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Homemade Pork Fried Rice recipe is a quick and easy twist on Chinese take-out. This delicious dinner tastes even better than restaurant delivery.
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This Pork Fried Rice recipe brings the taste of your favorite Chinese restaurant right to your kitchen in just 15 minutes. It’s a simple, flavorful mix of juicy pork and fresh vegetables, ideal for a quick lunch or a no-fuss dinner option.

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This is the Best Pork Fried Rice Recipe!

Our Pork Fried Rice flavor combination is a major win – the savory pork melds beautifully with the comforting, slightly crispy fried rice. It’s a dance of textures and tastes in every bite, from the juicy pork to the perfectly seasoned rice, creating a satisfying and soulful eating experience.

What’s also great about Pork Fried Rice is its versatility. Whether you’re looking for a fulfilling main dish or a complementary side, this recipe fits the bill. It’s adaptable too, allowing you to add your favorite veggies or adjust the seasoning to your liking. It’s the kind of dish that works just as well for a cozy family dinner as it does for a solo lunch, effortlessly fitting into any meal plan.

And let’s not forget about the convenience factor. This dish is a lifesaver on busy evenings, ready in just 15 minutes. It’s the epitome of simple yet delicious cooking, transforming a few basic ingredients into a meal that’s both fulfilling and easy to prepare. Pork Fried Rice proves that you don’t need to spend hours in the kitchen to enjoy a meal that’s both tasty and satisfying.

Why we love this recipe for Pork Fried Rice

  • Quick and easy to make in your own kitchen.
  • Uses simple ingredients to recreate a popular menu item.
  • Flexible homemade recipe that you can customize with your favorite mix-ins.
  • All-in-one meal filled with whole grains, vegetables, and lean protein in every bite.
  • Delicious family-friendly meal that tastes better than take-out.
Pork Fried Rice ingredients

Pork Fried Rice Ingredients

  • Eggs
  • Vegetable oil
  • Carrots
  • Sweet yellow onion
  • Ground pork
  • Frozen green peas
  • Long-grain white rice
  • Sesame oil: You can substitute 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil for the sesame oil. 
  • Dark soy sauce
  • Hoisin sauce
  • Green onions

What is the best soy sauce for fried rice?

I recommend the Chinese dark soy sauce, but if you cannot find the Chinese version, then the Japanese dark soy sauce is good. If you are not able to find either, you can substitute low sodium soy sauce. If you are watching your salt intake, you can use low sodium soy sauce as well in this recipe.

  • 10-12-inch nonstick skillet
  • Measuring tools
  • Wooden spoon

Best Pork Fried Rice Recipe substitutions and additions

  • Pick A Protein: Feel free to swap the pork for another protein, like beef (sautéd steak or browned ground beef), chicken, shrimp, tempeh, or tofu.
  • Add Some Spice: If you want to make the dish spicy, you can add either 1-2 teaspoons of sriracha or a ½ teaspoon of chili oil. 
  • Add Aromatics: Add some extra flavor to your rice with shallots, scallions, garlic, or ginger.
  • Vegetarian Version: You can easily make a vegetarian version of egg fried rice or vegetable fried rice by eliminating the pork. Feel free to add extra vegetables, your favorite veggie crumbles, or a meat alternative.
serving Pork Fried Rice
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How to Make Pork Fried Rice

This Pork Fried Rice Recipe is the easiest way to recreate a family-favorite take-out dish at home. Filled with Chinese-inspired flavors and your favorite mix-ins, this is a satisfying supper that cooks in one skillet.

  1. Cook The Eggs: Beat the eggs and scramble them in vegetable oil over medium-high heat just until the eggs are no longer “wet” looking, 1-2 minutes. Remove the cooked eggs, and set them aside.
  2. Sauté The Vegetables: Sauté the diced carrots and onion in vegetable oil over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes. Add in the frozen green peas and cook for 30 seconds, just to heat the peas. Remove from the skillet and set them aside. 
  3. Cook The Pork: Cook the ground pork on medium-high, breaking the pork up, until completely browned.
  4. Combine The Pork and Rice: Add the cold cooked rice to the cooked pork and stir in the sesame oil. Be sure to break any clumps of rice up while cooking.
  5. Add The Veggies: Add in the cooked carrots, onions, and peas to the rice and pork mixture.
  6. Stir In Sauce and Egg: Stir in the soy sauce and hoisin to coat the rice mixture. Remove from the heat and stir in the scrambled egg.
  7. Serve: Garnish with the thinly sliced green onion. Serve while hot. Enjoy!

Ground Pork Fried Rice pro tips

  • You can substitute 2 cups of frozen peas and carrots for the fresh diced carrots and frozen peas.
  • This recipe can easily be made with leftover rice from another meal or even thawed frozen rice.
  • One of the secrets to making the best fried rice is having a hot wok and plenty of oil so your veggies don’t burn to the bottom.
  • Try to avoid short grain rice because it contains more starch and as a result, it will make your fried rice less crispy.
  • You can use ground pork, pork tenderloin, pork loin, or even leftover cut up pork chops.

How to serve this recipe for Pork Fried Rice

Serve our pork fried rice as a side dish with our Mongolian beef, sesame chicken, homemade egg rolls or our Chinese chicken salad.

Chinese Pork Fried Rice storage

  • To Store: Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
Pork Fried Rice in skillet

Pork Fried Rice Recipe FAQs

Can I use frozen rice in this recipe?

Yes, you can use frozen rice. You will just need to thaw the rice before adding it to the skillet, just enough so the grains can separate.

Why does my rice need to be cold?

You must use cold, cooked rice for this recipe! A fresh batch of warm (or even lukewarm) rice will not fry well when it hits the hot pan, and will result in soggy and sticky clumps. Leftover refrigerated rice is ideal, or if you do cook up a fresh batch of rice, simply spread it out on a baking sheet or another large flat pan, drape the rice with a layer of plastic wrap, and pop it in the fridge for 30 minutes (or in the freezer for 10-15 minutes) until it is thoroughly chilled (not frozen).

What is the secret to good fried rice?

The secret to good fried rice lies in a few key factors. Firstly, using cold, cooked rice that has been refrigerated helps maintain a firm texture. Secondly, cooking the ingredients over high heat quickly and evenly imparts a smoky flavor and preserves their crispness. Lastly, achieving the perfect balance of seasonings, such as soy sauce and other flavorful ingredients, ensures a well-rounded and delicious fried rice dish. By considering these elements, you can create a tasty and satisfying fried rice at home.

What oil do Chinese restaurants use for fried rice?

Chinese restaurants typically use neutral oils with high smoke points for frying rice, such as vegetable oil or canola oil. These oils can withstand the high heat required for stir-frying without breaking down or imparting unwanted flavors to the dish. They also help to create a good texture and prevent the rice from sticking to the pan.

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Pork Fried Rice on a plate

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5 from 2 votes
Pork Fried Rice featured image

Chinese Pork Fried Rice

Serves — 6
Homemade Pork Fried Rice recipe is a quick and easy twist on Chinese take-out. This delicious dinner tastes even better than restaurant delivery.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 large eggs beaten
  • tablespoons vegetable oil divided ½ tablespoon and 1 tablespoon
  • 2 medium-sized whole carrots peeled and diced
  • ½ cup diced sweet yellow onion
  • 8 ounces ground pork
  • cup frozen green peas
  • 4 cups cooked cold long-grain white rice
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 3 tablespoons dark soy sauce
  • tablespoons hoisin sauce
  • 2 green onions thinly sliced

Instructions
 

  • Heat ½ tablespoon vegetable oil in a 10-12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Pour the beaten eggs into the skillet and scramble just until the eggs are no longer “wet” looking, 1-2 minutes. Remove the cooked eggs, and set them aside.
  • Wipe out the skillet, if needed, and heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil over medium-high heat.
  • Add the diced carrots and onion, and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
  • Just before removing the carrots and onions, add in the frozen green peas and cook for 30 seconds, just to heat the peas. Remove from the skillet and set them aside.
  • Keeping the heat on medium-high, add the ground pork. While cooking, break the pork up and cook until completely browned.
  • Add the cold cooked rice to the skillet with the cooked pork. Pour the sesame oil over the rice and pork, and stir to incorporate the oil. Be sure to break any clumps of rice up while cooking.
  • Once the rice is heated and incorporated with the cooked pork, add in the cooked carrots, onions, and peas.
  • Stir in the dark soy sauce and hoisin. Continue stirring to completely coat the rice mixture. Remove from the heat, and stir in the scrambled egg. Garnish with the thinly sliced green onion. Serve while hot.

Jenn’s Notes

Servings: 6 – 1 cup servings
Storage:
  • To Store: Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
Tips:
  • You can substitute 2 cups of frozen peas and carrots for the fresh diced carrots and frozen peas.
  • This recipe can easily be made with leftover rice from another meal or even thawed frozen rice.
  • One of the secrets to making the best fried rice is having a hot wok and plenty of oil so your veggies don’t burn to the bottom.
  • Try to avoid short grain rice because it contains more starch and as a result, it will make your fried rice less crispy.
  • You can use ground pork, pork tenderloin, pork loin, or even leftover cut up pork chops.

Nutrition Info

Calories: 286kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 137mg | Sodium: 1496mg | Potassium: 496mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 3642IU | Vitamin C: 27mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 2mg

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