One of my family’s favorite meals is Shrimp Fried Rice, which is packed with shrimp, rice, veggies, and egg. It’s a protein-packed and easy dinner that can be made in just 30 minutes. The best part is that it’s a great way to use leftover cooked rice.

We enjoy recreating Asian takeout dishes like Chow Mein, General Tso’s Chicken, and Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry. However, making fried rice is the easiest homemade takeout dish.

Shrimp Fried Rice Recipe

To avoid gummy and sticky rice, it’s important to know a few things when making fried rice.

Once you have a great basic recipe, you can easily switch up the protein depending on what you have on hand or leftovers from the previous night’s dinner. That’s how our popular Chicken Fried Rice Recipe came about.

Secrets for the Best Fried Rice

Here are a few tips for making perfect non-sticky fried rice:

• Prep ingredients ahead of time: Make sure everything is prepped and ready before you start cooking.
• Use chilled rice: Start with cold cooked rice, preferably leftover rice. Fresh warm rice will become sticky and gooey when cooked.
• Cook over high heat: Fried rice should be cooked quickly over high heat, so make sure your pan is hot. Avoid constantly stirring the ingredients.
• Follow the process: Add ingredients to the pan separately and in the order listed. Adding everything at once will cool the pan too quickly and result in sticky rice.
• Add sauces to taste: Adjust the amount of soy sauce and sesame oil according to your preference. The amount may vary depending on the salt content of your rice and the type of soy sauce used.

Ingredients for Shrimp Fried Rice

• Rice: cooked and chilled rice (preferably leftover)
• Shrimp: use 20-24 count or 26-30 count RAW peeled and deveined shrimp
• Cornstarch: makes the shrimp slightly crispy when stir-fried
• Vegetables: a bag of frozen peas and carrots, thawed according to package instructions
• Eggs: adds protein, texture, and color
• Green onion: light and dark green parts, plus more for garnish
• Soy Sauce: use regular, low sodium, or even coconut aminos to taste
• Sesame oil: adds authentic Chinese fried rice flavor

How to Make Shrimp Fried Rice

Once the shrimp hits the skillet, it takes about 10 minutes to cook, so make sure all your ingredients are measured out, prepped, and ready to add to the skillet.

1. Marinate shrimp: Toss shrimp with cornstarch, salt, and pepper and rest for 10 minutes at room temperature.
2. Heat the skillet: Preheat a large non-stick skillet over medium/high heat. Add cooking oil and shrimp, cooking for 1 minute per side. Transfer cooked shrimp to a plate and reduce heat to medium.
3. Add beaten eggs: Pour beaten eggs into the same skillet and scramble until no longer runny. Transfer cooked eggs to the same plate as the shrimp.
4. Wipe down the skillet: Use a paper towel to wipe down the skillet, then increase heat to medium/high and add oil and green onions. Sauté for 30 seconds.
5. Sauté the rice: Spread rice evenly in the skillet and cook for 1-2 minutes without stirring. Flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes until rice sizzles.
6. Add sauces and veggies: Drizzle soy sauce and sesame oil, then stir in the vegetables.
7. Add shrimp and eggs back to the pan: Mix well and continue cooking until the rice is hot and sizzling. Stir frequently. Adjust soy sauce to taste.