Copycat PF Chang's Fried Rice Recipe

February 24, 2021 · FoodHussy · 35 Comments

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PF Chang’s Fried Rice is a huge favorite among my friends and I! We love PF Changs! Frankly, it’s the first fancy Chinese restaurant I ever went to and it was the first time I tried something other than sweet & sour chicken oh so many years ago. I like that the rice has a ton of flavor and there’s little veggie bites throughout! So good!

My favorite dish at PF Changs has always been their Lettuce Wraps but now I get that as an app and this fried rice as my main dish!

How to make PF Chang’s Fried Rice?

This Copycat PF Changs Fried Rice recipe is surprisingly easy!

Start by cooking Jasmine rice – my tip for more flavorful rice is to use chicken broth instead of water! It adds a ton of flavor!

To save time, while the rice is cooking – I whip up the soy sauce mixture (soy sauce + a few seasonings).

When you start the stir fry – be sure to use sesame oil (huge key ingredient – very strong flavor). Then, add your egg, then veggies, then cooked rice. Once it’s all in – add the soy sauce mixture – and you have PF Chang’s Fried Rice AT HOME!

Copycat PF Chang's Fried Rice Recipe - The Food Hussy (2)

How long will fried rice last in the fridge or freezer?

You can definitely freeze your leftover fried rice! That’s actually what I did! I portioned it out and put one in the fridge for lunch and one in the freezer for another day. I end up getting a little bank of delicious leftovers that I can grab and go for lunch whenever I need it. In the fridge – these will last 3-4 days.

Can fried rice be reheated?

Definitely – I just reheat in the microwave for 1:30-2 minutes or if you’re feeling fancy – you can re-fry the fried rice! Just throw it in a hot skillet for five minutes.

Copycat PF Chang's Fried Rice Recipe - The Food Hussy (3)

What to serve with PF Changs Fried Rice?

I love this PF Changs Fried Rice recipe because you could easily add a protein to it like grilled chicken, steak, pork or shrimp – or just enjoy it on it’s own. It’s full of veggies like carrots, peas, bean sprouts and scallions. You could even throw in broccoli, zucchini or mushrooms to make it more filling. Be sure to use FRESH bean sprouts vs. canned. I used canned the first time and didn’t like them. If you want more protein without adding meat – you could add another egg or two when you scramble them at the beginning!

Other great Chinese takeout recipes

Panda Express Broccoli Beef Recipe
PF Chang’s Lettuce Wraps Recipe
Frozen Potstickers in the Air Fryer
Pineapple Shrimp Fried Rice

More Delicious Rice Recipes

Cheesy Mexican Rice

PF Changs Fried Rice

PF Chang's Fried Rice is a huge favorite among my friends and I!! It’s really pretty easy to make and ready in less than 30 minutes and you can add chicken to it to make it a meal.

4.04 from 384 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Entree, Side

Cuisine chinese

Servings 2 people

Calories 461 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

1 cup Jasmine rice
1 3/4 cup chicken broth or water
3 tsp sesame oil
2 eggs
1/3 cup shoestring carrots
1/3 cup frozen peas
1/4 cup green onion sliced
1/3 cup fresh bean sprouts
3 tbsp soy sauce
1/2 tsp ground mustard
1/2 tsp minced ginger
1 tsp minced garlic
2 tsp molasses

Instructions

Heat chicken broth (or water) in sauce pan to boiling
Add rice and turn down to simmer for 15 minutes until liquid is gone and rice is fluffy
While rice is cooking, whisk together soy sauce, mustard, ginger, garlic and molasses and set aside
Once rice is ready remove from heat
Place stir fry pan on heat and add 1 tsp of sesame oil
Crack eggs into pan and scramble in pan
Once eggs are scrambled, add 1 tsp sesame oil to pan
Add carrots, green onion, peas and bean sprouts – stir fry for 3-4 minutes
Add remaining tsp of sesame oil and rice and stir fry for 3-4 minutes
Spread rice around pan – up around sides – so rice is spread out as much as possible
Add soy sauce mixture and stir fry additional 3-4 minutes
Serve and top with green onions

Video

Notes

Use Chicken Broth instead of water to make your rice – it adds so much flavor!!!
Don’t swap out the Sesame Oil – it adds a TON of flavor
Add in cooked chicken, pork, shrimp etc and more veggies to make it more than a side dish!
Leftovers can be refrigerated for 3-4 days
Leftovers reheat best in microwave for 1:30 or in skillet for 5 min

Nutrition

Calories: 461kcalCarbohydrates: 67.7gProtein: 17.4gFat: 12.8gSaturated Fat: 2.7gCholesterol: 164mgSodium: 1226mgPotassium: 477mgFiber: 5.5gSugar: 7.2gCalcium: 74mgIron: 5mg

Keyword chinese, copycat, pf changs, rice

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Comments

Plain Chicken says
August 23, 2019 at 1:32 am

Looks delicious! It would be great with some leftover chicken or pork. YUM!
Reply
Bollywoodgupshup says
May 14, 2020 at 11:31 pm

Very Tasty!
Reply
Mary says
October 1, 2020 at 5:14 pm

Hola, que es la melaza
Reply
- FoodHussy says
  October 1, 2020 at 10:41 pm
  
  Molasses
Bea says
February 6, 2021 at 7:35 pm
See Also
Collard Greens Recipe

Could you give a calorie count please?
Reply
Monica says
April 20, 2021 at 10:12 am

Do you use frozen veggies in this recipe? 🙂
Reply
- FoodHussy says
  April 20, 2021 at 10:27 pm
  
  i used frozen peas and fresh carrots – but you could use frozen if you like
Donna says
May 25, 2021 at 1:30 pm

Good recipe. I added more of the sauce though since that’s the way we like it. I didn’t have bean sprouts on hand so I added some chopped cabbage. Just as good with the cabbage I think but will make again with bean sprouts.
Reply
- FoodHussy says
  May 25, 2021 at 11:23 pm
  
  glad you liked it! and yes – more sauce – always!
Sher says
July 26, 2021 at 7:12 pm

Hi
Can I use any kind of molasses?
Do I have to use the mustard?
Thanks!
Reply
- FoodHussy says
  July 27, 2021 at 12:04 am
  
  Any kind of molasses will do – re: the mustard – i do think it adds a lot but be sure to use ground mustard seasoning – not actual yellow mustard
Kim says
July 27, 2021 at 3:29 pm

If I don’t have molasses, can I use maple syrup or Agave syrup?
Reply
- FoodHussy says
  July 27, 2021 at 8:48 pm
  
  Replace two tsp of molasses with two tsp dark corn syrup, honey, or maple syrup.
Melissa says
August 1, 2021 at 1:28 pm

Can you replace the molasses with brown sugar?
Reply
- FoodHussy says
  August 1, 2021 at 7:28 pm
  
  Replace two tsp of molasses with two tsp dark corn syrup, honey, or maple syrup.
Alli says
January 2, 2022 at 11:25 am

Was yummy! The whole family enjoyed it
Reply
- FoodHussy says
  January 2, 2022 at 11:48 am
  
  yeah!!! glad you liked!
James Kurt Kinser says
January 5, 2022 at 9:00 am

This recipe is excellent, my wife loved it.
Reply
Jessica says
February 26, 2022 at 11:28 pm

Overall good! Added chicken and steak. It was very good. Will make again!
Reply
Alice says
March 27, 2022 at 4:12 pm

I used brown rice and canned bean sprouts. I’m sure it would be better with the jasmine white rice. But the recipe is tasty and not difficult to whip up.
Reply
Isabel says
April 21, 2022 at 11:06 am

Hi! Thanks a lot! It’s super delicious 😋 I used all fresh, carrot, cabbage, celery stalks actually what I had in the fridge! God bless you!❤🙏
Reply
Gerri says
April 26, 2022 at 3:11 pm

Do you mean sesame oil or sesame seed oil?
Reply
- FoodHussy says
  April 26, 2022 at 6:05 pm
  
  sesame oil
Mike says
May 19, 2022 at 11:19 am

would this recipe be better is the rice were day old. Thanks Mike
Reply
- FoodHussy says
  May 19, 2022 at 2:26 pm
  
  i don’t think it matters…
Susan says
June 12, 2022 at 2:13 am

I love these recipes.
Reply
greg says
July 1, 2022 at 4:17 pm

Thanks for the recipe FH. Very tasty!
Pro tip: Try cooking the rice earlier in the day or the night before and refrigerate it.
It helps the rice from getting over cooked and mushy
Reply
- FoodHussy says
  July 1, 2022 at 5:05 pm
  
  glad you liked it!!! and great tip!
Shanna says
May 17, 2023 at 5:25 pm

This was great I didn’t have molasses so I substituted 1 Tbsp brown sugar, used ground ginger, and only used 1 egg and I used about 1.5 cups of rice and this was my best so far that’s I’ve made at home
Reply
Pam says
June 11, 2023 at 11:42 pm

For some reason, even after following directions precisely, my rice was too soft, would like it to be more of a fried rice type texture. Also recipe was too salty for me, so next time I will use less-sodium soy sauce.
Reply
- FoodHussy says
  June 11, 2023 at 11:54 pm
  
  Sorry this wasn’t to your liking – you can push the rice into pan more and turn up the heat for it to “fry” more. Every pan and stove cooks a little differently – depending on thickness of pan, gas vs electric, etc.
Emma says
February 7, 2024 at 4:38 pm

Hi! I am going to try this tonight and was wanting to make chicken fried rice. Do you have any good chicken recipes that would go well with this dish? If not, could you suggest some other good chicken recipes. Also, I made the serving fit for 6 people, so if you could consider that, that would be amazing. Thank you so much!
Reply
- FoodHussy says
  February 8, 2024 at 3:24 pm
  
  sorry for the delay – here’s a recipe for chicken fried rice – https://www.thefoodhussy.com/benihana-chicken-fried-rice/
  and chicken kabobs – https://www.thefoodhussy.com/chicken-kabobs-in-the-air-fryer/
  or chicken thighs – https://www.thefoodhussy.com/recipe-garlic-brown-sugar-chicken-thighs/
Jay says
March 24, 2024 at 9:30 pm

can I substitute molasses?
Reply
- FoodHussy says
  March 24, 2024 at 10:32 pm
  
  yes – you can use honey or brown sugar instead

Copycat PF Chang's Fried Rice Recipe - The Food Hussy (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret ingredient in fried rice? ›

Though you might not be able to pinpoint the sweet inclusion while digging into a take-out box and piling spoonsful of fluffy rice into your mouth, the addition of sugar is a common culinary technique practiced by restaurants.

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What are the ingredients in PF Chang's chicken fried rice? ›

We've blended our authentic fried rice with juicy white meat chicken, crunchy carrots, sweet edamame, onion and egg. Make the whole gang happy with this delectable dish.

View Details ›

What gives fried rice its distinct taste? ›

To give your dish that signature fried rice taste, you'll need to drizzle in sesame oil and soy sauce, but feel free to use as much or as little as you wish. You can even mix in things like garlic powder, ginger root, or Sriracha sauce and chili pepper for a bit of a kick.

What is the difference between fried rice and Chinese fried rice? ›

The usage of rice

But in Chinese rice, it is suggested to use leftover cooked rice to avoid the rice from being sticky. In Fried Rice, most quick-service restaurants (QSRs) use long-grain white rice like Basmati, whereas Jasmine Rice is used in Chinese Rice.

Read On ›

What gives Chinese fried rice its color? ›

Other recipes get the scarlet pigment from red yeast rice powder. Some cooks even use red food coloring to really nail the trademark char siu look. Either way, the result is a sweet-savory umami bite with a crispy exterior and tender interior that have kept foodies coming back for centuries.

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What is the flavor enhancer in fried rice? ›

Soy sauce: I created this recipe using low-sodium soy sauce. So add less if you're using traditional soy sauce. Oyster sauce: This is a major flavor booster in fried rice and (don't worry) doesn't taste like oysters. You can find it in the Asian section of grocery stores, or order it on Amazon.

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Do Chinese restaurants use butter in fried rice? ›

That's one of the major differences between how Chinese and Japanese restaurants prepare fried rice. Whereas the former only uses oil, the latter cooks leftover grains with butter (plus soy sauce).

What oil does PF Chang's use? ›

As a bastion of Asian fusion cuisine, PF Chang's offers a tantalizing array of dishes that dance on the palate. However, for those who prioritize health alongside flavor, the widespread use of soybean oil serves as a caveat.

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Do Chinese restaurants put MSG in fried rice? ›

Some restaurants add MSG to a number of popular dishes, including fried rice. MSG is also used by franchises like Kentucky Fried Chicken and Chick-fil-A to enhance the flavor of foods.

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What is Yang Chow fried rice vs fried rice? ›

The difference between Yangzhou fried rice and ordinary fried rice is that Yangzhou style invariably includes a combination of proteins. Rather than using a single protein like shrimp or pork or chicken as the dominant ingredient in fried rice, Yangzhou uses a variety.

Why does homemade fried rice not taste like restaurant? ›

The answer: high heat, expert tosses, and something known as 'wok hei. ' As J. Kenji López-Alt writes for Serious Eats, expert cooking with a wok (and the gas range it requires) is one of the main reasons that fried rice from a Chinese restaurant tastes so much better than what you can make at home.

View Details ›

What kind of rice do Chinese restaurants use for fried rice? ›

Which rice is best for fried rice? Pick a medium-grain white rice, which is the standard in Chinese cuisine. A fresh batch of this variety turns out sticky in your rice cooker, which makes it easy to eat with chopsticks, yet it also has the ability to separate into individual grains.

Discover More Details ›

Is sesame oil necessary for fried rice? ›

You can also use day-old brown rice, however it will create a less-authentic taste and texture, even though it's still delicious. Sesame oil. I do not recommend omitting or substituting the sesame oil in this recipe. It is key to the authentic flavor of this dish.

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How does Gordon Ramsay make fried rice? ›

✨Gordon Ramsay's Fried Rice Recipe: Garlic Ginger Chilis Green Onion Spring Greens 2 Heads Broccoli 2 Eggs Peanut Oil Fish sauce Directions: 1. Add oil to hot wok, and stir fry garlic, ginger, chili, spring greens, and broccoli. 2. Add cooked rice (day old) and fry.

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What is the secret ingredient in Chinese food? ›

Nowadays it's made out of a base of salty liquid, such as soy sauce, with sugar and a mix of spices. And it's not just a marinade — it's also used to finish the dish once it's cooked. Lu is the secret sauce at the heart of many Chinese family cuisines.

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Why do people put butter in fried rice? ›

Butter Makes Your Fried Rice Taste Richer But Also Increases Fat Content. Since cooking with butter infuses food with a richer flavor and texture in general, you might find that frying leftover rice in oil leaves it bland in comparison.

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Is MSG the secret ingredient in fried rice? ›

If you've eaten a fried rice dish at a Chinese restaurant and wondered why it tastes so much better than the home-cooked version, it's probably because of MSG. Monosodium glutamate, or MSG, is a common and controversial flavor enhancer in many Asian dishes, including fried rice.

Explore More ›

Copycat PF Chang's Fried Rice Recipe - The Food Hussy (2024)

How to make PF Chang’s Fried Rice?

How long will fried rice last in the fridge or freezer?

Can fried rice be reheated?

What to serve with PF Changs Fried Rice?

Other great Chinese takeout recipes

More Delicious Rice Recipes

PF Changs Fried Rice

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

Video

Notes

Nutrition

Get the FIVE most popular Copycat Recipes!

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply

Comments

FAQs

What is the secret ingredient in fried rice? ›

Why does homemade fried rice not taste like restaurant? ›

References