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Rolling Sauce

Restaurant-Style Bacon Fried Rice

Day-old rice fried with bacon, scrambled eggs, carrots, and peas, seasoned the way restaurants do — soy sauce hits the hot pan, not the rice — for that takeout-style flavor in 15 minutes.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Asian-inspired

Ingredients
  

Rice
  • - 4 cups cooked chilled day-old rice (long-grain, such as jasmine)
  • - 4 slices bacon chopped
  • - 2 large eggs beaten
Vegetables and Aromatics
  • - 1/2 cup carrots diced small
  • - 1/2 cup frozen peas
  • - 2 cloves garlic minced
  • - 3 green onions sliced
Seasoning
  • - 3 tablespoons soy sauce low-sodium recommended
  • - 1 teaspoon sugar
  • - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • - 1/4 teaspoon white pepper or black pepper

Method
 

  1. Cook the chopped bacon in a large skillet or wok over medium heat until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the fat in the pan.
  2. Pour the beaten eggs into the same pan and scramble gently until just set. Remove to the plate with the bacon.
  3. Increase heat to medium-high. Add the carrots and cook 1-2 minutes until starting to soften, then add the garlic and peas and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Add the cold rice, breaking up clumps with a spatula. Spread it out and let it sit briefly before tossing, repeating every minute or so.
  5. Push the rice to one side, pour the soy sauce and sugar onto the hot, exposed pan surface, let it sizzle a few seconds, then toss through the rice.
  6. Add the bacon, eggs, and green onions back to the pan. Toss until evenly combined and heated through.
  7. Turn off the heat, drizzle with sesame oil, sprinkle with white pepper, and toss once more before serving.

Notes

  • Storage: Keeps in the fridge for up to 4 days in an airtight container.
  • Reheat: Reheat in a hot skillet with a splash of water to loosen the rice; microwave works in a pinch but the texture is best from the stove.
  • Make ahead: Cook fresh rice a day ahead and refrigerate uncovered, or spread on a baking sheet and cool for 30 minutes if using same-day.