Shrimp Fried Rice

Shrimp Fried Rice. Savory rice fried with tender shrimp, garlic, shallots, carrots and peas. Ready in 30 minutes!

This easy recipe beats Chinese takeout. Perfect as a weeknight dinner or side dish made with leftover rice. 

If you're looking for the best shrimp fried rice, you've come to the right place. Each bite is packed with flavor, fluffy egg, and plump shrimp.  It's one of my favorite Asian recipes to share on the blog since I usually have lots of leftover rice in the fridge.

Growing up, my mother would cook fried rice as our main dishes to use up any leftover ingredients in the fridge. It was the perfect solution to avoid food waste. Like mother, like daughter, I also do the same when I'm craving a simple shrimp fried rice. 

​Quick Recipe

Ready in just 30 minutes with leftover cooked rice, this rice stir fry cooks in no time. The cooking time just takes 5 minutes over a high temperature. My recipe will yield the best results for a tasty shrimp fried rice so get hungry! 

Better than Takeout

This is truly the best fried rice recipe with shrimp. It tastes better than the ones served at the Chinese restaurant. Perfect for any aspiring home cook looking to up their fried rice game!

If you have a carbon steel wok, it'll work to your advantage thanks to the "wok hei" aka breathe of wok. This occurs oil meets high temperatures and hot steel creating a combustion. A great way to add smokier flavor to any stir-fry recipes. However, you can also make this in a large skillet too! 

Easy Shrimp Fried Rice

This homemade shrimp fried rice is incredibly easy to make! The cooking process only takes less than 5 minutes especially in a hot pan or wok on medium high heat. Most of the time goes towards preparation. If you have day-old rice in the fridge, then that's one less ingredient to prepare. It is one of my go-to recipes when I have leftover rice. 

Don't have day old rice?

If you don't have old cold rice, simply lay out your warm fresh rice on a baking sheet in an even layer. Then place it uncovered in the freezer for about 45 minutes for the cold to dry out the excess moisture. Break up the rice with clean hands moistened with a neutral cooking oil to prevent the rice from sticking. 

Ingredients

You will need the following shrimp fried rice ingredients. Please scroll to the below recipe card for exact measurements.

Note: Most Asian grocers will carry these ingredients. You may find some at your select grocery store or online, like on Amazon.  

• Day old cooked white rice: Jasmine rice is the best rice for this dish. You may substitute with brown rice or another long grain white rice, but I would avoid using basmati as it can break apart easily. 
• Shallot: or substitute with onion
• Garlic
• Carrots
• Frozen peas or fresh green peas: or substitute with diced bell pepper, snow peas, snap peas, bean sprouts or any fresh vegetables that you like.
• Eggs
• Vegetable oil: like avocado oil, sunflower oil, grapeseed oil, peanut oil, vegetable oil or canola oil. Avoid olive oil, coconut oil or any heavy scented oils. 

Shrimp marinade:

• Jumbo shrimp: I prefer using jumbo shrimp, but you can use any size of raw shrimp. Small shrimp to large shrimp work fine but for a meatier bite, I recommend Jumbo size. Fresh shrimp or frozen shrimp also work fine for this recipe. 
• Regular soy sauce
• Shaoxing wine, or Dry Sherry wine
• Cornstarch
• Vegetable oil: like avocado oil, sunflower oil, grapeseed oil, peanut oil, vegetable oil or canola oil. Avoid olive oil, coconut oil or any heavy scented oils. 

Soy Sauce Mixture:

• Regular soy sauce
• Dark soy sauce
• Sesame oil
• Chicken bouillon powder (aka. Chicken instant stock mix)
• White pepper: or black pepper

Optional:

• green onions, for garnish

Main Equipment: 

• Large pan or large wok (large sauté pan could work too)

How to make Shrimp Fried Rice

If it's your first time making this dish, below are steps with visuals to show you how to make this dish. Please scroll down to the recipe card below to find full instructions and details.

​Transfer peeled and deveined shrimp into a bowl. Marinate shrimp with Marinade ingredients as listed above for 5 minutes. Set aside.

In a small bowl, combine Soy Sauce Mixture ingredients as listed. Set aside. 

In a large skillet or wok set over high heat, add 3 tablespoon oil. Once oil is hot. Add shrimps. Fry shrimp until 50% cooked. Remove cooked shrimp and set aside. Side Note: Shrimp cooks fast, so only cook for 15-20 seconds. 

Fry garlic and shallots for 10 seconds or until softened. Quickly add in green peas and carrots and fry for another 10 seconds. Push everything to the side of the wok.

Add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil into empty side of the pan. Pour in beaten eggs and scramble before mixing with ingredients. 

Toss back in cooked shrimp.

Add rice and toss with ingredients. 

Pour soy sauce mixture over top. Mix until all rice granules are colored brown.

Remove off heat. Serve and enjoy with optional green onions as a garnish.

Storage

This dish will last up to 4 days stored in an airtight container in the fridge.

FAQ

Which oil is best for fried rice?

I find that vegetable oil or any high smoke point oil (grapeseed, avocado or peanut oil) is the best for cooking fried rice and shrimp at high temperatures as they both have a high smoking point.

Can I make fried rice with freshly cooked rice?

Yes! But I would highly recommend drying out the cooked rice. To do this: simply lay out cooked rice in a large baking sheet in a thin layer or single layer. Place it in the freezer exposed for 45 minutes until the rice dries out. Break up the rice with clean hands moistened with a neutral cooking oil to prevent the rice from sticking. 

Why is my fried rice soggy?

This can be due to a variety of reasons:

• Day old, cooked rice was not used.
• Proteins and vegetables were added after rice was added to wok creating excess moisture.
• The heat wasn’t high enough. You should use at least medium heat to medium-high heat or higher, especially in a carbon steel wok. This creates the smoky flavor and a non-stick cooking surface. 

What gives Chinese fried rice its flavor?

When the hot oil hits the hot wok, you’ll see smoke appear above it called “wok hei” or “breathe of wok”. That same smoke is the secret ingredient to making fried rice taste so good and “smoky”.

What does shrimp fried rice contain?

My recipe contains day old, cooked rice, jumbo shrimp, garlic, shallots, peas, carrots, eggs, regular soy sauce, dark soy sauce, shaoxing wine, cornstarch, white pepper, sesame oil, chicken stock mix powder, and vegetable oil.

What goes well with fried rice?

The best part about this dish is that it's compatible with many other dishes, like these ones below:

• Sweet and sour chicken, General Tso Chicken, Mongolian chicken or any Chinese style fried protein in sauce
• Stir fried greens
• Fried egg served over fried rice.
• Spring rolls or egg rolls
• Chow mein

Other recipes you may like!

If you enjoyed this fried rice with shrimp, you may enjoy these other recipes:

• 10-min. Egg Fried Rice
• Chinese Chicken Fried Rice
• Spam Fried Rice
• Egg Tofu Fried Rice
• Vegan Mushroom Kimchi Fried Rice
• Tomato Egg Fried Rice
• Pineapple Fried Rice