After a quick and delicious dinner recipe?
This garlic fried rice recipe might just be for you. With little ingredients, you can make this flavorful rice dish in no time.
And it’s also a great way to use up any leftover rice you may have sitting in your fridge.

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Garlic fried rice is a quick and easy dish, perfect for those short on time or looking to meal prep.
It's perfect for using up leftover rice, as it not only prevents food waste but also transforms plain rice into a tasty meal.
Serve it as a side dish alongside grilled chicken, tofu, or stir-fried vegetables, or add protein like shrimp or chicken for a complete, satisfying meal.
Garlic fried rice is also versatile, flavorful option for busy weeknights, lazy weekends, or to bring to pot lucks.
What rice do I use for fried rice?
For making fried rice, it's best to use long-grain rice, such as basmati rice.
These rice varieties have grains that are long and slender, which helps prevent the rice from clumping together during the frying process.
The individual grains stay separated, resulting in the ideal texture for fried rice.
It is also better to use day old cooked rice, rather than fresh rice.
Using day-old cooked rice for fried rice is preferred as it has reduced moisture, resulting in separate grains and a firmer texture.
Other delicious fried rice recipes you might like to try include easy fried rice with frozen vegetables, ketchup fried rice, chorizo fried rice, char siu fried rice, spam fried rice, tuna fried rice, or Singapore fried rice.

Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Garlic fried rice is a quick and easy dish to make, meaning its great for those busy weeknights or last minute dinner parties.
- This garlic fried rice recipe is great for meal prep.
- Serve this simple fried rice as a side dish on special occasions, like Thanksgiving, or Christmas. Or enjoy it in lunch boxes, pot lucks, or lazy weekend dinners.
- Budget friendly.
Cost To Make
Estimated cost = $4.40, or $1.10 a serve
Ingredients
Please note that below is a guide for some of the ingredients we used in the recipe. The printable recipe further down the page has the complete list of ingredients, including quantities and step-by-step instructions.

- Cooking oil: e.g. vegetable oil
- Eggs: Beaten and lightly salted
- Small brown onion: Finely chopped
- Minced garlic
- Day old cooked basmati rice: It is best to use a long grain rice such as basmati rice for fried rice. This is because it will give you crisp fried rice that doesn’t clump together. We also recommend you use day old cooked basmati rice for better results. If you are short on time and want to use freshly cooked rice, you may need to cook your fried rice for a bit longer and be aware that your fried rice may not turn out as crisp.
- Dried Onions: Asian style dried and fried onions.
- Green (spring) onions: Finely chopped
- Light Soy Sauce
- Dark Soy Sauce
Instructions
This recipe for garlic fried rice serves 4. The ingredient quantities can easily be adjusted to suit how many serves you need to make.
Step One: In a wok or deep frying pan, heat 1 tablespoon of cooking oil over medium to high heat. Once hot, pour in the beaten eggs and scramble. Once cooked, remove the eggs and set aside.
Step Two: Place the remaining 1 tablespoon of cooking oil to the wok. Fry the finely chopped brown onion for 3 to 4 minutes, or until soft and lightly browned.
Step Three: Mix through the minced garlic for about half a minute. Turn the heat to high and then add the cooked basmati rice. Break up any clumps of rice, and stir fry for 3 to 4 minutes.
Step Four: Mix through the green onions, dried onions, light and dark soy sauce, and cooked egg and continue to fry for a further 4 to 5 minutes.
Step Five: Season with salt and pepper to taste, stir fry for a further 2 to 3 minutes. Turn off heat and serve.
Tips for Success
- When making fried rice, it is best to use high heat. This will help give your rice a crisper texture.
- Use day old cooked rice, such as basmati rice.
- Garlic cooks quickly and burns easily, add it after the onions have cooked.

Substitutions / Variations
Add any leftover vegetables (fresh or frozen), such as capsicum, broccoli, or beans, to your rice. Cut them into small pieces and fry them when you add the garlic.
Serving Suggestions
- Fried egg and extra dried onions
- Spring rolls
- A simple salad, or Asian greens
- With a curry like rogan josh
- Egg drop soup or a simple broth
Storage
This garlic fried rice can be stored in an air tight container in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.
FAQ
Yes, you can.
You could mix through some garlic powder. Add about ⅛ teaspoon or to taste.
What rice is used for what?
Ever wondered which might be the best rice to use for a dish you’re about to make.
Or maybe you’re just curious and want to know more about rice in general.
Why not check out our pages on what is basmati rice and what is jasmine rice.
Helpful Rice Cooking Tips
Want to know how to cook rice or just need a little refresher?
Check out how to easily cook basmati rice, sushi rice, and jasmine rice on the stovetop.
Or, why not check out our recipes on how to make basmati rice, jasmine rice, and sushi rice in the Instant Pot.

Made this recipe? Let us know how it went in the comments below! We'd love to hear how it turned out.
More Mains Recipes
Recipe

Garlic Fried Rice Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil e.g. vegetable oil
- 2 eggs beaten and lightly salted
- 90 grams (3.17 ounces) small brown onion finely chopped
- 1 ½ teaspoons minced garlic
- 3 cups (380 grams, 13.40 ounces) day old cooked basmati rice
- ½ cup (40 grams, 1.41 ounces) green (spring) onions finely chopped
- ¼ cup (25 grams, 0.88 ounces) dried onions
- 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
- ½ tablespoon dark soy sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a wok or deep frying pan, heat 1 tablespoon of cooking oil over medium to high heat. Once hot, pour in the beaten eggs and scramble. Once cooked, remove the eggs and set aside.
- Place the remaining 1 tablespoon of cooking oil to the wok. Fry the finely chopped brown onion for 3 to 4 minutes, or until soft and lightly browned.
- Mix through the minced garlic for about half a minute. Turn the heat to high and then add the cooked basmati rice. Break up any clumps of rice, and stir fry for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Mix through the green onions, dried onions, light and dark soy sauce, and cooked egg and continue to fry for a further 4 to 5 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste, stir fry for a further 2 to 3 minutes. Turn off heat and serve.
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