It was incredibly rare when I was a kid that my parents ordered takeout. But when they did, one of my very favorite things to order was fried rice. There was something about it – especially when eaten right from the paper pail – that was like total comfort food. If you are like me, you will be delighted to know that fried rice is incredibly easy to make at home. It is done in less than 30 minutes and takes just a handful of ingredients, most of which you can store in the pantry. This ground beef fried rice recipe is no different, and I know you family is going to love it.
Using Old Rice
A key part of making fried rice is using day-old rice. You can use rice that was made the day before and kept in the refrigerator, or rice that has been refrigerated for at least four hours. This allows the rice to cool and dry out slightly, which gives fried rice the perfect consistency. If you use fresh rice which is soft and fluffy, it will turn into a mushy mess.
Start with leftover rice. Read why this is important below. Scramble the eggs. Cook the eggs in a hot skillet with butter just until done. Remove them from the pan and cover to keep warm. Cook the beef. Add the ground beef to the skillet and break it up as it cooks. Once fully browned, drain any excess grease. Cook the vegetables. Add the sesame oil to the skillet, then add in the carrots and garlic, cooking until the carrots are tender, about five to seven minutes. When the carrots have about a minute left to cook, add in the green onions. Add the rice. Toss to fully coat the rice in the oil and break up any large clumps, then add the reserved eggs and the soy sauce. Add the frozen peas. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the frozen peas. They will thaw perfectly in the hot rice.
Rinse the rice about three times under cold water. You can do this by using a metal sieve, or you can add the rice to a bowl, fill it with water, and mix. then drain the water and repeat two more times. To get four cups of cooked rice, you will start with about 1 1/3 cups of dry rice.
Tips and Tricks
Make it gluten free. Soy sauce contains gluten, so to make this recipe gluten-free, just use a gluten-free soy sauce or tamari instead. Leave out the egg. If someone in your house is allergic to eggs and can’t have them, just leave them out and start the recipe with Step 3. Add other veggies. If you don’t like some of the vegetables I included, leave them out and replace them with something else. Broccoli, diced bell peppers, or mushrooms would all be delicious. Just sauté them in the oil with the carrots. Don’t thaw the peas. Adding frozen peas to the rice at the end gives them the perfect heat and time to thaw right in the dish. Since frozen peas are fully cooked, thawing them before adding them will make them mushy.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Store any leftover ground beef fried rice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. Reheat only the portion you plan to eat in the microwave or in a small skillet until heated through. You may need to add a splash of water or beef broth if the rice looks too dry. While you can freeze fried rice, it of course won’t be as delicious as when you made it fresh. It can be stored in an airtight container and frozen for up to three months. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and see reheating instructions above.
Other Fried Rice Recipes
Shrimp Fried Rice Recipe Ham Fried Rice Chicken Fried Rice
If you make this beef fried rice recipe or any of my other recipes, please let me know what you think by leaving a comment. I love hearing from you!
