This Shrimp Fried Rice is the fastest and easiest takeout dinner you can make at home! You only need shrimp, leftover rice, frozen veggies, soy sauce, and 15 minutes to turn it into a delicious dinner.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I wish I knew how easy it is to make takeout dinner at home when I was in college. My diet would have been so much better! This Shrimp Fried Rice is one of the fastest and easiest dishes you can make, that tastes like it's straight from the restaurant! This dish is a perfect use for leftover rice. I always cook more rice than I need and freeze any leftovers. Because the secret to the best fried rice is cold rice!
Ingredients:
- shrimp: small or medium size, peeled and deveined;
- vegetables: green onions, garlic, corn, peas and carrots (frozen is just fine);
- rice: cooked and cooled in the fridge for at least 2 hours, best if it's day old;
- oil: canola for frying and sesame for flavor;
- soy sauce: I use low-sodium.
Instructions:
- Start by heating up both oils in a large skillet. Cook shrimp until pink, then remove onto a plate and set aside.
- Saute green onions in the same skillet. Add rice, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and if using, turmeric. Stir until heated through.
- Make space in the middle of the skillet, by pushing the rice to the sides. Pour beaten eggs into the pan and cook, stirring, until set. Stir everything together.
- Add peas and carrots and corn (frozen is just fine). Stir to heat through.
- Add shrimp and stir.
Best tips!
- The secret to the best fried rice is cold cooked rice, day old preferably. If you cook rice and use it right away to make fried rice, the mixture will be sticky and gloppy. It's best to cook rice the day before and store it in the fridge;
- use small shrimp; you can use cooked frozen shrimp, just thaw them according to directions on the packaging and heat up;
- add ground turmeric to give the rice the classic yellow look, just like the restaurant-style fried rice;
- add sriracha or chili paste to make spicy fried rice.
Recipe FAQs:
Yes, you can use frozen cooked shrimp. Follow the instructions on the packaging to thaw shrimp, and heat up to use in fried rice.
Any kind works, white, long grain, Jasmine and even brown rice.
Rice is gluten-free, but the most common soy sauce is not. Use coconut aminos or tamari sauce instead.
Absolutely! Skip the seafood and use chicken cut into bite-size pieces.
More easy Asian takeout recipes:
If you like this recipe and make it, let me know in the comments below! Don't forget to rate it if you enjoyed it!
Easy Shrimp Fried Rice
Ingredients
- 1 lb small shrimp deveined and cleaned
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons canola oil
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 3 green onions chopped
- 4 cups cooked rice see note
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
- 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 cup peas and carrots frozen is fine
- ½ cup whole kernel corn frozen is fine
Instructions
- Clean and devein shrimp. Sprinkle salt and pepper. Toss with cornstarch.
- Beat eggs in small bowl, set aside.
- Start by heating up both oils in a large skillet. Cook shrimp until pink, then remove onto a plate and set aside.
- Add more oil to skillet, if needed. Add green onions and Saute for 2 minutes. Add rice, soy sauce, garlic, ginger and if using, turmeric. Stir until heated through.
- Make space in the middle of the skillet, by pushing the rice to the sides. Pour beaten eggs into pan and cook, stirring, until set. Stir everything together.
- Add peas and carrots and corn (frozen is just fine). Stir to heat through.
- Add shrimp and stir, cook 2 to 3 minutes until everything is heated through. Serve.
Vicki says
Can you use brown rice?
Guillerma says
Can I skip the cornstarch if I don’t have any?
Kat Mahon says
I made this last night and it was so easy. It tasted a little blah so I was wondering what else I could use to give it a little more flavor? I was afraid to put more soy sauce in it because I didn't want it to get soggy. What do you suggest? We can't do spicy. Thank you for making this so easy to follow and make. I will be making it again for sure.
Valerie Wiesner says
I used a hot curry powder from penzeys instead of just turmeric!
Patti Lopez says
I would use a small amount of sesame oil or oyster sauce. That should amp up the flavor.
Bev says
This looks delicious and easy!
My family cannot use sesame or canola oils. What oil(s) are good alternatives?
Anna says
Hi Bev! You can use olive oil.
Ruth Gosselin says
Vegetable oil? I'm wondering myself cause all I have is vegetable oil
Denise Hoffstead says
Hi Anna! I made the Shrimp Fried Rice Recipe & I just want to thank you for making everything so simple, so delicious and cost effective, & it helps to have easy instructions. My family loved it! I look forward to making more of your recipes in the future. Anne Hoffstead!
Anna says
Hi Denise! Your comment made my day! Thank you so much! I am so happy to know that my recipes are helpful and that you and your family enjoyed the rice! Have a wonderful day!
Maria says
can the eggs be omitted?
Anna says
Yes, you can skip the eggs if you need to.
S van Wyk says
Hi Kat Mahon, I put in 2 fine grated cloves of garlic some lemon juice sqeezed over the shrimps ....and 100ml mayonaise. I omit the eggs
Anna kollias says
Hi. Can the rice be replaced with minute rice of the same day.
Thanks.
Anna says
Hi Anna! I recommend rice that was made at least a few hours ahead and chilled. Hope this helps!
Jewell says
Making this tonight with orange chicken, I'm stoked! Fingers crossed that i don't make a mistake.
Anna says
Hi Jewell! You got this! I hope you love it!
Janet says
Hi. Just wondering do you use white rice. Thank
Anna says
Hi Janet! Yes, I used white rice. You can use jasmine, brown or even cauliflower rice if you like! I hope this helps!
Patricia says
This looks so tasty! I love how colorful this dish is, and I love all that wonderful shrimp!
Jessica says
I love being able to skip the takeout!
Catalina says
This looks like a healthy and delicious dinner!
Bee says
it looks so yummy. i will have to try it tomorrow for my dinner and get back to you
Thanks for sharing
Chrissie Baker says
Now I’m craving fried rice for lunch, this looks incredible!
Demeter says
Love that this is so much more budget friendly than take out. Looks amazing!
Anna says
Me too! Thanks, Demeter!
Deb says
How many eggs?
Anna says
Hi Deb! You will need 2 eggs.
Jennifer says
Love this shrimp fried rice recipe! I make it at least a couple of times a month!
Anna says
Thanks, Jennifer!
Jenn says
Loving this easy peasy shrimp fried rice! So quick and tasty!
Anna says
I agree! Thanks, Jenn!
Aimee Shugarman says
I've made this with shrimp and with chicken. Our family LOVES this dinner.
Anna says
Yay! That's fantastic! Thanks, Aimee!
Becky Hardin says
No more take out! This shrimp and rice is amazing.
Anna says
Thanks, Becky!
Kimberly says
The shrimp is such a nice change from chicken and pork - deeelicious!
Anna says
I agree! So quick too!
Sommer says
Can't get enough of this shrimp fried rice! I could eat this seven days a week.
Anna says
Same here! It's so easy and delicious! Thanks, Sommer!
Krissy says
My entire family loves this recipe. Shrimp fried rice is SO GOOD!
Anna says
Thank you so much, Krissy!