This is the kind of meal you pull together when dinner needs to happen fast. Leftover rice, a handful of frozen veggies, scrambled eggs, and soy sauce come together in the microwave to create legitimate fried rice. No wok or stovetop required.
It’s perfect for busy weeknights when you’re short on time but not willing to settle for cereal. The microwave does all the work, there’s minimal cleanup, and it tastes way better than it has any right to. Customize it with whatever protein or vegetables you have on hand: leftover chicken, shrimp, ham, peas, carrots, edamame. It all works.
The secret? Day-old rice (or even frozen rice) works best because it’s drier and won’t get mushy. Fresh rice gets too sticky in the microwave. But if you’ve got leftover takeout rice sitting in your fridge, this is its moment.
Ready in under 10 minutes, uses ingredients you probably already have, and requires exactly one bowl. This is the dinner shortcut you didn’t know you needed.
Microwave Fried Rice
Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked rice (leftover takeout is perfect)
- 1/2 cup frozen mixed veggies
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp sesame oil (optional but makes it taste “real”)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Method
- Add frozen veggies to a microwave-safe bowl. Heat for 1 minute until just thawed.
- Stir in rice, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Mix it up like you know what you’re doing and you've been over a stove all day.
- Crack the egg right in, stir it through the rice, and microwave for 30 seconds at a time — stirring in between — until the egg is fully cooked and the rice is steaming hot.
- Add salt, pepper, or a little extra soy sauce until it tastes like something you could have ordered for $12.
Notes
Helpful Tips
- Use day-old rice: It microwaves perfectly and somehow makes you feel like a pro.
- Upgrade it: Add leftover chicken, tofu, or shrimp if you’re pretending this was planned.
- Serve with confidence: No one will ever know this started in the microwave — and we’re not telling.
