
You can adjust the veggies, use oil and soy sauce (tamari, coconut aminos) of your choice, and make a double batch to freeze some for later. There are so many ways to adjust this recipe and truly make it work for you and your family!
RELATED: 100+ Quick Healthy Dinner Ideas (30 Minutes Or Less)
Ingredients/Substitutions
- Toasted Sesame Oil
- Cooking Oil (vegetable oil, refined avocado oil, etc.)
- Chicken Breast (cut into bite-sized pieces) – cubed boneless skinless chicken thighs work great, too!
- Green Onion
- Minced Garlic
- Broccoli
- Red Bell Pepper
- Frozen Peas, Carrots, & Corn
- Eggs
- Cooked Brown Rice – day-old rice or microwave rice are both great options.
- Brown Sugar
- Tamari or Coconut Aminos (or low-sodium soy sauce)
- Freshly Grated Ginger
How To Make Chicken Fried Rice
Here’s how to make a healthier chicken fried rice in just 30 minutes. It’s so delicious!
- Lightly fry the cubed chicken in sesame oil, cooking oil, and salt/pepper to taste in a non-stick pan or cast-iron skillet. Set aside.
- Sauté the vegetables in oil until fork-tender.
- Push the veggies to the side of the pan and scramble the eggs in the center.
- Add in cooked rice, the cooked chicken, brown sugar, soy sauce/tamari, and ginger, then sauté for a couple of minutes to let the flavors blend.
- Add more salt/pepper to taste, then top with red pepper flakes and extra green onions!
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Healthy Chicken Fried Rice Variations
Making This Ahead of Time
This quick chicken fried rice recipe can be made ahead of time or meal prepped. Simply cook the recipe according to directions and store the dish for later. It’s that easy!
Refrigerating/Freezing Leftovers
Have leftovers? Refrigerate them in an airtight container for up to 4-5 days. To freeze, let cool in the fridge for 1 hour, then move to the freezer and store for up to 3 months! When ready to enjoy, add about 1/2-1 Tablespoon of water, broth, or tamari and microwave for a few minutes until warm (stirring often).
More Easy, Healthy 30-Minute Meals for the Family
- Mahi-Mahi Fish Taco Bowls
- Weeknight Chicken Pad Thai
- Creamy Lemon Garlic Pasta
- Hot Honey Salmon Bowls
- Chicken Broccoli Pasta Casserole
Did you make this Easy Chicken Fried Rice recipe? Rate it below and follow along on Instagram for more healthy dinner ideas!
30-Minute Chicken Fried Rice
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 teaspoons toasted sesame oil (divided)
- 2 Tablespoons cooking oil (vegetable, refined avocado, etc.)
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast (cut into cubes)
- 1/3 cup green onion, diced (plus extra for topping)
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 cups broccoli (finely chopped)
- 1 medium red bell pepper (diced)
- 2 cups frozen peas, carrots, & corn (total, not each)
- 3 large eggs (lightly beaten)
- 3 cups cooked brown rice
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 4 Tablespoons tamari or coconut aminos (or low-sodium soy sauce, divided)
- 1 Tablespoon freshly grated ginger
Instructions
- Add 2 teaspoons of the toasted sesame oil and 2 tablespoons of the plain oil to a large pan over medium heat.
- Once hot, add in the chicken pieces with a pinch of salt and pepper and sauté until completely cooked through, about 6 minutes.
- Set the chicken on a plate to the side.
- Add in the remaining sesame oil.
- Sauté the chopped green onion, garlic, broccoli, bell pepper and frozen veggies for about 5 minutes or until the broccoli is fork tender.
- Push the veggies to the side and add in the beaten eggs and scramble.
- Add back in the chicken, rice, brown sugar, soy sauce/tamari, and ginger, then sauté for a couple of minutes to let the flavors blend.
- Taste and adjust flavors as desired, adding more salt as desired or red pepper flakes for spice.
- Garnish with extra diced green onion and enjoy!
Aisha Seats says:
Delicious! I meal prepped this for lunch for the week and it turned out great. The only thing I have to say is that if definitely took longer than 30 minutes between chopping the broccoli, bell pepper, spring onion, ginger garlic, dicing the chicken and measuring out seasonings etc. But overall, a very nutritious and tasty recipe, would recommend!
Jar Of Lemons replied:
Thanks for the feedback, Aisha! So glad you enjoyed this. 🙂