Shrimp Fried Rice is one of my go-to one-pot, 30-minute meals that is high in protein with plenty of veggies! The juicy shrimp is pan-seared and then tossed with rice, scrambled egg, and your favorite vegetables for an easy family favorite meal with what you have on hand!

Shrimp Fried Rice Recipe in a skillet with wooden spoon

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Helpful Reader Review

“This is the best shrimp stir fry! So easy to make and I like that you can add any vegetables to it. My family loves this one!” – Rhonda ★★★★★

Shrimp Fried Rice Video

Fried rice is so easy to make, but be sure to check out my tips for avoiding gummy, sticky rice, a process I picked up from one of my favorite OG bloggers, Jaden of steamykitchen.com.

Best Shrimp Fried Rice Recipe

Shrimp Fried Rice is so easy to make, and once you have a great basic recipe, you can easily change up it up by swapping protein and veggies for what you have on hand. That’s how I came up with my popular Chicken Fried Rice. I love how easy it is to make–and clean up! It’s a one-pan meal that comes together quickly and won’t mess up the kitchen.

We love recreating Asian takeout dishes like Chow Mein, General Tso’s Chicken, and of course, saucy Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry. Making fried rice is probably the easiest homemade takeout dish.

Best shrimp fried rice up close with shrimp, carrots, peas and egg

Shrimp Fried Rice Ingredients

The shrimp fried rice cooking process moves quickly on a very hot skillet, so be sure to have all the ingredients prepped and ready before you start to cook.

  • Rice: Start with cold cooked rice. Leftover rice is best. Avoid fresh, warm rice, or it will become sticky and gooey. I prefer Jasmine rice, but you can use medium, long-grain, or even brown rice.
  • Shrimp: 20-24 count or 26-30 count RAW peeled and deveined shrimp. You can use frozen shrimp thawed according to directions on the package. Make it vegetarian by leaving out the shrimp, like our Pineapple Fried Rice, or substitute it with whatever protein you have, such as ham, bacon (like this Bacon Mango Fried Rice), beef, or chicken.
  • Cornstarch – makes the shrimp slightly crisp when stir-fried, like in our Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos.
  • Vegetables: I use a bag of frozen peas and carrots, thawed according to package instructions, but you can substitute leftover steamed or roasted vegetables (like Roasted Asparagus or Roasted Broccoli).
  • Eggs: Large eggs add more protein, but you can omit the eggs if you’d prefer
  • Green onion – light and dark green parts, plus more to garnish. Don’t have any? Leave them out.
  • Soy Sauce – regular, low-sodium, or even coconut aminos, add them to taste to account for varying levels of salitness in the sauce, rice, and veggies. For Gluten-free Fried rice, check the label for GF, like this Tamari soy sauce.
  • Sesame oil – DO NOT SKIP the sesame oil, which makes it taste like authentic Chinese fried rice. Use pure sesame oil, not toasted.
Ingredients for quick 30-minute Asian meal including left over rice, steamed peas and carrots, coconut aminos or soy sauce, eggs, seafood, salt, sesame oil, cornstarch, and green onions

How to Make Shrimp Fried Rice

This shrimp fried rice takes just 10 minutes to cook, so allow the pan to come to high heat and add in order so the ingredients sear perfectly.

  1. Marinate shrimp in cornstarch, salt, and pepper for 10 minutes.
  2. Cook the shrimp – Heat the skillet over medium/high heat, add cooking oil, and cook the shrimp for 1 minute per side. Transfer the shrimp to a plate and reduce the heat to medium.
  3. Add beaten eggs into the hot skillet and scramble with your spatula until no longer runny. Transfer to the same plate as the shrimp.
  4. Cook green onions – Wipe the skillet with a paper towel, then increase to medium/high heat, and saute the chives in a little oil for 30 seconds.
  5. Spread cooked rice into the skillet and sizzle for 1-2 minutes without stirring. Flip and sizzle another 1-2 minutes.
  6. Add sauces & veggies – drizzle in Soy sauce and sesame oil to taste, and then stir in vegetables. *resist the urge to stir too often
  7. Add cooked shrimp and eggs back to the pan and stir to combine, and add more soy sauce to taste. Serve!
How to make shrimp fried rice step by step

Helpful Reader Review

“Oh my gosh this is so good! I doubled it. The only other changes I made were extra sesame oil and green onions because I love the flavors and added fresh chopped garlic with the onions. Soooo much flavor! Will definitely make it again.” – Betsy ★★★★★

Pan with seafood and rice Asian 30-minute meal recipe

I hope you’re inspired to make some Shrimp Fried Rice this week. You’ll love how easily it comes together in under 30 minutes and how your family will love it! Add this to the menu this week!

Shrimp Fried Rice

4.89 from 267 votes
Shrimp fried rice in skillet with spatula
Shrimp Fried Rice is one of my go-to 30-minute, one-pot dinners, and my family can't get enough of it. Shrimp and Rice is the best way to use leftover white rice and whatever vegetables you have on hand. Take out just doesn't compare!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 6 people
  • 1 lb 26-30 count uncooked shrimp , (peeled and deveined)
  • 1 tsp corn starch
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 Tbsp LIGHT olive oil, or canola
  • 4 large eggs, beaten
  • 1/4 cup green onion, finely chopped
  • 5 cups leftover chilled white rice , (rinse rice before cooking)*
  • 12 oz frozen carrots and peas, thawed
  • 2 Tbsp soy sauce or coconut aminos , or added to taste
  • 1 1/2 tsp sesame oil

Instructions

  • Marinate shrimp – In a medium bowl, mix the shrimp, cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Let marinate at room temperature for 10 minutes.
  • Cook the shrimp – Heat a large non-stick skillet on medium/high heat. When a bead of water sizzles and evaporates, swirl in 2 Tbsp of cooking oil and add shrimp to the hot skillet and spread them out in a single layer. Cook 1 minute per side, or until cooked through and opaque. Remove to a bowl.
  • Add beaten egg – Over medium heat, add beaten eggs to the same skillet. Break up the eggs with a spatula and cook until no longer runny. Remove to a bowl.
  • Cook green onion – Wipe down the skillet with a paper towel and return to medium/high heat. Add 1 Tbsp oil and onions, and cook green onions until fragrant, 30 seconds.
  • Spread rice – Stir in rice, then spread it evenly over the pan and cook for 1 to 2 minutes without disturbing it, then stir and sauté another 1 to 2 minutes. Rice should sizzle.
  • Add sauces and veggies – Drizzle 2 Tbsp soy sauce (or add to taste) over rice and stir well. Add sesame oil and thawed vegetables and mix well.
  • Add cooked shrimp and cooked eggs back to the pan and mix well. Continue to cook until the rice is hot and sizzles, stirring frequently. Add more soy sauce to taste, if desired.

Notes

To cook rice for fried rice: rinse until the water runs clear, cook rice on the stovetop, then cool to room temperature. Spread it into a casserole dish or baking sheet to cool faster then cover and refrigerate until chilled.
Storage and Reheating:
  • Cool the fried rice by spreading it into a shallow container and refrigerating it uncovered until cool. Cover and store in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
  • To reheat, thaw in the fridge overnight, or heat from frozen in a covered saucepan over medium heat. Stir until heated through (165°F). You can also microwave a thawed portion for 30-second intervals (stirring between intervals) until the food registers 165°F.

Nutrition Per Serving

396kcal Calories44g Carbs25g Protein12g Fat2g Saturated Fat299mg Cholesterol1108mg Sodium281mg Potassium2g Fiber5585IU Vitamin A10.2mg Vitamin C158mg Calcium3.3mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Shrimp Fried Rice
Amount per Serving
Calories
396
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
12
g
18
%
Saturated Fat
 
2
g
13
%
Cholesterol
 
299
mg
100
%
Sodium
 
1108
mg
48
%
Potassium
 
281
mg
8
%
Carbohydrates
 
44
g
15
%
Fiber
 
2
g
8
%
Protein
 
25
g
50
%
Vitamin A
 
5585
IU
112
%
Vitamin C
 
10.2
mg
12
%
Calcium
 
158
mg
16
%
Iron
 
3.3
mg
18
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Asian, Chinese
Keyword: shrimp and rice, shrimp fried rice, shrimp fried rice recipe
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $$
Calories: 396
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

More Asian-Inspired Takeout Recipes

4.89 from 267 votes (98 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Shelly
    January 23, 2016

    I also want to mention I used a cast iron skillet and it posed no issue.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      January 23, 2016

      That’s so great to know! Thank you so much for sharing that 🙂

      Reply

  • Shelly
    January 23, 2016

    I LOVE this recipe. Made it for the first time a few months ago using day old long grain basmati rice. Turned out beautifully and got so many compliments.

    Making it tonight with day old jasmine rice. Interested to see if this rice type will turn out as good as the basmati.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      January 23, 2016

      Thank you so much for sharing your awesome review! I’m so happy you enjoyed the recipe 🙂

      Reply

    • Galina
      February 29, 2016

      Hi Natasha, Is it 5 cups of cooked rice or uncooked?

      Reply

      • Natasha
        natashaskitchen
        February 29, 2016

        Yes, cooked rice 🙂

        Reply

      • Isaac Mizrahi
        August 16, 2016

        with 5 cups of uncooked rice you could feed an army…

        Reply

  • Marlo Rodgers
    January 2, 2016

    I love dishes with shrimp and couldn’t wait to try this recipe. Although I rinsed the rice as directed and cooled it in the fridge, the rice stuck to the pan and the meal tasted like shrimp mush. So disappointing!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      January 2, 2016

      Marlo, did you make sure to use non-stick skillet? I realized that I used one in the pictures but did not specified it. It is important to use non-stick skillet or a wok when cooking a stir fry over hight heat to prevent sticking. I also updated the recipe to say non-stick skillet.

      Reply

  • Andrew
    December 13, 2015

    I’ve been looking to make shrimp fried rice from scratch for awhile, and this recipe looks fantastic! I’m looking forward to trying it out!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      December 13, 2015

      I hope you love it! 🙂

      Reply

  • jojo
    December 1, 2015

    Thank you very much, the recipe looks delicious. I will cook soon

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      December 2, 2015

      I would love to hear the outcome 😁

      Reply

  • Gia
    November 5, 2015

    Hello 🙂 This might seem like a silly question, but would I be able to still make this dish without the sesame oil?

    Excited to try it! Thanks!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      November 5, 2015

      Yes you could. It adds a nice kick of flavor but it will still taste great without it. 🙂

      Reply

  • Lindsey
    November 3, 2015

    Hi Natasha! Question- you said we should rinse the rice so it doesn’t get sticky- I hope this isn’t a dumb question, but do you mean before boiling the rice? I have a lot of left over white rice in the fridge & want to make this for dinner 🙂 was trying to figure out if I’m supposed to rinse off my cooked left over rice? I didn’t rinse it before boiling it……. Hope I can still make it! Thank you!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      November 3, 2015

      Hi Lindsey, I only rinse rice before cooking it to get rid of the starch that makes it a little stickier. If you already cooked it and didn’t pre-rinse, it’s no problem. You can still use it, it just might be slightly stickier, but that’s ok :).

      Reply

      • Lindsey
        November 3, 2015

        Thank you Natasha! I made it with chicken and it was a huge hit, thank you for another amazing recipe 🙂 much love! And next time I’ll rinse the rice BEFORE cooking….. 😉

        Reply

        • Natasha
          natashaskitchen
          November 3, 2015

          I’m so happy you liked it! Thanks for the great review 🙂

          Reply

  • Monika
    October 26, 2015

    I added some sweet chili, sriacha, Chinese cabbage and a squeeze of fresh lime juice. It was great!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      October 26, 2015

      Monica, thank you for the great review and great job on improvising :).

      Reply

  • Cindy
    October 12, 2015

    We made this last evening and it was delicious. I also cut back on the eggs and used just three. I didn’t have any scallions so used some chopped yellow onion instead. Excellent recipe!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      October 12, 2015

      Hi Cindy! I’m so happy you loved it :). That’s what I like about stir-fry; you can change it up and it will still work well 🙂

      Reply

  • Lucy
    October 8, 2015

    I made this for the first time tonight and I am keeping this recipe. It was delicious!! I am an island girl and I love fried rice! Thanks for this great fried rice recipe Natasha!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      October 8, 2015

      Lucy, thank you for the great review, I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe :).

      Reply

  • Megan
    September 27, 2015

    Hey, im cooking this as part of an assignment for health. For the most part is this meal a healthy dinner?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      September 27, 2015

      I’d say it is fairly healthy. I wouldn’t call it a diet food but it is nutritious.

      Reply

  • Joanna
    June 14, 2015

    Do you have nutrition information for this recipe?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      June 14, 2015

      HI Joanna, I don’t usually put up nutritional info, but when I need to research something, my best source: Caloriecount.com – sign in for free and then go to “tools” and then click “recipe analyzer” You can copy and paste your list of ingredients and it spits out the nutrition info. It’s a great tool.

      Reply

  • Steve Kos
    June 8, 2015

    Great recipe! 4 eggs seems like a bit too much so I cut it back to 2 and it was plenty. I also added a splash of saki to the shrimp and then again to the rice while cooking.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      June 8, 2015

      Thank you for sharing your great review! I’ve never tried this with saki.

      Reply

  • Debbie
    May 30, 2015

    This is, by far, my favorite recipe for fried rice. The whole family loves it. I make this recipe in 2 different batches and fry it on the electric griddle and it turns out great.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      May 30, 2015

      That’s so great! Thank you so much for the awesome review 🙂

      Reply

  • Shelly B
    February 17, 2015

    This was absolutely delicious and so easy to make…thanks for posting this!!!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      February 17, 2015

      You are welcome Shelly, I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed it :). I never get tired of this dish.

      Reply

  • Anastasia
    February 5, 2015

    I have to say it’s a very good recipe! I’ve tried it twice and it turned out very good each time. That being said, if you add Sun-Bird Fried Rice spice or similar seasoning mix it’ll turn out even better!!! Enjoy! Also, I am definitely going to try other Natasha’s Kitchen recipes. They always turn out very good!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      February 5, 2015

      Thank you so much for sharing that with me! Where do you buy that spice? I’ve never tried it before.

      Reply

  • Allison
    January 29, 2015

    Can I use fresh carrots? Should I cook them before adding the onions?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      January 29, 2015

      Hi Allison, yes, that would be the best time to cook them without getting another pan dirty. That would work 🙂

      Reply

  • BernIce
    January 3, 2015

    First time making fried rice. Very simple to follow. You know how families have “PICKY EATERS”, well I have a picky husband. Who does not eat much of anything. But he did take a spoonful and tasted it, and very quietly got a plate filled it up and ate it. Thank you, now I have 5 dishes I can cook for him!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      January 3, 2015

      Aww that’s just music to my ears! Thank you so much for sharing that with me Bernice! 🙂

      Reply

  • Kim
    December 13, 2014

    Made this recipe tonight. LOVED it!!! My daughters devoured it! Thank you so much.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      December 13, 2014

      That’s awesome! Thanks so much for sharing your great review 🙂

      Reply

  • Lilly
    September 9, 2014

    Can I use olive oil?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      September 9, 2014

      Yes, but I would recommend an extra light olive oil with a higher smoke point and not extra virgin.

      Reply

As Featured On

Never Go "Hangry" Again!

Get weekly updates on new recipes, exclusive giveaways plus behind the scenes photos.