Ham Fried Rice

Loaded with cubes of smoky ham, ginger, garlic, and my special blend of fried rice seasonings, this Ham Fried Rice is pretty nearly perfect. Ideal on its own as a meal or a side, treat yourself to this easy fried rice dish today!

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There’s just something so hearty and delicious and satisfying about fried rice, and this easy Ham Fried Rice dish is no exception. Packed with flavor and lots of tender, smoky ham, this 1-skillet dish can also be made on a griddle or your Blackstone griddle outside.

Fried rice is an easy dish to master, but in order to make GREAT fried rice, there are a few things you must know and do. It all starts with cold, leftover rice. Read on and I’ll tell you all my secrets for making the best Ham Fried Rice on the planet!

What You’ll Need

• White rice – Cooked the day before and refrigerated.
• Vegetable oil – Or butter. Better yet, use both!
• Ham – Diced ham works better than chopped sliced deli ham.
• Carrots – Diced.
• Onion – Diced small.
• Peas – Frozen peas work well.
• Ginger – Finely chopped fresh ginger.
• Garlic – Finely chopped.
• Sesame oil – A little goes a long way! Store open bottles in your fridge
• Soy sauce – I use low-sodium soy sauce.
• Fish sauce – Optional but highly suggested. It won’t make your rice taste fishy, I promise!
• Egg – Just 1 egg, or 2 if you really like your Ham Fried Rice recipe eggy.
• Green onions – Sliced as a garnish.
• Sesame seeds – Another garnish

How To Make Ham Fried Rice

For a complete list of ingredients and instructions, please scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this page.

Start by prepping all your vegetables and ingredients before you begin cooking. Dice the onions and carrots, mince the garlic and ginger (use your mini chopper to help), beat the egg, and slice the green onions. This step matters because once the cooking starts, everything moves quickly.

Heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat and add the oil and or butter. Add the onions and carrots and cook until they begin to soften.

Add the garlic and ginger and cook until aromatic. Stir frequently to prevent the garlic from burning.

Add the cooked rice to the skillet. Keep the heat fairly high so the rice heats through and lightly toasts, but do not let it smoke. Break up any clumps as you stir so the rice cooks evenly.

Drizzle the sesame oil and fish sauce over the rice and mix well to coat everything evenly.

Add the peas and ham and stir again until everything is well combined and heated through.

Pour in the soy sauce and mix well. Make a small well in the center of the rice, add about 1 tablespoon of oil, then pour in the lightly beaten egg. Let the egg set slightly, then scramble it in the center before folding it into the rest of the rice.

Cook for another minute or two, just until the egg is fully cooked and everything is well combined.

Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions, then serve hot.

Secrets to Making the Best Ham Fried Rice

1. Use a big skillet or Blackstone Griddle for Ham Fried Rice. The more surface area you have, the more the rice will crisp up.
2. Start with day-old rice to make this Ham Fried Rice recipe. Cook the rice, then chill it and keep it in the fridge overnight. This lets the rice dry out a bit and gives the starches time to firm up. Fried rice ALWAYS tastes better with day-old rice.
3. Fish sauce. Fish sauce is packed with umami with a rich, meaty flavor. It’s not fishy, but a little goes a long way!
4. Soy sauce. Most recipes call for a tablespoon or two of soy sauce. Bah! Fried rice needs soy sauce! I use 1/4 cup to be exact. Use low sodium if you’re worried about the salt.
5. Ginger and garlic. More flavor! I won’t even look at a fried rice recipe without this duo of flavor powerhouses. I hate chopping all the garlic and ginger so I use a mini chopper to help.
6. Veggies. What veggies you use are optional. I like carrots and peas for the color and crunch.

What To Serve With Ham Fried Rice

I love serving other Asian-inspired dishes with this easy fried rice recipe, like Robin’s Air Fryer Pork Belly. Steaks, smoked chicken, and even shrimp will also pair nicely with this Blackstone fried rice recipe.

Storage

Can you freeze Ham Fried Rice? Yes, you sure can! Thoroughly chill portions of it and pack them into airtight containers or plastic bags and freeze them for up to 3 months.

Otherwise, pack your leftover rice into an airtight container and store it in the fridge for 2-3 days. Can you reheat fried rice? You sure bet you can! Here’s how.

Frequently Asked Questions