Savory Ham and Egg Fried Rice

Welcome to your new go-to recipe for the most delectable Ham Fried Rice you’ll ever taste! Forget the endless search for takeout menus or the disappointment of a lackluster delivery. This homemade version, brimming with savory ham, fluffy scrambled eggs, and vibrant vegetables, is not only superior in flavor but also incredibly easy to whip up in just 15 minutes, making it the perfect solution for a bustling weeknight meal or a clever way to transform holiday leftovers into a fresh, exciting dish.

Why This Ham Fried Rice Recipe Will Be Your New Favorite

Are you frequently searching for inventive ways to utilize leftovers from festive family feasts? You’ve landed in precisely the right spot! While many culinary traditions dictate specific uses for holiday remnants – think savory cheesesteak hash from beef roast after Christmas, or a delicious quiche crafted from Thanksgiving turkey and stuffing – Easter often leaves us with an abundance of flavorful ham. This Ham Fried Rice recipe offers an exceptional solution, transforming that leftover ham into an entirely new, incredibly satisfying meal.

But don’t let the holiday connection limit your enjoyment! If you find yourself completely enamored with this dish (and we’re confident you will), it can easily become a year-round staple. Simply substitute holiday ham with quality thick-sliced deli ham, readily available at any grocery store. The delightful sweetness inherent in good ham harmonizes beautifully with the rich, savory, and deeply umami notes of soy sauce. A touch of sriracha introduces a welcome kick of spice, creating a complex flavor profile that elevates simple fried rice to an extraordinary culinary experience. Utilizing pre-cooked or day-old rice means this entire dish can be prepared and on your table in a remarkable 15 minutes, making it the ultimate quick-fix dinner solution.

The Secret to Perfect Fried Rice: Achieving Restaurant Quality at Home

While ham fried rice might seem like a simple concoction, mastering it requires a few key techniques to achieve that desirable restaurant-quality texture and flavor. The most crucial secret lies in the rice itself. Always use **cold, day-old cooked rice**. Freshly cooked, warm rice tends to be too moist and will lead to a sticky, clumpy, and often mushy fried rice. Cold rice, on the other hand, has dried out slightly, allowing the grains to separate beautifully and absorb the flavors of the sauce without becoming soggy. This also makes it ideal for developing those slightly crispy edges that are a hallmark of great fried rice.

Another essential element is **high heat**. Fried rice is meant to be cooked quickly in a very hot pan or wok. This rapid cooking ensures that the ingredients caramelize slightly, developing deeper flavors and preventing vegetables from becoming waterlogged. Don’t be afraid to crank up the heat, but keep a close eye on your ingredients to prevent burning.

Finally, **don’t overcrowd your pan**. Cooking in batches if necessary allows each ingredient to truly fry rather than steam. Overcrowding lowers the pan’s temperature and releases too much moisture, hindering the browning and crisping process. Preparing all your ingredients (your “mise en place”) before you start cooking is also vital, as the entire process moves very quickly once you begin.

Ingredients for Ultimate Ham Fried Rice

Crafting the perfect ham fried rice starts with selecting the right ingredients. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll need and why each component is vital:

• Oil: You’ll need about 2 tablespoons, divided. A neutral-flavored oil with a high smoke point is essential for stir-frying. Options include vegetable oil, canola oil, avocado oil, or a light olive oil. These oils can withstand the high heat required without imparting unwanted flavors.
• Frozen Peas and Carrots: Using a pre-mixed bag of frozen peas and carrots is a fantastic shortcut that saves prep time and ensures these vibrant vegetables are ready to go. They add essential nutrients, color, and a pleasant sweetness and crunch to the dish. No need to thaw beforehand!
• Onion: One cup of diced yellow onion provides a foundational aromatic flavor. As it cooks, it sweetens and adds depth to the overall profile of the fried rice.
• Garlic: Two cloves of fresh minced garlic are preferred for their pungent aroma and robust flavor. Fresh garlic makes a significant difference compared to pre-minced jarred versions, enhancing the savory notes of the dish.
• Eggs: Two large eggs, quickly scrambled, contribute richness, additional protein, and that classic fluffy texture found in takeout fried rice. They also act as a binder, helping to integrate the other ingredients.
• Diced Ham: Approximately ½ pound, or about 2 cups, of diced ham is the star. This is where you can shine by using leftover holiday ham, which often has a wonderful glazed sweetness. Alternatively, seek out quality thick-sliced ham from the deli counter and dice it yourself. The sweet and savory nature of ham is what makes this particular fried rice so incredibly addictive.
• Cooked White Rice: Four cups of cooked white rice are needed, and as mentioned, day-old or thoroughly chilled cooked rice is paramount. Long-grain varieties like jasmine rice or basmati rice are perfect due to their light, fluffy texture and ability to separate easily. If you don’t have leftover rice, cook it in advance and cool it completely. For detailed instructions on how to cook perfect rice on the stovetop, in an Instant Pot, or a rice cooker, refer to this guide.
• Soy Sauce: ¼ cup of soy sauce is crucial for delivering the signature umami flavor and necessary salinity of fried rice. It colors the rice and provides that deep, savory base. For those seeking a gluten-free option, tamari or coconut aminos are excellent substitutes.
• Sriracha: One tablespoon of sriracha adds a pleasant level of spice and a touch of tangy garlic flavor. Adjust the amount to your personal preference – add more for a fiery kick or less for a subtle warmth.
• Green Onions: ¼ cup of chopped green onions serves as an essential garnish, adding a fresh, slightly pungent finish and a pop of bright green color. Reserve some for topping right before serving.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Your Best Ham Fried Rice

Follow these detailed steps and accompanying photos to effortlessly create a restaurant-quality ham fried rice right in your own kitchen. For the precise ingredient quantities and a printable version, scroll down to the full recipe card at the bottom of this page.

1. Sauté the Vegetables: Begin by heating 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Once the oil shimmers, add the diced onions, frozen peas, and carrots. Stir-fry for 4-5 minutes, or until the onions are translucent and the vegetables are tender-crisp. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
2. Scramble the Eggs: Push the cooked vegetables to one side of the pan, creating an empty space. Add the two cracked eggs to the cleared side. Using your spatula, quickly scramble the eggs until they are just set and fluffy. Once cooked, gently combine them with the sautéed vegetables.
3. Fry the Ham: Move the vegetable and egg mixture to one side of the pan again. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the empty side of the skillet. Introduce the diced ham and fry for 1-2 minutes. This step helps to brown the ham slightly, enhancing its flavor and texture.
4. Add Rice and Season: Add the cold, cooked white rice to the skillet. Pour the soy sauce and sriracha directly over the rice. Vigorously stir everything together, ensuring all ingredients are well combined and the rice grains are evenly coated with the flavorful sauce. Continue to cook for another 3-4 minutes, allowing the rice to heat through and develop a slight crispness.
5. Garnish and Serve: Remove the skillet from the heat. Sprinkle the chopped green onions over the top of the ham fried rice. Toss gently one last time, then serve immediately while hot and fresh.

Pro Tips for Success: Elevate Your Ham Fried Rice

While the instructions are straightforward, a few expert tips can ensure your ham fried rice is consistently amazing:

• Use a Wok if You Have One: A wok’s sloped sides and large surface area are ideal for stir-frying, allowing for even heat distribution and easy tossing of ingredients. If you don’t have one, a large, heavy-bottomed skillet or cast-iron pan works well.
• High Heat is Your Friend: Don’t be shy with the heat. Maintaining a consistently high temperature helps to sear the ingredients quickly, preventing them from steaming and becoming soggy.
• Mise en Place: “Everything in its place.” Have all your ingredients prepped, measured, and within arm’s reach before you start cooking. Fried rice cooks very quickly, so there’s no time to chop or measure mid-process.
• Cold, Dry Rice is Non-Negotiable: We can’t stress this enough. If you only have freshly cooked rice, spread it out on a baking sheet and let it cool completely in the refrigerator for at least an hour (or even in the freezer for 15-20 minutes) to dry it out.
• Customize Your Veggies: While peas and carrots are classic, feel free to add other quick-cooking vegetables like diced bell peppers, corn, thinly sliced mushrooms, or even a handful of spinach at the very end.
• Adjust Seasoning to Taste: Taste your fried rice before serving. You might want to add a dash more soy sauce for saltiness, sriracha for spice, or even a tiny pinch of sugar to balance the flavors, especially if your ham is very savory.

Serving Suggestions: What to Pair with Ham Fried Rice

Ham Fried Rice is a wonderfully complete meal on its own, packed with protein, vegetables, and carbohydrates. However, it can also be part of a larger, more elaborate Asian-inspired feast. Here are some ideas:

• Standalone Meal: For a quick and easy weeknight dinner, a generous bowl of Ham Fried Rice is perfectly satisfying.
• Alongside Soup: Serve it with a light soup like egg drop soup or hot and sour soup to complete the takeout experience.
• With Spring Rolls or Egg Rolls: Add some crispy texture with a side of your favorite spring rolls or egg rolls, either homemade or store-bought.
• Steamed Vegetables: A simple side of steamed greens like bok choy, broccoli, or asparagus with a light soy-sesame dressing can provide a fresh contrast.
• Protein Sides: If you want to increase the protein, serve it alongside some grilled chicken skewers, crispy tofu, or a simple stir-fry.
• As Part of a Larger Spread: Include it as one of several dishes in a family-style meal, perhaps with General Tso’s Chicken, Beef and Broccoli, or Sweet and Sour Pork.

Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Ham Fried Rice

Use leftover ham, or thick-sliced deli ham, to make the best Ham Fried Rice with scrambled eggs and vegetables. This flavorful recipe is better than Chinese takeout, and easy to make in 15 minutes for a busy weeknight meal!

Servings:
4 servings

Prep Time:
5 mins

Cook Time:
10 mins

Total Time:
15 mins

Author:
Whitney Bond

Course:
Main Course

Cuisine:
American, Chinese

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons oil, divided
• 1 cup onion, diced
• 2 cups frozen peas and carrots
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 eggs
• ½ pound diced ham, approximately 2 cups
• 4 cups cooked white rice, day-old and cold is best
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sriracha
• ¼ cup green onions, chopped, plus more for garnish

Instructions

1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large pan or wok over medium-high heat.
2. Add the onions, peas, and carrots, and cook for 4-5 minutes until tender-crisp. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
3. Move the cooked vegetables to one side of the pan. Crack the two eggs into the cleared side and quickly scramble them with a spatula until just set. Combine the scrambled eggs with the vegetables.
4. Push the egg and vegetable mixture to one side again. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the empty side of the pan. Add the diced ham and fry for 1-2 minutes until slightly browned.
5. Add the cold, cooked white rice to the skillet. Pour the soy sauce and sriracha over the rice. Stir everything together thoroughly, ensuring the rice is evenly coated and mixed with all ingredients. Cook for an additional 3-4 minutes, allowing the rice to heat through and develop a slight crispness.
6. Top with the diced green onions and serve immediately.

Notes

• Ham Selection: The diced ham can be leftover ham from a holiday meal, or thick-sliced ham purchased from the deli counter at the grocery store.
• Rice Preparation: Always use cold, day-old cooked white rice for the best texture. If you don’t have leftover rice, cook it in advance and ensure it’s fully cooled before starting.
• Gluten-Free Option: To make this recipe gluten-free, simply replace the soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos.
• Storage: Store leftover ham fried rice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can also freeze it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw frozen rice in the refrigerator for 24 hours before reheating.
• Reheating: For best results, reheat in a skillet over medium heat with a tablespoon of water, chicken broth, or soy sauce until heated through. Alternatively, microwave single servings for 2-3 minutes, covered.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 426kcal (21%)
Carbohydrates 59g (20%)
Protein 22g (44%)
Fat 12g (18%)
Saturated Fat 1g (5%)
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g
Monounsaturated Fat 5g
Cholesterol 112mg (37%)
Sodium 1726mg (72%)
Potassium 339mg (10%)
Fiber 4g (16%)
Sugar 3g (3%)
Vitamin A 6835mg (137%)
Vitamin C 15mg (18%)
Calcium 67mg (7%)
Iron 2mg (11%)

Did you make this recipe?
Tag @WhitneyBond on Instagram and hashtag it #WBRecipes!