Ham Fried Rice
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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!
If you’re looking for unique ways to use leftovers from holiday meals, you’ve come to the right place! At Christmas time, I use leftover beef roast to make this cheesesteak hash. At Thanksgiving, I use leftover turkey and stuffing to make a delicious quiche. And at Easter, I use leftover ham to make ham fried rice!
But don’t worry, if you make this recipe with leftover ham and fall in love, you can make it any time of the year with thick-sliced deli ham. The sweetness of ham, paired with the savory, umami flavors of soy sauce, and the spicy flavor of sriracha, combine to make the most flavorful fried rice!
Using leftover cooked rice means this recipe comes together in just 15 minutes for the easiest meal ever!
Ingredients
- Oil – feel free to use any neutral-flavored oil, like vegetable oil, canola oil, avocado oil or a light olive oil.
- Frozen peas and carrots – using frozen veggies is another way that this recipe comes together quickly and easily!
- Onion – diced yellow onion works perfectly in this recipe.
- Garlic – fresh minced cloves are preferred for the best flavor.
- Eggs
- Diced ham – for this recipe, you’ll want about 2 cups, or ½ pound ham. This can be leftover ham from a holiday meal, or thick-sliced ham purchased from the deli counter at the grocery store.
- Cooked white rice – if you don’t already have cooked leftover rice, be sure to cook the rice before starting this recipe. Follow the link provided for instructions on how to cook the rice on the stovetop, in an Instant Pot, or in a rice cooker. A long-grain rice, like jasmine rice, is perfect for this easy fried rice recipe
- Soy sauce – to add salt and umami flavors to the dish, and give it the signature taste of fried rice we all know and love!
- Sriracha – to add spice to the fried rice. Feel free to add more or less, depending on your spice preference.
- Green onions – optional garnish to finish the dish.
Instructions
I’ve included step by step photos below to make this ham fried rice recipe super easy to follow at home. For the full detailed recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Cook the veggies. Heat oil in a large skillet on the stove over medium-high heat. Add diced onions, carrots and peas, and cook for 4-5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.
- Scramble the eggs. Move the vegetables to one side of the pan, then add two cracked eggs to the other side of the pan. Use a spatula to quickly scramble the eggs, then move them to the side with the vegetables.
- Add the ham. In the other side of the skillet, add another tablespoon of oil, then add the ham and fry for 1-2 minutes.
- Add rice and season. Add cooked white rice to the skillet, and season with soy sauce and sriracha. Stir everything together and cook for 3-4 minutes. Top with diced green onions and serve immediately.
Recipe variations
- To make the fried rice spicy, add another tablespoon of sriracha.
- To add some sweetness to the rice, add ½ cup diced pineapple with the ham. The two are a delicious match.
- To make ham and shrimp fried rice, add small shrimp to the skillet with the ham. Cook for 1-2 minutes per side, before adding the rice to the skillet.
- To make the ham fried rice without eggs, simply omit the scrambled eggs. If you want, add an extra ½ cup of the frozen peas and carrots.
- You can also make this recipe with spam! Replace the ham with diced spam to make a Hawaiian favorite.
- To make this recipe gluten-free, replace the soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos.
Storage and reheating
Store leftover ham fried rice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can also freeze the fried rice in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw the rice in the refrigerator for 24 hours before reheating and serving the fried rice.
To reheat the fried rice, add it back to a skillet on the stove over medium heat. If it looks dry, add either 1 tablespoon water, chicken broth or soy sauce to the skillet. Stir until the rice is heated though.
You can also reheat the fried rice in the microwave. Add a single serving to a bowl and reheat it for 2-3 minutes.
More rice recipes
Make easy meals with rice every week, using these simple and delicious recipes!
Ham Fried Rice
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
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sriracha
- ¼ cup green onions, chopped
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large pan or wok over medium-high heat.
- Add the onions, peas and carrots, cook 4-5 minutes, then add the garlic.
- Cook for 1 minute then move the vegetables to one side of the pan and crack the eggs in the other side.
- Scramble the eggs, then combine with the vegetables. Move the vegetables and eggs to one side of the pan.
- Add the additional tablespoon of oil to the other side of the pan. Add the ham and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Add the rice, soy sauce, and sriracha. Combine everything and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes.
- Top with the diced green onions and serve.
Notes
- The diced ham can be leftover ham from a holiday meal, or thick-sliced ham purchased from the deli counter at the grocery store.
- Cooked white rice – if you don’t already have cooked leftover rice, be sure to cook the rice before starting this recipe. Follow the link provided for instructions on how to cook the rice on the stovetop, in an Instant Pot, or in a rice cooker.
- To make this recipe gluten-free, replace the soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos.
- Store leftover ham fried rice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can also freeze the fried rice in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw the rice in the refrigerator for 24 hours before reheating and serving the fried rice.
Nutrition Facts
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