Air fryer fried rice is a quick and easy version of fried rice made by cooking pre-cooked rice with vegetables, proteins, and seasonings in an air fryer. It is perfect for using up leftover rice and turning it into a tasty meal in under 15 minutes.
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email & I’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
Air Fryer Fried Rice
This air fryer fried rice recipe is my new favorite way to make heavenly and crispy fried rice without babysitting the hot stove. Unlike using a stovetop, where I have to watch and stir constantly, I just toss everything in the air fryer, shake it a couple of times, and let it cook. I love how it gets that awesome crispy texture on the rice without using much oil. With only a few ingredients it feels healthier too. I add whatever I want or whatever I have in the fridge—leftover veggies, some scrambled eggs, even some chicken or shrimp if I have it around. It’s a great way to make a quick, tasty meal that looks like something I’d order from a restaurant, but I can do it all at home.
How to Make Fried Rice in the Air Fryer
For making air fryer fried rice, I’m using a square 9-inch baking pan that fits perfectly in my Cuisinart air fryer oven. It’s super easy because I just throw everything in the pan, and it keeps all the rice and veggies from falling through the rack. It is very handy in many of my Air Fryer Recipes. I use this pan to make Air fryer Omelette, Frittata or Baked Oatmeal. If you’ve got one of those bucket-style air fryers, you can use a round baking dish instead. Pretty much any oven-safe dish will work, as long as it fits in your air fryer.
Here’s a step-by-step recipe with photos to guide you through the process. For precise ingredients and nutritional details, scroll down to the printable recipe card below.
Prepare Ingredients: Gather 3 cups of cold, cooked rice, 1 cup of mixed veggies (like peas, carrots, and corn), 2 scrambled eggs, and any protein you want (like cooked chicken or shrimp). I used leftover Air fried Chicken Thighs and cut them in small pieces. You’ll also need 4 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 teaspoon of sesame oil (if you don’t have sesame oil, you can use vegetable oil), and salt and pepper to taste. I also add ½ finely chopped onion to air fryer fried rice. While adding onion is totally optional, I love it because it’s such an easy way to take your fried rice from basic to next level! The onion adds this awesome sweetness and a little crunch that makes the rice taste way more flavorful. It’s a small change, but it really makes a big difference!
Line the Pan: Place a sheet of parchment paper in your 9-inch baking pan, see image below. I love using a 9-inch baking pan for my air fryer fried rice because it makes everything so much easier! The size is perfect for a decent batch of fried rice to feed the family of 4, and it fits just right in my air fryer toaster oven. Lining it with parchment paper keeps the rice from sticking. If you’ve got a bucket-style air fryer, you can use a round baking pan or any oven-safe dish that fits in there. Pretty much anything that’s oven-safe works, so it doesn’t have to be fancy. This way, you can make stuff like fried rice or casseroles without making a mess in the basket.
Mix Everything Together: In a large bowl, combine the rice, veggies, soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and pepper. Stir everything until the rice and ingredients are evenly coated with seasoning.
Tip: Add scrambled eggs last, after the fried rice is cooked, so they don’t get all dried out. If you put the eggs in at the start, they can end up overcooked and rubbery by the time the rice is done. So I just quickly scramble the eggs in a pan or microwave, then mix them in once the fried rice is cooked. This way, the eggs are still fluffy, and it feels like the fried rice you’d get at a restaurant.
Transfer to Pan: Spread the rice mixture evenly in the lined baking pan so it cooks consistently.
Air Fry: Place the pan in your air fryer at 375°F (190°C) and cook for 15 minutes. Halfway through, carefully stir the rice with a spatula to ensure even cooking and crispy bits throughout.
Serve: Once the rice is golden and crispy, remove the pan from the air fryer. Stir in scrambled eggs. Garnish with green onions or sesame seeds, if desired, and enjoy!
What to Serve with?
Air fryer fried rice is awesome on its own, but it’s even better with a few sides! I like to serve it with egg rolls or dumplings because they’re crispy and go perfectly with the rice. Stir-fried veggies are also great if you want something healthy—broccoli, bell peppers, and snap peas taste amazing.
If I’m really hungry, I’ll add teriyaki chicken or sweet and sour tofu for some extra protein and flavor. Basically, anything with an Asian vibe works, and it makes the whole meal feel like takeout but way better!
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of rice should I use? White rice works great, but you can also use brown rice or jasmine rice if you prefer. Just make sure it’s cooked and cooled.
Can I use fresh rice? It’s better to use cold, leftover rice because it doesn’t get mushy and fries up better. Fresh rice can be too sticky.
How do I get crispy rice? Make sure you spread the rice evenly in the pan and stir it halfway through cooking. That helps it get crispy all over.
Can I add raw veggies? You can, but I’d recommend chopping them small or giving them a quick steam so they cook all the way through in the air fryer.
Can I use frozen veggies? Yep! This is what I use. And you don’t even need to thaw them before adding them to the rice, so they cook evenly.
How do I stop the rice from sticking? Try lining your pan with parchment paper or giving it a light spray of cooking oil. That helps the rice cook without sticking to the pan!
How do I store leftovers?
Let it cool down to room temperature, then transfer it to an airtight container. Keep it in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat it, just pop it back in the air fryer for a few minutes at 360°F (180°C) to get it crispy again. You can also reheat it in the microwave, but it won’t have that crispy texture. For longer storage, you can freeze it for up to a month.
Variations and Substitutions
There are so many ways to switch up air fryer fried rice! You can use different types of rice, like brown rice or jasmine rice, instead of white rice. If you want to make it healthier, add more veggies like bell peppers, broccoli, or zucchini. For protein, you can swap the usual chicken or shrimp for tofu, beef, or leftover rotisserie chicken. You can also experiment with sauces and add a little sriracha if you like it spicy.
If you don’t have sesame oil, olive oil, avocado oil or even butter works as a substitute. The possibilities are endless!
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email & I’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
Easy Air Fryer Fried Rice Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups rice cooked and cooled rice (cold rice works best) 1 cup of cooked rice is approx. 200 grams.
- 1 cup mixed veggies like peas, carrots, and corn. Frozen veggies work great
- 1/2 onion yellow, sweet or red. Finely chopped.
- 2 scrambled eggs
- salt and pepper to taste
- 3 Tablespoons Soy sauce or low sodium soy sauce
- 1 Tablespoon Sesame oil If you don't have it, use vegetable oil, olive oil or avocado oil.
Optional
- 1 Cup protein of choice cooked chicken, shrimp, or tofu. Diced.
Instructions
- Pre-heat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C). and Line the Pan: Place a sheet of parchment paper in your 9-inch baking pan, see image below. I love using a 9-inch baking pan for my air fryer fried rice because it makes everything so much easier! The size is perfect for a decent batch of fried rice to feed the family of 4, and it fits just right in my air fryer toaster oven. Lining it with parchment paper keeps the rice from sticking. If you’ve got a bucket-style air fryer, you can use a round baking pan or any oven-safe dish that fits in there. Pretty much anything that’s oven-safe works, so it doesn’t have to be fancy. This way, you can make stuff like fried rice or casseroles without making a mess in the basket.
- Mix Everything Together: In a large bowl, combine the rice, veggies, chopped onion, soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and pepper. Stir everything until the rice and ingredients are evenly coated with seasoning.
- Transfer to Pan: Spread the rice mixture evenly in the lined baking pan so it cooks consistently.Cook for 15 minutes, stirring the rice halfway through for even cooking. I stirred twice (every 5 minutes)
- When done, stir in the cooked scrambled eggs, garnish with green onions and sesame seeds if desired.
