Gluten-Free Fried Rice

This easy gluten-free fried rice recipe is the perfect quick dinner, made from colorful veggies, eggs, rice, and a delicious sauce to tie it all together. Try it with chicken, ham, or shrimp for even more protein!

I’m in a season where 30-minute dinners are the name of the game on weeknights. Over the weekend, I’ll try to make a few things that take a bit more time, but during the week, dinner needs to be done in more of a hurry.

Anything I can do to cut down on prep, cook time, or dishes washed is SO helpful, and that’s where one pan dinners like this Gluten-Free Fried Rice really save me.

This easy recipe is PERFECT for busy weeknights, since it’s done in 30 minutes (or less), and can contain protein, fiber, fat, and carbs all in one go. It’s a great way to use up whatever veggies you have on hand, and can be made with a variety of proteins to make it even more satisfying.

It’s more like a basic template than a hard-and-fast recipe, but it’s one of those recipes your whole family can enjoy. Let’s dive in!

Simple Ingredients To Get Started:

The combination below is my go-to for this quick rice stir fry, but consider it more of a template than a hard-and-fast recipe. Use what you have, and feel free to swap in other veggies based on what’s in your fridge!

• Some Oil. Our recipe uses less oil than some, which makes it a bit lighter. I usually reach for avocado oil or olive oil (less traditional), but any neutral-tasting oil or light-tasting oil works well.
• Cooked, Cooled Rice. Fried rice is best made with cooled rice. You can use frozen rice packets that you cook and cool quickly to save time, or use leftover rice from the day before. Either works well!
• Red Bell Pepper. Truly any color of bell pepper works, but I love the beautiful color of red bell peppers!
• Carrots. Gorgeous, inexpensive, delicious.
• Frozen Peas & Frozen Corn. These freezer staples add color and fiber. Frozen veggies are picked & frozen at their peak, so they’re just as healthy (or sometimes even healthier!) than fresh.
• Green Onions.
• Garlic & Ginger. These aromatics add gorgeous layers of flavor. I use frozen cubes to save time on busy nights!
• Gluten-Free Tamari. The gluten-free version of soy sauce!
• Sesame Oil. Toasted sesame oil adds a rich, deep flavor note that mimics what you’ll find in restaurants and take-out spots here in the U.S.
• Pepper. Last, but not least, you can add another layer of flavor with a pinch of black pepper or white pepper. (White pepper is less common in many U.S. households, but it’ll have a more authentic flavor!)

How To MAke Gluten-Free Fried Rice, Step By Step:

1. Scramble The Eggs. Beat the eggs in a small bowl until smooth. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add 1/2 Tablespoon of oil. Add the beaten eggs, and use a spatula to stir, scraping the eggs from the bottom continuously until the eggs are just slightly underdone (a little glossy). Set the scrambled eggs aside on a plate and wipe out the skillet as needed.
2. Start The Veggies. Add the remaining 1 1/2 Tablespoons oil to the skillet and increase the heat to medium-high. Add bell pepper and carrots and cook veggies over medium-high heat 3-4 minutes, or until crisp-tender.
3. Add Remaining Veggies. Add frozen peas, frozen corn, green onions, garlic, and ginger to the skillet and cook 1-2 minutes more, or until fragrant and the frozen veggies look bright in color.
4. Stir In Rice & Sauce. Add the rice to the skillet along with 2 Tablespoons tamari, the sesame oil, and a pinch of pepper. Stir 1-2 minutes, breaking up clumps of rice as you go, and adding more tamari, as needed, until the rice is coated to your taste.
5. Mix In The Eggs. Break up the scrambled eggs on the plate a bit with your spatula. Turn off the heat and add the cooked eggs back to the skillet, stirring to break up the eggs as you go.

Mix It Up With These Variations!

Now that you know our go-to fried rice recipe, we can talk about variations to try! Try adding some of these proteins or veggies to change things up when you’re craving something new:

• Chicken, Ham, or Shrimp. Get some more protein by adding leftover chicken, or cooked cubed ham, or cook some chicken or shrimp beforehand to add to the rice. (I cook it after making the scrambled eggs, but before the veggies, so I can just use the same skillet!)
• Cabbage. Shredded cabbage, leftover coleslaw mix (no dressing!), or bok choy can all be great additions! I add them with the frozen veggies so I don’t over-cook it.
• Broccoli or Cauliflower. Chop them into small pieces and add with the carrots and bell pepper!
• Some Cauliflower Rice. We have a whole Cauliflower Fried Rice Recipe, but you can also try add some cauliflower rice along with regular rice for another layer of veggie goodness.
• More Veggies. Have half an onion leftover from another recipe? Toss it in! Snow peas? Toss them in! A few little veggie bits and bobs? Toss them in!
• Play With The Sauce. You can also add other flavors to the sauce! Try a dollop of gluten-free Hoisin, a dash of fish sauce or oyster sauce mixed in with the tamari.

FAQ + Tips And Tricks For The Best Fried Rice:

Food Safety Tips. You may or may not know that rice carries some risk of food-borne illness when it’s not handled properly. Ideally, you want to keep rice in the fridge no more than 1 day before reheating, reheat rice only once, and cool rice as quickly as possible when it’s cooked (within 1 hour, when possible). Read these rice safety tips from the NHS for more info!

Use COLD Rice. You always want to use cold cooked rice to avoid the rice getting overly starchy or gummy as it cooks.

Can I Use Brown Rice? Absolutely! I most often reach for long-grain rice like Basmati or Jasmine rice for fried rice, since that’s easiest for me to keep on hand, but we’ve made fried rice with brown rice LOTS of times over the years!

Is Fried Rice Gluten-Free? Most fried rice in the United States is made with soy sauce, which often contains wheat. In order for fried rice to be gluten-free, it MUST be made with gluten-free tamari (gluten-free soy sauce) or coconut aminos.

⭐ Don’t forget to leave a star rating below when you make our Gluten-Free Fried Rice recipe. I can’t wait to hear how it goes!

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