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    Ham Fried Rice

    April 17, 2025 / By Holly Erickson & Natalie Mortimer

    Ham and eggs get a total makeover in this easy ham fried rice recipe!

    A bowl of ham fried rice, featuring fluffy rice mixed with diced ham, scrambled egg, peas & carrots, topped with green onions
    Photography by Gayle McLeod

    Leftover rice, diced ham, eggs and plenty of veggies make this one-pan ham fried rice recipe so easy and so delicious. Instead of staring at that carton full of leftover rice from take out night, you could see it and think “oooo tomorrow’s dinner is already halfway done.” Once in a while, you might even have leftover ham (maybe a honey baked ham leftover from Easter dinner?) in which case this recipe would come together even more easily. Even if you don’t have a fridge full of leftovers, it’s easy to make fried rice. Just whip up some White Rice, let it cool and dry for a while on a sheet pan, and you’re ready to roll. If you love fried rice like we do, don’t miss our super simple Homemade Fried Rice, or our classic, Chinese take out-style Chicken Fried Rice.

    ingredients for ham fried rice laid out in bowls: eggs, carrots, onion, ham, rice, peas, green onions and soy sauce

    Key Ingredients + Substitutes 

    Scroll down for the full recipe with measurements below.

    • Ham: Leftover ham (from a holiday meal, like Easter dinner) has never tasted so good! If you don’t have leftover ham, though, no worries. You can get a slab of ham (ask for a ¼ inch thick slice) from the deli, or you can even buy pre-packaged diced ham at most grocery stores. Any of those options will work.
    • Eggs: Lightly scrambled eggs are an absolute must.
    • Veggies: Carrots, onions, scallions and peas. Frozen peas are generally better in both flavor and texture, but canned peas would be OK in a pinch.
    • Seasonings: Toasted sesame oil, salt, garlic. We like to add a pinch, but do go easy on the salt — the ham and the soy sauce will both add a lot of salty flavor to the rice.
    • Coconut aminos: Or tamari or low-sodium soy sauce. You can decide what’s best for you, or just use what you have. If you need the recipe to be gluten-free, use GF tamari. Or if you want a hint of sweet, use coconut aminos. 
    eggs, coconut aminos, sesame oil and salt being whisked by a fork in a glass bowl
    carrots, onion and garlic being cooked in vegetable oil in a wok
    scrambled eggs being cooked in a wok
    rice being fried in sesame oil and vegetable oil in a wok

    How To Make Fried Rice

    1. Grab your favorite skillet or wok. You’ll only need one pan for this whole recipe, so make it a good one!
    2. Sauté the onions, carrots and garlic in a little oil and sesame oil. Set them aside.
    3. Whisk the eggs with a little soy sauce (or coconut aminos), sesame oil and salt.
    4. Scramble the eggs. Set them aside, too.
    5. Now it’s rice time! Warm a little of each oil, and fry the rice in it.
    6. Toss everything into the pan (the eggs, the ham, the peas — all of it!) into that skillet and stir fry everything together until it’s warm and beautiful.
    7. Dig in! 
    Ham fried rice sizzling in a hot wok, with diced ham, scrambled egg, peas, carrots, and rice being stir-fried together
    Ham fried rice sizzling in a hot wok, with diced ham, scrambled egg, peas, carrots, and rice being stir-fried together

    Fried Rice Tips

    • We fry the rice in a combination of neutral vegetable oil and sesame oil so that every last grain of rice has a little coating of that wonderful toasty, nutty flavor, but not in an overwhelming way. This dish is all about adding many layers of flavor.
    • Let the rice fry undisturbed for a few minutes when you first add it to the pan. Letting it get a little crispy is the secret to making the very best fried rice your family has ever tasted.
    • We always feel excited when we order take out and it comes with way more rice that we’ll ever use up, because it means we’ll have fried rice for dinner the next night. However if you don’t have leftover rice, just cook up a batch of White Rice to use. Just be sure to let it dry out as much as you can before making fried rice.
    • Type of rice: If you have it, white rice is our favorite for fried rice. But brown rice works, too, if you’re wanting to have a little more nutrition in the mix.
    • Season the eggs with a little soy sauce and sesame oil! This is one of our favorite tricks for making sure that every single bite of fried rice tastes amazing. 
    A bowl of ham fried rice, featuring fluffy rice mixed with diced ham, scrambled egg, peas & carrots, topped with green onions

    Serving Suggestions

    Fried rice is a one-dish meal, but you can add some side dishes, or even treat it as a side dish for other take out-style main dishes. Fried rice is a perfect partner for other Chinese restaurant favorites, like: 

    A bowl of ham fried rice, featuring fluffy rice mixed with diced ham, scrambled egg, peas & carrots, topped with green onions

    More Simple Rice-Based Recipes

    More Easy Dinner Ideas Ahead!

    For more recipe inspiration, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest or order our cookbook. We love when you share your meals. Tag us on Instagram using #themodernproper, and we’d love to hear what you think of this recipe in the comments below. Happy cooking!

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    Ham Fried Rice Recipe

    Published April 17, 2025

    By Holly Erickson & Natalie Mortimer

    • Serves:  4
    • Prep Time:  15 min
    • Cook Time:  40 min
    • Calories:  618
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    Ingredients

    • 3 large eggs, beaten
    • 2 ½ teaspoons toasted sesame oil
    • ⅓ cup coconut aminos or low-sodium soy sauce
    • ¼ teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste
    • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
    • 2 medium carrots, finely diced (about 1 cup)
    • 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
    • 3 cloves garlic, minced
    • 8 ounces diced ham, (about 1½ cups)
    • 4 cups cooked white rice, preferably day-old
    • ¾ cup frozen peas, thawed
    • 4 green onions, white and green parts, chopped
    • 2 tablespoons soy sauce

    Method

    1. In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, ½ teaspoon of the sesame oil, ½ teaspoon of the coconut aminos, and the salt.

      ingredients for ham fried rice laid out in bowls: eggs, carrots, onion, ham, rice, peas, green onions and soy sauce

    2. Heat 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil and 1 teaspoon of the sesame oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Once the oil is glistening, add the carrots and cook, stirring, until slightly softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the onions and cook, stirring, until tender, about another 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute more. Transfer the vegetables to a plate. 

      carrots, onion and garlic being cooked in vegetable oil in a wok

    3. Add ½ teaspoon of the sesame oil and ½ tablespoon of the vegetable oil to the skillet. Once the oil is glistening, add the ham and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Transfer to the plate with the vegetables. 

    4. Add ½ tablespoon of vegetable oil to the same skillet. Once the oil is glistening, add the egg mixture and cook, scrambling, until just set, about 2 minutes. Transfer the eggs to the plate with the vegetables.

      scrambled eggs being cooked in a wok

    5. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and remaining ½ teaspoon sesame oil to the skillet. Once the oil is glistening, add the rice and toss to coat. Spread the rice evenly on the bottom of the pan. Cook, undisturbed, until the rice begins to crisp on the bottom, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir the rice once, then continue to cook, undisturbed, until slightly crispy, another 2 to 3 minutes. Repeat two more times.

      rice being fried in sesame oil and vegetable oil in a wok

    6. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the ham, vegetable, and egg mixture to the skillet. Add the peas, green onions, remaining coconut aminos, and soy sauce and cook, stirring, until combined and warmed through, about 3 minutes. Taste and season with salt.

      A bowl of ham fried rice, featuring fluffy rice mixed with diced ham, scrambled egg, peas & carrots, topped with green onions

    Notes

    We use day-old cooked rice here because it produces a much better texture than fresh rice, which can get soggy when fried. If you’re using freshly made cooked rice, spread it out on a baking sheet to cool as much as possible before adding to the skillet.

    Nutrition Info

    • Per Serving
    • Amount
    • Calories 618
    • Protein 18 g
    • Carbohydrates 88 g
    • Total Fat 20 g
    • Dietary Fiber 8 g
    • Cholesterol 167 mg
    • Sodium 2141 mg
    • Total Sugars 27 g

    Ham Fried Rice

    Questions & Reviews

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    • Sue

      This was very delicious. I had a ham steak I used but can't wait to make this again with my leftover Easter Ham. I'll probably freeze some of it too because in my experience freezing fried rice has worked well for me.

      Thanks Sue, glad you loved it!