Easy Chicken and Bacon Fried Rice Recipe

Making Easy Chicken and Bacon Fried Rice

Quick and simple overview

Embark on a culinary adventure that promises both speed and incredible taste with this easy chicken fried rice recipe. Gone are the days of complicated weeknight dinners; this dish is designed for efficiency without sacrificing a bit of flavor. We’ll walk you through each step, ensuring that even novice cooks can create a masterpiece. From preparing your ingredients to the final stir-fry, the process is streamlined to get a wholesome, homemade meal on your table in under 30 minutes. It’s a fantastic way to transform simple ingredients into something truly special, making it a go-to for anyone looking for deliciousness in a hurry.

Enjoy this flavorful meal

Imagine perfectly cooked rice, infused with savory soy sauce and aromatic sesame oil, studded with tender chicken pieces and irresistible crispy bacon. This bacon fried rice recipe delivers a symphony of textures and tastes, making every bite a delight. The beauty of this recipe lies in its balanced flavors and satisfying heartiness. It’s not just a quick meal; it’s a wonderfully flavorful meal that will please everyone at your table. Serve it hot and watch it disappear! For more speedy and delicious dinner ideas, explore our full range of dinner recipes.

Why Make This Easy Fried Rice?

Perfect for busy nights

Life moves fast, and often, dinner is the first thing to get squeezed out of a packed schedule. That’s why this recipe for easy chicken and bacon fried rice is your perfect culinary ally. It’s specifically crafted for those busy nights when you need a meal that’s both fast and fulfilling. Forget about endless chopping or complex cooking techniques; this dish comes together quickly with minimal fuss, leaving you more time to relax and enjoy your evening. It’s a smart choice for anyone seeking efficiency without compromising on the quality of their home-cooked meal.

Delicious and satisfying dinner

Beyond its speed, this fried rice offers an incredibly delicious and satisfying dinner. The combination of textures – from the tender chicken to the slightly crisp rice and savory bacon – creates an enjoyable eating experience. It’s a wholesome meal that truly hits the spot, providing ample protein and carbohydrates to keep you energized. If you enjoy hearty rice-based dishes, you might also like our cheesy chicken and rice casserole. Fried rice, a staple in many cuisines, has a rich history of adaptability and flavor, as detailed on Wikipedia’s page on Fried Rice.

Ingredients for Amazing Fried Rice

All you need listed

Creating truly amazing fried rice begins with gathering the right ingredients. The good news is that most items for this easy chicken and bacon fried rice are likely already in your kitchen. You’ll need cooked chicken, crispy bacon, cold day-old rice, eggs, frozen peas, green onions, and essential seasonings like soy sauce and sesame oil. A little vegetable oil for cooking and black pepper to taste will round out your list. The beauty of fried rice is its flexibility; feel free to adjust quantities to your preference, but these core components form the foundation of a fantastic dish.

Fresh and pantry items

This recipe expertly balances fresh and pantry items for maximum convenience and flavor. Chicken can be pre-cooked leftovers or quickly sautéed for the recipe. Bacon, a true flavor enhancer, brings its salty crunch. For the vegetables, frozen peas offer vibrant color and sweetness, while fresh green onions provide a subtle oniony kick. As for the sauces, soy sauce is crucial for that umami depth, and a dash of toasted sesame oil adds an unmistakable nutty aroma. Having these pantry staples ready makes the cooking process seamless and enjoyable, proving that delicious meals don’t always require a special trip to the grocery store.

Getting Ready for Your Recipe

Prepare chicken and bacon

Before you even fire up the skillet, a little preparation goes a long way in ensuring your easy chicken and bacon fried rice comes together smoothly. Start by ensuring your chicken is cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces. Leftover rotisserie chicken works wonderfully here, making prep even faster. Next, cook your bacon until it’s perfectly crispy. Once done, remove it from the pan, draining off most of the grease, but save a little of that flavorful bacon fat – it’s liquid gold for your fried rice! Crumble the bacon and set it aside with the chicken. This initial step helps you focus on the stir-frying process without interruptions.

Have cold rice ready

Perhaps the most crucial tip for perfect fried rice is to use cold rice ready to go. Day-old rice, or rice that has been cooked and then thoroughly chilled in the refrigerator, is ideal. Why cold? Freshly cooked, warm rice has too much moisture, which can lead to a mushy, clumpy fried rice. Chilling the rice dries it out slightly, making the grains separate beautifully when stir-fried, giving you that authentic restaurant-quality texture. Spread your cooked rice on a baking sheet to cool quickly if you’re short on time, then refrigerate until completely cold. This simple trick using day-old rice truly makes a difference in the final dish.

Cooking the Eggs Perfectly First

Scramble gently, set aside

Many great fried rice recipes start with the eggs, and ours is no exception. In a large skillet or wok, heat a small amount of oil (or bacon grease, as discussed below) over medium-high heat. Lightly beat two eggs with a pinch of salt and pepper. Pour the eggs into the hot skillet and scramble gently. You want them to be cooked but still soft and fluffy, not overly browned or rubbery. Once cooked to your liking, remove the scrambled eggs from the skillet and set aside. These will be folded back into the fried rice at the very end, adding a lovely texture and richness without getting lost in the other ingredients during the main stir-fry.

Use bacon grease or oil

For an extra layer of incredible flavor, consider using the residual bacon grease or oil from cooking your bacon earlier. This savory fat imparts a smoky depth to the eggs that vegetable oil simply can’t replicate, making your easy chicken and bacon fried rice even more delicious. If you prefer, or if you didn’t cook enough bacon, vegetable oil or even a neutral oil like canola or grapeseed works perfectly well. Just be sure not to use too much; a tablespoon or two is usually sufficient. This step sets the stage for the rest of your stir-fry, ensuring everything cooks evenly and acquires that delightful fried rice aroma. For another delightful chicken dish, try our easy honey garlic chicken recipe.

Sautéing Rice in the Skillet

Heat rice with oil

With your eggs cooked and set aside, it’s time for the star of the show: the rice. Add a bit more oil (or bacon grease) to your hot skillet, ensuring it’s shimmering. Then, carefully add your cold, day-old rice. The goal here is to get a nice, slightly crispy texture on the rice grains, which is achievable with high heat and proper technique. Don’t overcrowd the pan; if you’re making a very large batch, consider cooking the rice in two smaller batches. Allow the rice to heat rice with oil for a minute or two without stirring constantly, letting it develop some slight browning and a satisfying nutty aroma. This initial sautéing step is crucial for achieving restaurant-quality fried rice.

Break into chunks

As the rice heats up, you’ll notice that the cold grains might clump together. Use your spatula or a wooden spoon to gently break into chunks the rice as you stir. Press down lightly to separate any larger clusters, ensuring each grain gets exposed to the heat and oil. This step helps in achieving that desirable loose, individual grain texture that is characteristic of excellent fried rice. Keep the heat relatively high, and continue to stir-fry the rice for several minutes, allowing it to become lightly toasted and fragrant. This process also helps evaporate any residual moisture, contributing to a drier, more appealing fried rice consistency for your easy chicken and bacon fried rice.

Adding Key Flavors to Rice

Stir in soy sauce

Once your rice is beautifully sautéed and slightly crispy, it’s time to infuse it with the quintessential flavors of fried rice. Make a well in the center of the rice in your skillet, or push the rice to one side, and pour in the soy sauce. Allow the soy sauce to hit the hot pan directly for a moment, letting it slightly caramelize and intensify its savory notes before rapidly stir in soy sauce into the rice. This technique helps distribute the flavor evenly and prevents the rice from becoming soggy. Adjust the amount of soy sauce to your taste, remembering that you can always add more but can’t take it away. For those interested in the culinary history and varieties of this essential ingredient, the Wikipedia page on Soy Sauce offers fascinating insights.

Mix with sesame oil

Following the soy sauce, drizzle in the toasted sesame oil. This ingredient is a powerful flavor enhancer, imparting a distinct nutty and aromatic quality that defines much of Asian cuisine, especially fried rice. Unlike soy sauce, which is added for savory depth, sesame oil is more about aroma and a delicate finish. Mix with sesame oil thoroughly into the rice, ensuring every grain is lightly coated. You’ll immediately notice the wonderful fragrance filling your kitchen. Be mindful not to overdo the sesame oil, as its flavor is quite potent; a little goes a long way to achieve that perfect balance in your easy chicken and bacon fried rice. This combination of soy and sesame forms the backbone of your dish’s incredible taste profile.

Combine Chicken, Bacon, and Peas

Heat through thoroughly

Now that your rice is perfectly flavored, it’s time to bring in the stars of the show: the cooked chicken, crispy bacon, and vibrant frozen peas. Add these ingredients directly to the skillet with the seasoned rice. The primary goal here is to heat through thoroughly, ensuring everything is warmed evenly. Since the chicken and bacon are already cooked, you’re not trying to cook them further, but rather to integrate their flavors and bring them to the same temperature as the rice. Stir consistently over medium-high heat for a few minutes, allowing the peas to thaw and become tender-crisp. This step builds the main body of your easy chicken and bacon fried rice.

Mix well with rice

As you stir, make sure to mix well with rice, distributing the chicken, bacon, and peas evenly throughout the dish. You want every spoonful of fried rice to offer a delightful combination of these ingredients. Continue to stir-fry for an additional 2-3 minutes, ensuring all the flavors meld together beautifully. This careful mixing ensures consistency in taste and texture. The vibrant green of the peas, the rich brown of the chicken and bacon, and the golden rice create an appealing visual and a mouthwatering aroma. If you enjoy chicken main courses, consider our crispy parmesan chicken with a rich garlic sauce for another satisfying meal.

Finishing Your Fried Rice Dish

Fold in eggs, onions

The final touches are what truly elevate your easy chicken and bacon fried rice from good to great. With the chicken, bacon, and peas now integrated and heated, gently add the scrambled eggs back into the skillet. Along with the eggs, sprinkle in most of your chopped green onions, reserving a little for garnish. Gently fold in eggs, onions into the fried rice, being careful not to break up the eggs too much; you want distinct pieces of fluffy egg throughout the dish. The fresh green onions add a delightful crunch and a subtle, fresh onion flavor that cuts through the richness of the other ingredients, completing the flavor profile.

Season with pepper

To finish, give your fried rice a final taste and season with pepper generously. While soy sauce provides the primary salty and umami notes, a good grind of fresh black pepper adds a subtle kick and enhances all the other flavors. If needed, you can also add a tiny splash more soy sauce, but remember to do it cautiously. Stir everything together one last time to ensure all ingredients are perfectly combined and heated through. Your homemade bacon fried rice recipe is now complete and ready to be served. The aroma alone will have everyone eager to dig in!

Quick Tips for Easy Fried Rice

Use day-old rice

For truly exceptional fried rice, the most important quick tip is to always use day-old rice. As mentioned earlier, cold, dry rice is far superior to freshly cooked rice because it contains less moisture. This prevents the rice from becoming mushy and allows the grains to separate and get beautifully toasted in the skillet. If you’re planning fried rice for dinner, cook your rice the morning of or even the night before, then spread it out on a tray and chill it thoroughly in the refrigerator. This simple step makes a world of difference in the texture and overall quality of your homemade fried rice.

Adjust seasoning as needed

Another crucial tip for mastering this easy chicken fried rice is to always adjust seasoning as needed. Tastes vary, and what might be perfect for one person could be too salty or bland for another. Start with the suggested amounts of soy sauce and sesame oil, then taste the fried rice before the final mix. Add more soy sauce for extra saltiness and umami, or a dash more sesame oil for a stronger aromatic punch. Don’t be afraid to add a pinch of sugar to balance the saltiness, or a splash of rice vinegar for brightness. Experiment to find your perfect balance! Find more culinary inspiration and tips on our Pinterest and Instagram pages.

Serving This Delicious Fried Rice

Enjoy it hot

Once your easy chicken and bacon fried rice is complete, with all the flavors melded and ingredients thoroughly heated, it’s best to enjoy it hot. Fried rice is one of those dishes that truly shines when served immediately off the skillet. The warmth brings out all the aromatic qualities of the sesame oil and soy sauce, and the textures—from the slightly crispy rice to the tender chicken and fluffy egg—are at their prime. Garnish with the reserved green onions for a fresh pop of color and an extra layer of mild oniony flavor. A sprinkle of chili flakes or a side of sriracha can add a pleasant heat if desired, making this flavorful meal even more exciting.

Get four servings

This generous recipe is designed to get four servings, making it an ideal choice for a family dinner or for meal prepping a few lunches throughout the week. Each serving is hearty and satisfying, packed with protein and carbohydrates to keep you full and energized. If you’re cooking for a larger crowd, simply double the ingredients, ensuring you use a large enough skillet or wok, or cook in batches to avoid overcrowding, which can lead to steaming instead of stir-frying. This homemade fried rice is perfect on its own, but also pairs wonderfully as a side dish with other Asian-inspired meals.

Easy Chicken and Bacon Fried Rice Facts

Understanding the practical details of your meal can be just as important as enjoying its taste. This section provides a quick look at the nutritional and time-related aspects of our easy chicken and bacon fried rice recipe, helping you plan your meals effectively and stay informed about your culinary choices. It’s designed to give you a clear, concise overview of what to expect when you prepare this delicious quick dinner idea.

Total time: 30 minutes

One of the most appealing aspects of this bacon fried rice recipe is its remarkable efficiency. The total time: 30 minutes is truly achievable, especially if you have your chicken pre-cooked and your rice chilled beforehand. This includes a few minutes for prep work, about 10-15 minutes for actual cooking in the skillet, and a brief moment for serving. This rapid turnaround makes it an outstanding option for any night of the week when time is of the essence but you still crave a wholesome, homemade meal. It’s a testament to how simple techniques can yield fantastic results quickly.

Calories per serving

While exact calories per serving can vary based on specific ingredient brands and portion sizes, a typical serving of this easy chicken and bacon fried rice ranges approximately from 450-550 calories. This provides a substantial and energizing meal. It’s rich in protein from the chicken, eggs, and bacon, offers complex carbohydrates from the rice, and contains essential nutrients from the peas and onions. For precise dietary tracking, consider using a recipe calculator with your exact ingredients. This dish is a satisfying choice that fuels your body without feeling overly heavy, perfect for a balanced diet.