Ham Fried Rice is an easy recipe to make with leftover holiday ham, but also just as simple to make from scratch. It’s prepared with rice, vegetables and juicy pieces of ham, as well as sesame and soy seasonings. This is a quick, family friendly dinner you are sure to love.
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Ham Fried Rice is one delicious way to use up leftover ham from Christmas or Easter. If you want to try the recipe when it’s not the holiday season, it’s just as easy to make since most grocery stores sell already cooked ham.
I first created a Turkey Fried Rice recipe since turkey was an easy swap for the more commonly used chicken that you find at Chinese take-out restaurants. On a whim, I decided to try the same recipe with ham and it’s just as tasty.
It’s a fun recipe because it’s easily adaptable. You can swap in and out different veggies or proteins and really make it your own, or make some appetizers or sides like Potstickers or egg rolls to serve along with it.
Why This Recipe Works
This is a really quick and easy recipe to prepare. It takes less than 30 minutes and only requires 9 ingredients.
It’s also a versatile recipe. You can use the vegetables listed in the recipe or swap in other vegetables like corn, mushrooms or bean sprouts. This recipe can be used with other proteins instead of ham, as well. Chicken, turkey, and shrimp would all work out great!
This recipe is perfect for meal prep and can be enjoyed as it is or with other main dishes, sides, soup or a simple salad.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 carrot (peeled and diced into 1/2-inch cubes)
- 1 small onion (diced, about 1/2 cup)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 eggs (lightly whisked)
- 3 cups rice (cooked, leftover is ideal): basmati works best.
- 1 pound ham (cooked and diced or shredded): you can buy packages of cooked, diced ham at the grocery store to save time. If I do this, I prefer to cook it in a skillet for a few minutes to get some of the excess moisture out before mixing it into the rice.
- 1/2 cup peas
- 2-4 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce (to taste)
The full recipe and instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Prep!
If you don’t have leftover rice, you will need to prepare that first.
Dice the carrot, onion, and ham. Mince the garlic.
Create!
Heat the sesame oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat.
Add the carrot and onion. Cook, stirring frequently, until the carrots are just fork-tender and the onion is translucent, about 3 to 5 minutes.
Stir in the garlic and cook an additional 30 seconds.
Push the vegetables out to the sides of the pan. Add the whisked eggs and cook while stirring to scramble them just until set.
Stir in the rice, ham and peas. Cook a minute or two to warm through.
Drizzle on as much of the soy sauce as desired to taste.
Present!
Serve warm.
This fried rice can be served with a drizzle of sriracha, duck sauce or sweet chili sauce, if desired.
Tips and Techniques
- You can buy already cooked and diced ham from the grocery store to save time, or if you don’t have leftover ham to use.
- Swap in other vegetables or proteins, if desired. Corn, bean sprouts, mushrooms, chicken, turkey and shrimp make great substitutions.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Consume within 3-4 days.
FAQ’s
Can You Freeze Fried Rice?
Fried rice can be frozen in freezer bags or airtight containers for 1 month. It can be reheated in a skillet or in the microwave. Reheated food needs to reach 165°F on a food thermometer.
More Leftover Ham Recipes
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Ham Fried Rice
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 carrot (peeled and diced into 1/2-inch cubes)
- 1 small onion (diced, about 1/2 cup)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 eggs (lightly whisked)
- 3 cups rice (cooked, leftover is ideal - basmati works best)
- 1 pound ham (cooked and diced or shredded)
- 1/2 cup peas
- 2-4 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce (to taste)
Instructions
- Heat the sesame oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat.1 tablespoon sesame oil
- Add the carrot and onion. Cook, stirring frequently, until the carrots are just fork-tender and the onion is translucent, about 3 to 5 minutes.1 carrot, 1 small onion
- Stir in the garlic and cook an additional 30 seconds.2 cloves garlic
- Push the vegetables out to the sides of the pan. Add the whisked eggs and cook while stirring to scramble them just until set.2 eggs
- Stir in the rice, ham and peas. Cook a minute or two to warm through.3 cups rice, 1 pound ham, 1/2 cup peas
- Drizzle on as much of the soy sauce as desired to taste.2-4 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- Serve warm.
- This fried rice can be served with a drizzle of sriracha, duck sauce or sweet chili sauce, if desired.
Notes
Tips and Techniques
- You can buy already cooked and diced ham from the grocery store to save time, or if you don't have leftover ham to use.
- Swap in other vegetables or proteins, if desired. Corn, bean sprouts, mushrooms, chicken, turkey and shrimp make great substitutions.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Consume within 3-4 days.
