Shrimp Fried Rice
Shrimp Fried Rice is a flavorful and easy meal that’s perfect for turning everyday ingredients into a delicious dinner. With juicy shrimp, scrambled eggs, and colorful vegetables all tossed together, it’s a family favorite that comes together in under 30 minutes.
This homemade shrimp fried rice recipe brings classic takeout flavors right to your kitchen. Cold rice, garlic butter shrimp, soy sauce, and rice vinegar create the perfect balance of savory and tangy, while peas, carrots, and green onions add freshness. It’s a delicious way to use leftover rice and makes weeknight cooking feel effortless.
My mom loves shrimp fried rice and ordering it out just has too much sodium for her diet so I learned to make it at home for her and she loves it. So much so that she asked for it for her birthday meal. We also enjoy making our favorites like Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken and my favorite, Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli, at home. It’s saves money, time, and taste so good!
Shrimp Fried Rice
Shrimp fried rice really is simple to prepare, especially when you use cold, day-old rice. This is the key to achieving that perfect restaurant-style texture, ensuring your fried rice is fluffy and light rather than mushy. This easygoing recipe is a great way to use up leftovers you have in the fridge.
The shrimp is the star ingredient here, providing a savory, tender protein that pairs beautifully with the tangy soy sauce and the sweetness of the peas and carrots. The vibrant colors and delicious flavors make this dish a total crowd-pleaser that everyone will love.
Timesaving Tips and Variations
A few simple adjustments can make this recipe even faster, and a great way to use up ingredients you have on hand. It’s a versatile dish that you can truly make your own.
- Using cold, leftover rice will yield the best results.
- Swap shrimp for chicken, pork, or tofu.
- Use mixed vegetables, bell peppers, or broccoli instead of peas and carrots.
- Add sesame oil for extra depth.
- Make it spicy with sriracha or chili garlic sauce.
- Try cauliflower rice for a lighter option.
These simple changes give you flexibility, so you can enjoy this recipe in different ways without adding extra work.
When you’re craving something better than takeout, fried rice with shrimp is the answer. The combination of garlic, soy sauce, and sesame oil gives it that classic restaurant-style flavor.
What to Serve with Shrimp Fried Rice
This simple dish is filling on its own, but it pairs well with other foods for a full, balanced meal. Adding a mix of protein and veggies makes dinner feel complete.
These pairings make it easy to turn your fried rice into a restaurant-style dinner right at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, fresh shrimp works great in this recipe. Just peel and devein them before cooking, and they’ll cook in minutes. If you use larger shrimp, simply adjust the cooking time slightly so they don’t overcook.
Cold rice fries better because it has less moisture. Freshly cooked rice is too soft and will clump together, resulting in a sticky texture. Using day-old rice gives you those distinct, separate grains that make fried rice so good.
Yes, shrimp fried rice reheats nicely in a skillet or microwave. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. For best results, reheat it in a pan with a splash of soy sauce to refresh the flavors.
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Kitchen Tools for Making Fried Rice
Having the right tools makes cooking fast and easy. These basics keep the process simple, so dinner comes together without extra fuss.
Anolon Accolade Forged Hard Anodized Nonstick Deep Frying Pan / Skillet with Helper Handle and Lid, 12 Inch – Moonstone GrayCooking Spoon for Nonstick Cookwares, Great for Cooking and Serving Sturdy BPA-Free Matte Silicone, Wood Handle Spoon for Mixing, Scoop, and Scrape (Black & Grey, 13.4 inch)
Bopei Measuring Cups and Spoons Set Stainless Steel 10 Piece for Cooking and Baking
GLAMFIELDS Reusable Chopsticks Japanese Natural Wooden 5 Pairs Classic Style Lightweight Hand-Carved Safe Chop Sticks 8.8 Inch/22.5cm Gift Set
Nagpew 6 Pack Retro Ceramic Bowls, 4.5 Inch Japanese Chinese Bowl, Small Hand-painted Serving Dinner Set for Cereal, Salad, Dessert, Ice Cream, Rice, Noodles, Dishwasher Microwave Safe
This one-pan rice dish keeps cleanup simple while delivering big flavor. Everything cooks together in a single skillet, making dinner both easy and satisfying.
Ingredients for Homemade Shrimp Fried Rice
This recipe keeps things simple with everyday ingredients that work together to create big flavor.
- Butter and eggs – add richness, protein, and texture.
- Garlic and green onions – bring savory depth and freshness.
- Shrimp – the main protein, tender and juicy when cooked.
- Peas and carrots – colorful vegetables that add crunch.
- Salt, pepper, soy sauce, and rice vinegar – seasonings that create the classic fried rice flavor.
- Cold cooked white rice – the base of the dish, perfect for soaking up the sauce.
Asian-inspired rice recipes are a great way to stretch ingredients you already have on hand. Toss in shrimp, eggs, and a mix of vegetables for a filling meal the whole family will love.
How to Make Shrimp Fried Rice Step by Step
Prepare the eggs: Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Beat the eggs in a small bowl, then pour them into the skillet. Gently scramble the eggs, stirring occasionally, until they are soft-set, about 2–3 minutes. Remove the eggs from the skillet and set aside.
Cook the shrimp and vegetables: Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the shrimp and cook until they start turning pink, about 2–3 minutes. Stir in the peas and carrots, season with salt and pepper, and cook another 2 minutes until the shrimp are fully cooked and the vegetables are tender. Transfer this mixture to a plate.
Heat the rice: Add the cold, cooked white rice to the same skillet, breaking up any clumps with a spatula. Pour the soy sauce and rice vinegar over the rice, tossing to coat the grains evenly. Cook the rice for 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until heated through and slightly golden.
Combine all ingredients: Return the scrambled eggs and shrimp-vegetable mixture to the skillet with the rice. Gently toss everything together so the eggs and shrimp are evenly distributed. Cook for an additional 2–3 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
Finish and serve: Remove the skillet from heat and sprinkle the chopped green onions over the top. Give the fried rice a final gentle toss, then serve hot. Optionally, add a drizzle of sesame oil or a splash of soy sauce for extra flavor.
This fried rice dish makes it the perfect answer to “what’s for dinner?” It transforms leftover rice into something exciting, all while keeping the cooking time short.
Shrimp Fried Rice
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter, divided
- 3 eggs
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 30 frozen shrimp, thawed, peeled, and deveined with tails off
- 1½ cups canned peas and carrots(or use frozen)
- 5 cups cooked, COLD white rice
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 1½ tablespoons rice vinegar
- 3 green onions, chopped
Instructions
- Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Beat eggs and cook until soft-set, then set them aside.
- Melt the remaining butter. Add garlic and shrimp. Once the shrimp turns pink, stir in the peas, carrots, and seasonings.
- Once the shrimp is cooked, remove the mixture from the skillet and set it aside.
- Add the cold rice to the same skillet. Pour the soy sauce and rice vinegar over the rice. Toss the rice until it is evenly coated. Cook for 3-4 minutes. Top with green onion and serve.
Nutritional Disclaimer
“Blogghetti” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
2025 Alphabet Challenge – “R”
This simple and delicious takeout-inspired recipe is this year’s “R” post for the 2025 alphabet challenge. It’s a quick 30-minute meal that’s perfect for weeknights. Be sure to check out what other food bloggers have prepared for the letter “R” and get some inspiration from the amazing ideas in the 2024 Alphabet Challenge!
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Enjoy!
Now that I have taught every member of the family to make rice in the instant pot, they will often make a batch of rice for lunch or a snack to add to whatever, potstickers, roasted veg, Japanese barbecue sauce. So we do quite often have cold rice! And fried rice is just so good. My youngest will probably want to try making this with her Japanese teacher since she loves shrimp so much.
I am in the habit of always making extra rice just so I have it for recipes like this.
This is one of those recipes you just can’t go wrong with! Simple, easy to make on a busy weeknight, and something everyone will love!!!
I’d have this for my birthday meal too, if you are cooking, Lisa! It looks very tasty!