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Ham Fried Rice is fast and delicious! Serve is as a side or have it as a main dish! One thing is for sure, you’ll never go back to take-out after trying this Ham Fried Rice Recipe!
Easiest Ever, Better than Take-Out Ham Fried Rice
You know, I don’t think I am alone when I say that I LOVE recipes that include just a handful of ingredients, that take hardly any time at all AND are essentially fail-proof.
Recipes like my Instant Pot Creamy Ziti or my seriously Perfect Sugar Cookies.. Welp, this recipe just made that glorious list.
You will not believe how easy it is to make your own Ham Fried Rice in your very own kitchen! Aaaaand once you do make it, you’ll realize how overpriced ham fried rice is at your local restaurant.?
Is Ham Fried Rice a Side or a Meal? What should I serve with my Ham Fried Rice?
Well, at our house, both. ?
I do often make this and serve it as is. It is that good! It can stand alone as an entire meal! Plus, sneaking in those extra veggies might actually make this one of the healthier meals my kiddos will eat!
If I am feeling extra fancy, I will serve this with some orange chicken or sweet and sour chicken. I love to utilize my Air Fryer here and heat up some popcorn chicken and then pour some super fancy sauce over top (read: the store bought Panda Express sauces! No shame over here!) and serve it with the ham fried rice.
Everyone is always happy when Orange Chicken and rice are served together!
What Kind of Rice is best for Ham Fried Rice?
I use Jasmine rice, usually. I always make it in my Instant Pot (shocker, right? ?). If you have an Instant Pot, its super easy!
For my family, I always do 1 1/2 cups rice to 1 3/4 cups water. You can double if needed!! Cook on Manual HIGH for 6 minutes and then let it chill out and NPR for 6 more minutes before manually releasing the pressure.
Wanna know a secret though?? Fried rice is best if you use cooked, COLD rice. Do you have leftover rice from the night before?? PERFECT.
If I actually plan my meals out (rarely happens over here as of late!) I will make sure to coincide cooking this Ham Fried Rice later on in the week from another rice dish which I will make more rice than needed on purpose.
But, like I said, that hardly ever happens! So what I usually do is cook my rice and then spread it out onto a cookie sheet and stick it in the fridge while I move on with the recipe until I need it.
Works like a CHARM!
How to Make Ham Fried Rice
First off, the photos here will show the entire meal made right in the Instant Pot! Yes, it can be done! Most of the time, I will use a separate frying pan though. A non-stick surface makes everything even more easy!
First, saute minced onion, frozen peas and carrots in some butter. I like buying the combo ‘peas & carrots’ bag in the frozen section at my grocery store. Makes my like so much easier!
Saute, stirring constantly for a couple of minutes and then add in your diced ham.
I buy the ham already diced at the grocery store! My grocery store sells it right next to the bacon. This is such a time saver!
Continue to saute for 2 or so more minutes. Push all of the veggies and ham to one side of the pan and then crack two eggs on the empty side.
Scramble the eggs. Once scrambled and cooked through, mix the eggs with the other veggies.
Add the rice (either leftover or chilled, see above!) to the pan. Pour 1/4 cup of soy sauce over the rice. Mix and ‘stir fry’ until the rice is heated through.
Voila, you are done and ready to eat!!
Just don’t burn your mouth! ?
How to reheat the Ham Fried Rice
The best way to reheat the rice is to melt a little bit of butter in a frying pan. Then add the rice, stir while sautéing until the everything is heated through!
{Quick & Easy} Ham Fried Rice
(Printable Recipe Below)
Ham Fried Rice is fast and delicious! Serve is as a side or have it as a main dish! One thing is for sure, you’ll never go back to take-out after trying this Ham Fried Rice Recipe!
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1/4 cup minced onion
- 1 cup frozen peas and carrots (or 1/2 cup of each)
- 1/2 cup diced ham
- 2 eggs
- 5 cups cooked rice, preferably cold
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a large frying pan.
- Saute the minced onion, peas and carrots for 3 minutes.
- Add in the diced ham and saute for an additional 3 minutes.
- Move all of the food over to one side of the frying pan. Crack and scramble the two eggs on the empty side of the frying pan.
- Once the eggs are cooked through, mix together with the other ingredients in the frying pan.
- Add in the cooked rice and soy sauce.
- Stir while sautéing until the rice is heated through.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste
Notes
To cook the rice in the Instant Pot, measure 1 1/2 cups of rice and 1 3/4 cup of water and stir together in the liner of the Instant Pot. Cook on manual HIGH for 6 minutes, NPR 6 minutes.
If making the rice right before making this recipe (so the rice would be hot) I would suggest spreading the rice out on a cookie sheet so it will cool quickly. You can even toss it in the fridge until it is needed in the recipe. This helps to prevent the rice from becoming sticky and mushy.
Leftovers are best reheated by frying them in a little bit of butter until heated through.
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{Quick & Easy} Ham Fried Rice
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1/4 cup minced onion
- 1 cup frozen peas and carrots, or 1/2 cup of each
- 1/2 cup diced ham
- 2 eggs
- 5 cups cooked rice, preferably cold
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a large frying pan.
- Saute the minced onion, peas and carrots for 3 minutes.
- Add in the diced ham and saute for an additional 3 minutes.
- Move all of the food over to one side of the frying pan. Crack and scramble the two eggs on the empty side of the frying pan.
- Once the eggs are cooked through, mix together with the other ingredients in the frying pan.
- Add in the cooked rice and soy sauce.
- Stir while sautéing until the rice is heated through.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste
