This healthy chicken fried rice recipe is loaded with vegetables and made with whole grain brown rice. This kid-friendly family favorite is also naturally gluten free!
If you love traditional fried rice but don’t love the calorie price tag that comes with it, this recipe is for you! The best part? It is designed for leftovers. In fact, one of the secrets to delicious brown rice is to use leftover, cold rice.
Here are a few tricks I used to boost the nutrition of this delicious Chinese American classic:
- Good Quality Brown Rice: For years I relied on boxed, quick-cooking brown rice but found my dishes always coming up flat. The rice was mushy and lacked real flavor. All of that changed when I discovered Nishiki Brown Rice. It takes a little longer to cook but I make a big batch in my rice cooker once/week and use it all week long.
- Load up on Veggies: This recipe is ideal for leftover veggies or whatever you happen to discover that week at the farmer’s market. As always, use this recipe as a method not a guide book. If you have asparagus and green beans? Use them. No broccoli? Skip it. Make it your own.
- More Veggies = Less Meat: By loading up on veggies, you can use less meat. If you want to eat more organic meat but can’t handle the price tag, this is a great recipe for stretching your food dollar.
- Sesame Oil: In leui of using canola oil to stir fry all the ingredients, I save my calories for sesame oil which has a very strong, rich flavor. By using a more flavorful oil, I can get away with using less of it.
Your chop sticks are waiting.
This healthy chicken fried rice recipe is loaded with vegetables and made with whole grain brown rice. This kid-friendly family favorite is also naturally gluten free!
- 8 oz chicken breast diced
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1 medium zucchini diced
- 1 ear corn kernels removed
- 1 c green peas
- 1/2 c edamame shelled and cooked
- 2 c broccoli cooked and cut into small florets
- 1 egg
- 2 c leftover brown rice preferably cold
- 1 tbs sesame oil
- 2 tbs soy sauce low sodium
- 1 tbs rice wine vinegar
- 1 c scallions minced
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Heat a wok or large pan over medium-high heat and spray with non-stick spray.(Tip: Save the sesame oil calories to finish the dish vs. using them to cook the ingredients. You won't miss the calories and you won't notice a change in flavor.)
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Saute chicken breast about 4 minutes per side. No need to move the chicken constantly - let it brown and gain flavor.
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Once cooked, remove from pan and reserve.
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In the same pan, add onion and zucchini; cook for 3-4 minutes.
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Add corn kernels, peas, edamame and broccoli.
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Stir fry for about 2 minutes to heat.
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Move the veggies to the perimeter of the pan and in the middle, add the egg.
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Using a wooden spoon, quickly stir the egg to scramble.
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Add the reserved, cold brown rice, cooked chicken and sesame oil. Stir well to distribute the oil and spread the rice and veggies all over the pan.
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Walk away from the pan and let the ingredients brown a bit.
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After about 2 minutes, stir and let sit for another 2 minutes to brown.
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Add soy sauce, rice vinegar and scallions. Stir well and serve.
Excellent source of Vitamin C, good source Vitamin A, calcium and iron.
Photography by Alejandro Photography // Recipe by The Lemon Bowl
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Dana @realfood-realfamily.com
I’ve made this several times and it’s always a hit. I’m making it again this week and will share the recipe and review at the end of the week in my “what we ate” post.
Liz DellaCroce
I’m so glad I hope you love it again!
Harsukh
I am going to try this today for my husband :-)
Liz DellaCroce
I hope he likes it!
Karen
What size is one serving?
Liz DellaCroce
2 cups! So sorry about that – I’ve updated the recipe.
Mourad
I have gout. do you think this meal is OK for me?
Liz DellaCroce
Hi Mourad – I’m not positive – I would check with your doctor!
Paula @ Vintage Kitchen
I really dig this rice recipe! So perfect for me!
The Lemon Bowl
Thanks – I dig it too! Let me know if you try it!
Jennifer
Hey Liz,
could I substitute any other vinegar for the rice vinegar? How much sesame oil should I use? Thanks! Can’t wait to try this!
The Lemon Bowl
1 tablespoon sesame oil – sorry about that! If you don’t have the rice vinegar, just skip it. I would pick it up the next time you’re at the store – it’s great on all stir-fries or in an Asian flavored salad dressing!
Jennifer
I bought some today because I saw it in some of your other recipes I want to try. Will let you know when I make it! Thanks!
The Lemon Bowl
It’s so good – let me know what you think!!
Jennifer
Family loved this! Thanks for the recipe and I am now using rice vinegar on everything!
The Lemon Bowl
So glad to hear!! It’s great on salads too!!