This Easy Ham Fried Rice Recipe is loaded with veggies and a perfect way to use up leftover ham and leftover rice. It can easily be adapted so the entire family will love it! It's so much better than takeout and can be ready in under 30 minutes.
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Better Than Takeout Fried Rice
If you love Chinese food takeout, you're gonna love this great recipe for quick and easy fried rice. It's made with loads of vegetables, ham (just about any kind will do), eggs and, leftover rice. This fried rice recipe only takes a few minutes to throw together, is gluten-free, and can be adapted with whatever you have in your fridge.
There are dozens of different ways you can adapt this recipe. This time I'm using some honey baked ham I threw in the freezer after Easter dinner and the rest of the ingredients I had in the fridge that needed to be used.
This is my favorite side to make when it's time to clean out the fridge!
Leftover Ham Recipe
If you're wondering what to do with leftover ham from Easter dinner or Christmas dinner, this is the perfect recipe. You can freeze your ham from your holiday meal and make this later or make it right away.
Did you know you can freeze rice too? It makes wonderful fried rice. Just throw it in a ziplock bag and thaw whenever you're ready for stir fry. You may need to add a couple of tablespoons of water as you fry your rice if it seems a little dry.
In my stir fry, I use it as a chance to get my kiddos to eat a few more vegetables. If you cut them up small and hide them in this flavorful dinner.
I especially love to add a huge onion to the stir fry. My kids don't even think they like onions or garlic. It's the perfect palate to hide all those healthy vegetables. Haha, what they don't know won't hurt them.
Fried Rice with Ham Variations:
Feel free to include or exclude any of these items. Mix it up!
- Brown Rice
- Quinoa
- Cauliflower rice (or half and half)
- Bean Sprouts
- Red Peppers
- Mushrooms
- Onions
- Green onions
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Pineapple
- Cashews
- Peanuts
- Tomatoes
- Leftover Pulled Pork
- Leftover Chicken
- Bacon
- Shrimp
- Green Beans
- Broccoli
- Frozen Peas
Ingredients in Ham Fried Rice
- Butter
- Cooking oil
- Sesame Oil - to add at the end
- Minced Garlic
- Onion
- Carrots
- Ham
- Broccoli
- Cooked and cooled rice, leftover rice works great
- Eggs
- Salt and Pepper
- Soy Sauce
- Teriyaki Sauce- if desired
How to Make Ham Fried Rice
- In a wok or Non-stick saute pan on the stove, warm a tablespoon of butter.
- Add the eggs and scramble until cooked. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
- Add a couple of Tablespoons of oil, butter, or whatever fat you choose to use. (If you're using butter, do a half and half ratio of butter and oil. The butter has a lower smoke point and will burn easier.)
- Add the onion and cook until the onion is transparent.
- Add garlic and vegetables. Cook for 1-2 min minutes or until cooked through. Salt and pepper to taste.
- Move the vegetables to the side of the pan and add a little more oil.
- Add the chilled rice and mix it in with the veggies. Add the diced ham.
- Mix it all together. Let the rice and veggies on the bottom of the pan become golden brown before stirring. Once golden, stir. Do this several times until the rice is a little more "fried."
- Remove from the heat and add the seasonings and flavorings. Season with salt and pepper, plus any extra soy sauce and/or sesame oil if desired. Mix in scrambled eggs.
- Serve immediately.
Tips for Making the Best Ham and Veggie Stir Fry:
oil, butter, or whatever fat you choose to use. (If you're using butter, do a half and half ratio of butter and oil. The butter has a lower smoke point and will burn easier,)
- You can use loads of vegetables. I shoot for about the same amount of veggies as rice. As long as I cut my veggies up so they are small bite-size, my kids don't even notice.
- Did you know you can freeze rice? yup, next time you have some leftover rice, throw it in a ziplock bag and save it for stir-fry day.
- You can use just about any meat in this dish. Shrimp, steak, chicken, whatever. I used some leftover ham I pulled out of the freezer from Easter dinner and it was delicious. The ham is a little better when it's cut up and in small bite-sized pieces and it gives off a great flavor to the other components of the fried rice.
- Use whatever veggies your family loves. Anything from zucchini to carrots to water chestnuts!
- Be sure to add your egg when the rice is fried already.
- Sesame Oil is a great flavor to add at the end of cooking fried rice. It has a great flavor!
Ham and Veggie Stir Fry
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons Butter
- 2 Tablespoons Cooking oil Avocado, or any vegetable oil
- 2 Tablespoons Garlic, Minced
- ½ Cup Onion
- 1 Cup Carrots
- 1 Cup Ham, Cut into ½ Inch pieces
- ½-1 Cup Broccoli
- 4 Cups Rice cooked and refrigerated. Cold Rice works best
- 3 large Eggs
- 1 pinch Salt and pepper to taste
- 3 Tablespoons Teriyaki Sauce, (from a jar, your favorite kind)
- 1 Tablespoon Sesame Oil Add at the end for flavor
Instructions
- In a wok or Non-stick saute pan on the stove, warm a tablespoon of butter.
- Add the eggs and scramble until cooked. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
- Add a couple of Tablespoons of oil, butter, or whatever fat you choose to use. (If you're using butter, do a half and half ratio of butter and oil. The butter has a lower smoke point and will burn easier.)
- Add the onion and cook until the onion is transparent.
- Move the vegetables to the side of the pan and add a little more oil.
- Add the chilled rice and mix it in with the veggies. Add the diced ham.
- Mix it all together. Let the rice and veggies on the bottom of the pan become golden brown before stirring. Once golden, stir. Do this several times until the rice is a little more "fried."
- Remove from the heat and add the seasonings and flavorings. Season with salt and pepper, plus any extra soy sauce and/or sesame oil if desired. Mix in scrambled eggs.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition
More Easy Dinner Recipes...
- Chicken Thighs
- Tuscan Chicken
- Chicken Enchiladas
- Chicken Chili
- Easy Chicken Marinade
- Pantry Meals
- Pesto Pasta
- Chicken Recipes
More Pork Recipes
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This Easy Ham Fried Rice Recipe is loaded with veggies and a perfect way to use up leftover ham and leftover rice. It can easily be adapted so the entire family will love it! It's so much better than takeout and can be ready in under 30 minutes.
Chris
So….which step do I add the ham???
Jill Baird
Since the ham is already cooked, add it when you add the rice. Hope you enjoy it!