Ham Fried Rice
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Posted: 03/20/22
Updated: 03/21/22
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Quick and easy 30 minute dinner recipe that’s made in one skillet! Use up your leftover rice and ham when you make Ham Fried Rice with this go-to weeknight dinner recipe.
I love this recipe because it’s great for using up leftover ham but you can also buy a package of diced ham at the store to make it. It’s a fast and easy recipe! We love it as a side dish or as a main dish – you will too, once you try it!
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You Will Love This Easy Recipe!
- Fried rice is so easy to make and you can easily switch it up! I love to make chicken fried rice, but when I have leftover baked ham, I make ham fried rice.
- It’s also a great way to use up leftover rice. Day-old rice is perfect for this fried rice dish – it’s drier and fries better than fresh-cooked rice. Don’t have leftovers? Don’t worry, I’m sharing a tip if you don’t have leftovers on hand.
- I use frozen vegetables to make this recipe really easy!
- A simple sauce pulls it all together so it tastes like takeout fried rice. But it’s so much better!
Make this easy rice recipe to go with beef and broccoli or orange chicken. Or, serve it alongside some eggrolls for a dinner your family will love.
Ingredients
- Sesame oil – this has a great flavor and can be used in many Asian-style dishes. I use regular sesame oil, but toasted sesame oil is great, too!
- Canola oil – or you can use canola oil or butter.
- Diced onion – I like to dice it pretty fine so there are big chunks in the rice.
- Minced garlic
- Frozen peas and carrots – or other frozen veggies that you like in stir fry.
- Diced ham – look for diced ham at the store or use leftover ham.
- Cooked leftover white rice – this is best for fried rice! You can also use cold brown rice. We used a medium-grain white rice, but Jasmine rice will work great too.
- Large eggs – whisk them in a small bowl.
- Soy sauce – regular or low-sodium soy sauce are fine.
- Sliced green onions – these are for garnish, but are optional.
Products Needed
How to Make It
Sauté: Cook the onions, peas, and carrots in the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook it until it’s fragrant.
Mix: Add the cooked rice and ham. Stir to combine.
Scramble: Push the rice and veggies to the sides of the pan to make space for the eggs. Pour the eggs in the cleared spot and scramble them. Once cooked, stir them into the other ingredients.
Sauce: Add the soy sauce and stir.
Serve! Sprinkle the green onions over the top for garnish and enjoy!
What rice is best for fried rice?
Leftover rice is best so that the rice grains are dried out. This keeps them from getting mushy when you stir fry them.
I like to use cooked white rice for this recipe but you can use brown rice or jasmine rice, too!
Does the rice have to be cold?
It doesn’t have to be cold, but it needs to be already cooked and a day old. Because you will store it in the fridge before you make the rice it will be cold when you add it to the pan – that’s fine!
I don’t have leftover rice. What should I do?
Leftover rice works best, but if you don’t have any I have a tip for using rice that you cook the same day.
Once it’s cooked, spread it out on a baking sheet to cool. This will allow the steam to escape so your rice doesn’t have as much moisture. If you have time, let it cool to room temperature before making your fried rice.
Just keep in mind that freshly cooked rice will get mushy in your fried rice. Cooling it first helps, but it won’t be exactly the same as day-old rice.
How long does ham fried rice keep?
If you use day-old rice, leftover fried rice will keep in the refrigerator for two to three days.
Variations
Don’t have any ham? No worries! You can use other ingredients to make your fried rice. Here are some ideas:
Beef: Leftover steak is great!
Chicken: Add shredded cooked chicken or pick up a rotisserie chicken.
Pork: If you don’t have ham, try leftover pork loin or cook up some bacon to add to your fried rice.
Seafood: Shrimp is great in fried rice, too!
If you have all kinds of ham leftover from Easter dinner or Christmas, this ham fried rice recipe is a great way to use it up! But you don’t have to wait for a holiday – pick up some ham at the store this week so you can give it a try.
More Recipes to Use Up Leftovers
- Cheesy Ham and Noodle Casserole is another way to put those leftovers to use! It’s comforting and always a hit.
- Turkey Tetrazzini is a cozy casserole that is a great way to use up leftover turkey!
- Craving soup? Turkey Corn Chowder is an easy way to use up leftovers. Or, change out the turkey for chicken!
- One of my favorite things to make with leftover ham is Ham Salad. It’s a cold and creamy salad that you can use as a spread, sandwich filling, or dip!
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
Ham Fried Rice
Quick and easy 30 minute meal packed with ham, vegetables and rice!
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons sesame oil
- 2 Tablespoons canola or vegetable oil or butter
- ½ cup diced onion
- 1 ½ teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 cup frozen peas and carrots
- 1 cup diced ham
- 4 cups cooked cold white rice
- 3 large eggs whisked
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- Sliced Green Onions optional for garnish
Instructions
- Heat sesame oil and canola oil or butter in a large wok or frying pan over medium heat. Add onions, peas and carrots and saute until onions are becoming translucent. Add garlic to the frying pan and cook for about 1 minute or until fragrant.
- Add in rice and ham and stir to combine.
- Push the vegetable mixture to the side of the pan. Pour the eggs into the empty side of the pan and scramble the eggs with a spatula. When eggs are fully cooked combine with vegetables.
- Then add soy sauce and stir to mix. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with green onions if desired.
- Serve immediately.
Tips
What Rice Is Best For Fried Rice?
Leftover rice is best so that the rice grains are dried out. This keeps them from getting mushy when you stir fry them.
I like to use cooked white rice for this recipe but you can use brown rice or jasmine rice, too!
Does The Rice Have To Be Cold?
It doesn’t have to be cold, but it needs to be already cooked and a day old. Because you will store it in the fridge before you make the rice it will be cold when you add it to the pan – that’s fine!
I Don’t Have Leftover Rice. What Should I Do?
Leftover rice works best, but if you don’t have any I have a tip for using rice that you cook the same day.
Once it’s cooked, spread it out on a baking sheet to cool. This will allow the steam to escape so your rice doesn’t have as much moisture. If you have time, let it cool to room temperature before making your fried rice.
Just keep in mind that freshly cooked rice will get mushy in your fried rice. Cooling it first helps, but it won’t be exactly the same as day-old rice.
How Long Does Ham Fried Rice Keep?
If you use day-old rice, leftover fried rice will keep in the refrigerator for two to three days.
Variations
Beef: Leftover steak is great!
Chicken: Add shredded cooked chicken or pick up a rotisserie chicken.
Pork: If you don’t have ham, try leftover pork loin or cook up some bacon to add to your fried rice.
Seafood: Shrimp is great in fried rice, too!
Video
Nutrition Information
Calories: 488kcal (24%), Carbohydrates: 12g (4%), Protein: 35g (70%), Fat: 34g (52%), Saturated Fat: 11g (69%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g, Monounsaturated Fat: 13g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 238mg (79%), Sodium: 1414mg (61%), Potassium: 461mg (13%), Fiber: 3g (13%), Sugar: 2g (2%), Vitamin A: 7160IU (143%), Vitamin C: 11mg (13%), Calcium: 61mg (6%), Iron: 3mg (17%)
Danielle says
Super easy and love that I can just use my leftover ham! Thanks for sharing!
Alison says
Perfect for batch-prepping lunches. So good as leftovers!
Julie Evink says
That’s a great idea! Thanks for commenting and rating the recipe!