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 Ham Fried Rice. It's made with loads of vegetables, ham, eggs and, leftover rice.
This fried rice is my favorite side to make when it's time to clean out the fridge! It's a great way to use up leftover ham or veggies that need to get used up. Plus, it only takes a few minutes to throw together and is even gluten-free.
Ingredients in Ham Fried Rice
- Butter - either salted or unsalted will work. You could substitute avocado oil or olive oil. This is for cooking the egg so it will taste great with butter, but you can easily substitute.
- Cooking oil - canola oil, veggie oil, or avocado oil will work.
- Sesame Oil - this is to add at the end. A little bit adds a lot of flavor.
- Minced Garlic - fresh minced garlic tastes best.
- Onion - you can use white, yellow, or even red onion.
- Carrots - it's best to cut these fairly small.
- Ham - any kind of ham will work, including leftover ham from holiday dinners.
- Broccoli - cut into small bite-sized pieces.
- Rice - this should be cooked and cooled. Leftover rice is actually ideal.
- Eggs - any kind of large eggs will work.
- Salt and Pepper
- Soy Sauce - you can use regular or Tamari sauce.
- Teriyaki Sauce- this adds great flavor but is optional.
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 Rice Stir Fry
- 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.
- You can use just about any meat in this dish including shrimp, steak, or chicken.
- 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!
Frequently Asked Questions
Seriously any kind of ham will work well. 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.
Yes! 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.
Storing and Reheating
- Refrigerator: store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: you can actually freeze fried rice, too. Store in freezer bags or another airtight container for up to 2 months.
- To reheat: you can reheat in the microwave or in a small pan over medium heat. You'll probably need to add a touch of water or broth.
Easy Ham Fried Rice Recipe
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
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.
pat melanson
This meal was easy and delicious, thanks!
Jill Baird
I'm so happy to hear this! Thanks for letting me know!
Patsy
Ham fried Rice is one of my Favorites! When I moved to Arizona' Good Chinese Restaurants are very hard to find! This is so easy I'm going to be making my own! Christmas is always a baked ham, I always cut up what's left and save the bone for soup! Now I'll be making Ham fried Rice! Thanks for the Recipe!
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!