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This easy Vegan Fried Rice is quick and flavorful. A great use for leftover rice and customizable with whatever veggies you have in your fridge. Ready in just 20 minutes! Perfect for a weeknight meal.
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Fried rice is a favorite take-out food, but it’s really quite easy to make at home.
It’s a great vessel for cleaning out your fridge. It can be a main dish on its own or served as a side next to baked tofu, pan fried tofu, vegan chicken cutlets, or Orange Cauliflower.
For a slightly different spin, try my Curry Fried Rice!
Ingredients you need
Ingredient notes and substitutions
Rice ~ Leftover rice works best! Fresh cooked rice will be too moist and sticky. If you don’t have leftover rice, store-bought frozen cooked rice works great. I always keep a box of Trader Joe’s frozen rice in my freezer for convenience.
Feel free to use white or brown rice. Medium-grain offers the best texture for this dish. Jasmine rice is always a good choice for Asian-inspired dishes, but use what you have. Learn more about the different varieties of rice.
For a slightly different take, use quinoa instead of rice.
Vegetables ~ I like red bell pepper, carrots, peas, cabbage, and green onions in this vegan fried rice.
If you can find frozen diced carrots and peas together, that would be ideal, but I haven’t had much luck finding that combo these days. Fresh carrots are fine – just dice them small so they cook through.
You can use pre-shredded cabbage to save prep time. A bag of coleslaw mix works, too. I typically chop the shreds even further so they’re not as long. You may certainly shred your own if you prefer.
Aromatics ~ Garlic and ginger bring lots of flavor. Don’t skip them. Fresh is best.
Seasoning ~ Typical fried rice recipes uses soy sauce and oyster sauce. Oyster sauce isn’t vegan, so I like to use hoisin sauce instead. Hoisin sauce is a Chinese version of barbecue sauce. It’s thick, fragrant and flavorful!
For gluten-free options, use gluten-free tamari instead of soy sauce and be sure to look for a gluten-free hoisin sauce.
Sesame oil ~ Toasted sesame oil is a finishing oil and is best drizzled in right before serving. It brings a ton of flavor! I don’t suggest skipping this ingredient. This is different than the oil you will use to sauté the vegetables.
Extras ~ You can throw in whatever veggies you have available. Snow peas, corn, broccoli, mushrooms, celery, spinach, etc.
Just Egg scrambled and chopped would be a great addition as would scrambled tofu.
Make it spicy by adding a Thai red chile, crushed red pepper flakes, or a few dashes of sriracha.
Garnish with white or black sesame seeds and extra sliced green onions.
How to make the recipe
Please scroll down to the recipe card for exact ingredient measurements and instructions.
Sauté the vegetables over medium until tender.
Increase the heat to high and add the rice, peas, soy sauce, and hoisin sauce.
Mix well and then let it sit for a few minutes to allow the edges to form a caramelized crispy texture.
Stir and let it sit again. Do this a few times until you are satisfied with the texture and the rice is completely heated through.
Take off the heat and drizzle in the toasted sesame oil.
Storage and freezing
Fridge: Cool the vegan fried rice completely before transferring to an air-tight container. Store in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
Freezer: Let it cool completely before transferring to a freezer-safe container or plastic zip-top bag. It should keep well for up to 3 months.
Reheat: From frozen, thaw in the fridge overnight. Then reheat either in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes or in a skillet on the stove for 5 to 7 minutes until warm. Add a few tablespoons of water if the rice seems dry.
Pro tips and tricks
~ Use leftover rice for best texture. Medium-grain works best.
~ Chop any vegetables into a small dice so they cook through quickly.
~ Use a large non-stick skillet to be able to spread out the rice to achieve crispy caramelized edges.
~ Use a neutral-flavored, high-heat oil, like grapeseed, sunflower, or canola oil.
~ For an oil-free option, use vegetable broth or water to sauté the vegetables and make sure it cooks off before adding the rice. Excess liquid in the recipe won’t produce the best texture for the vegan fried rice.
~ Use high heat so everything cooks quickly.
~ Resist the urge to constantly stir the rice. Letting it cook undisturbed for a few minutes at a time will result in those perfect crispy edges that taste so good!
~ Drizzle in toasted sesame oil right before serving. Serve extra soy sauce on the table so everyone can adjust the seasoning to their own tastes.
FAQs
Typical fried rice contains oyster sauce and eggs and, therefore, isn’t vegan. This homemade version, however, is vegan!
The biggest culprit to soggy or mushy fried rice is too much moisture. Be sure to use leftover, cold rice for best results. Store-bought frozen rice works great, too.
Another reason is overcrowding the skillet. Be sure to use a large non-stick skillet or wok so you can spread out the ingredients allowing them to come in contact with the hot pan.
I hope you love this recipe as much as we do! If you tried it, please use the star rating system in the recipe card and leave a comment with your feedback. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
For even more easy family recipes, be sure to check out my cookbook, The Meatless Monday Family Cookbook!
Vegan Fried Rice
Recommended Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or ¼ cup water for an oil-free option
- 2 carrots peeled and diced (about 1 cup)
- 1 cup chopped or shredded cabbage
- 1 red bell pepper seeded and diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon minced ginger
- 3 green onions sliced
- 4 cups leftover cooked rice
- ½ cup sweet green peas
- 4 tablespoons soy sauce or gluten-free tamari for a gluten free option
- 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 1-2 teaspoon(s) sesame oil
- dash sriracha optional
- sprinkle black sesame seeds optional, for garnish
Instructions
- In a large skillet or wok heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the carrots, cabbage, and bell pepper. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the veggies are starting to soften and the cabbage starts to brown on the edges.
- Add the garlic, ginger, and green onions and sauté 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant.
- Increase the heat to high. Add the rice, peas, soy sauce and hoisin sauce. Stir well to combine. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, without stirring, to allow the rice to brown on the edges. Stir and cook again for 2 to 3 minutes until heated through and you are satisfied with the texture.
- Take off the heat and drizzle in the sesame oil.
- Serve with a dash or two of sriracha and a sprinkle of black sesame seeds.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition values are calculated using online calculators and are estimates only. Please verify using your own data.
Taylor Kiser
This looks so delicious! Love that we can enjoy a healthy version of a favorite Chinese food!
Jenn S.
Thanks, Taylor! Enjoy!
Lindsay Cotter
Love how easy this is to make! Perfect for a busy weeknight meal. So much healthier than take-out too!
Jenn S.
Yup, perfect for a weeknight! And it’s great as a stand alone dish or as a side too. 🙂 Thanks, Lindsay!
Natalie
ok, so fried rice that’s oil free and made in under 30 minutes??? I have GOT to try this!! I love chinese food, especially when I can get it healthy! 🙂
Jenn S.
Homemade versions are always so much better! I love the restaurant stuff, but always feel like I have a slick of oil on my tongue and in my stomach afterwards. No good! 🙂 Thanks, Natalie!
Alisa Fleming
You had me at easy Jenn! I’ve been so in the mood for simple food lately, and adore all food Asian-style. The sriracha is a nice spicy touch, too.
Jenn S.
Right?! Easy is usually the name of the game around here. Especially with 3 kids! Thanks, Alisa!
Janet S
Made this last night for dinner. My picky kids ate it up! Thank you!
Jenn S.
Janet, that is so awesome to hear! My kids happily gobble it up too! Thank you!
veggiesdontbite
Looks delicious Jen! I love fried rice and anything healthy in that domain is good for me. Yum! Love the snap peas too!
Jenn S.
It’s not perfect, but it’s definitely healthier than anything from a restaurant! And, crap, did I say snap peas…they are actually snow peas! Oops…will change that now! Snap peas would work too, though! 🙂
Jenn S.
Ok, I did list snow peas. LOL! I need more coffee!!!!
veggiesdontbite
Oh no, it’s just me. I call all peas snap peas! LOL!
Jenn S.
LOL!! Well, I’ve been known to make mistakes, so you never know. I once left out two ingredients in the ingredient list, but add them to the directions. Talk about confusing! Luckily a reader let me know! 🙂
Natalie @ Feasting on Fruit
Fried rice is one of my favorites!!! When I go to a chinese or japanese restaurant all I really want is the rice! And I love that you made you own sauce too 🙂
Jenn S.
Thanks, Natalie! I really love Chinese food, but I was so tired of the greasy taste. This hits all the flavor without the indigestion afterwards!
Ceara @ Ceara's Kitchen
This sounds delicious Jenn and like our kind of meal! I always HATE how I feel after eating greasy Chinese take out – blech!!! This sounds SO much lighter and satisfying! YUM!
Jenn S.
Thanks, Ceara! I hate feeling like I just drank a glass of grease!
Linda @ Veganosity
I totally agree with you Jenn. Chinese take out is so greasy and heavy, I always end up with a stomach ache after I eat it. Your fried rice looks delicious, so much better than any I’ve seen in a restaurant.
Jenn S.
Thanks, Linda! It always gave me a stomachache too! Now, I have to work on reinventing and veganizing the crab rangoons….those were my weakness!