Name: Chicken Fried Rice
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 4 cups cooked rice; 4 tablespoons peanut oil (or any high heat oil); 3 large eggs, beaten; 3 tablespoons soy sauce; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon pepper; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 medium yellow onion, diced; 2 seared chicken breasts, cubed; 3 green onions, sliced

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Sometimes dinner takes hours to prepare, with meticulous mis en place, fifteen different steps, more pots than burners, and ingredients so expensive you wince at the check-out.

Other times, it’s the exact opposite. Like one of our weeknight must haves. A favorite of both my husband and my youngest: homemade chicken fried rice.

Its presentation? Messy. Its ingredients? Cheap. Its difficulty level? Easy.

Bonus: my chicken fried rice is often made from leftovers. LEFTOVERS. Chicken from a couple nights ago, rice from Sunday dinner, the odd green onion or two left in the crisper drawer. Chicken fried rice is like the “kitchen sink” of dinners, and I love it for that!

Chicken Fried Rice

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

4 cups cooked rice
4 tablespoons peanut oil (or any high heat oil)
3 large eggs, beaten
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 medium yellow onion, diced
2 seared chicken breasts, cubed
3 green onions, sliced

Instructions

Heat a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of oil.

Once the pan feels hot, pour in the eggs and sprinkle them with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Use a wooden spatula to keep the eggs moving in the pan - they'll scramble quickly and you don't want them to burn! Remove the eggs to a bowl once they're light and fluffy.

Pour the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil into the pan. Add the yellow onions, and saute them for 2-3 minutes, until they're translucent.

Add the rice, soy sauce, remaining salt and pepper, and garlic salt. Using the wooden spatula, keep the rice moving around, making sure that the soy sauce coats it all evenly. After 5 minutes, add the cubed chicken, the scrambled egg, and the green onions. Continue sauteing the chicken fried rice for another minute or two, then serve it hot with Yum Yum Sauce on the side.