When it comes to easy fakeaways, this HAS to be one of the quickest, tastiest recipes going. Try this Beef Fried Rice once and I guarantee your family will be asking for this again. Quick, easy, budget-friendly, tasty, healthy and all made in one pan. YES!
You know I love a new mince beef recipe and finding ways of cooking up this versatile, tasty and inexpensive meat that’s a little different from our usual classics (Spag Bol and Chilli absolute classics obviously, but it’s nice to mix things up now and then – right?!).
Ever since I created recipes like Sticky Beef Mince Stir Fry and Cajun Dirty Rice, I realised there’s a huge appetite (no pun intended) for one pan meals using that midweek staple – mince.
Well, my friends. Here is another for you. Beef Fried Rice that is a total shortcut recipe (I’m trying not to use the word ‘cheat’, but it’s verging on that), is all made in one pan, made largely of store cupboard ingredients, has plenty of veggies and flavour, takes less than half an hour to cook and tastes totally delicious. Winner all round, I reckon.
Why you’ll love this recipe
⭐️ Cheaper and lighter than a takeaway
⭐️ Complete meal in one pan
⭐️ Zero fuss, ready in 30 minutes
About Fakeaway Chinese Fried Rice
As I discovered with my Chicken Fried Rice and Egg Fried Rice recipes, there is a secret ingredient that makes fried rice super simple, that’s microwavable packet rice. It’s a good shortcut to getting a drier, not sticky, fried rice and is also super speedy.
Many Asian, South American and African countries have their own versions of fried rice recipes. The recipes often include vegetables and some kind of protein (meat or eggs). Chinese fried rice is said to have been first recorded during the Sui dynasty, which was 589 AD – that really is a long running favourite right?
If you’d like to try a more authentic version, try The Woks of Life (whose family owns a Chinese restaurant so they really know their stuff).
Other easy beef mince recipes to try
- Slow Cooker Doner Kebab – So easy and such a treat
- Mexican Style Lasagne – Layers of tortillas and chilli
- Cajun Style Dirty Rice – A cheesy one pan rice favourite
- Beef Enchiladas – The classic made simple
- Easy Chilli Con Carne – My tried and tested version!
Beef Mince Fried Rice Ingredients
- Sunflower Oil – Or other flavourless oil
- Beef mince – I like to use 5% or 10% fat mince meat here
- Onion – Fresh or frozen, pre-chopped is fine if you want to save time
- Garlic – Fresh or jar/paste/frozen is fine too
- Fresh ginger – Fresh or jar/paste/frozen is fine too
- Peppers – I use red but any colour is fine
- Chinese five spice
- Microwave rice – I use the basmati version, but whichever you have is fine
- Frozen peas – No need to defrost.
For the sauce:
- Dark soy sauce
- Oyster sauce
- Dried chilli flakes – These vary a lot in spice heat, use just a pinch to start if you are concerned and haven’t tried the jar you have before!
To serve (optional):
- Spring onions (scallion)
How to make Beef Fried Rice
- Fry your beef mince, onion, garlic, ginger until soft, followed by the peppers and 5 spice. Stir often. Make the sauce.
2. Add in the packet rice and peas, followed by the sauce, and cook as per the recipe below.
Hint: Break up any clumps in the rice with clean hands or a spoon.
Substitutions
- Extra veggies – You can swap up your favourite vegetables for this recipe
- Sesame oil – For a more authentic taste, substitute olive oil for sesame, but don’t buy it especially as olive oil is fine!
Storing and reheating leftover Beef Fried Rice
In the fridge You can keep this recipe in the fridge for 3 days. Just be sure to follow cooked rice food safety guidelines (i.e. do not leave it hanging about at room temperature, cool it very quickly and then reheat fully until piping hot before serving).
In the freezer You can freeze this, however sometimes rice dishes are not at their best afterwards. As above follow food safety guidelines. Just wait until it’s totally cold and then put it into a freezer proof container and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost thoroughly before reheating in the microwave or or the hob. It may need a little extra water.
Top tip
If you do want to cook the rice yourself
You can cook fresh rice if you prefer (use 300g). However, this is better with rice that’s been cooked the day before (and stored correctly) as it dries out slightly.
Beef Fried Rice Recipe FAQs
I like a lean mince as it will cook quicker as it doesn’t need so much time for the fat to render out. I used 5% fat mince, but whatever your taste and budget is is fine. It make just take a little longer to cook if the percentage is higher (it will be very tender though).
I would recommend a large wok or one-pan pan. Read my review of the best family-friendly large pans for one pot meals.
To say this tastes so flipping good, rest assured that this is a much lighter recipe than a takeaway would usually be. It also includes plenty of fresh veggies and protein.
Let me know how you got on and what you thought of these recipes. Please rate the recipe using the ⭐️ below.
Also I’d LOVE to see your cooking creations. If you’d like to share yours with me, you can tag me on Instagram (@tamingtwins).
Easy Beef Fried Rice {30 Minute Fakeaway}
Ingredients
- 1 tsp Sunflower oil
- 500 g Beef mince
- 1 Onion Finely chopped
- 2 Cloves Garlic Peeled and crushed
- 1 tbsp Fresh ginger
- 2 Peppers (whichever colours you prefer)
- 1 tbsp Chinese 5 spice
- 500 g Microwave rice (x2 packs)
- 200 g Frozen peas
For the sauce:
- 3 tbsp Dark soy sauce
- 3 tbsp Oyster sauce
- 1/4 tsp Dried chilli flakes
To serve (optional):
- Spring onions (scallions) Sliced
Instructions
- Heat your oil in a heavy-bottomed frying pan or wok over a medium heat.
- Add the beef mince and cook over a high heat for 5-10 minutes until browned all over.
- Add the onion, garlic, fresh ginger, peppers and Chinese 5 spice and cook, stirring often, for a further 5 minutes or until the onion is starting to soften.
- Meanwhile, make up the sauce with all of the ingredients.
- Add the rice (you'll need to use a spoon or clean hands to crumble it as sometimes there are chunks stuck together in microwave pouches).
- Add the peas, pour over the sauce and cook for 5-10 minutes until everything is hot through.
Notes
Nutrition
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