Best Easy Side Dishes
Need to know what to serve with fried rice? You can look to Chinese restaurants for ideas, or you can come up with some new and fresh ideas.
I think that fried rice is one of the best options for leftover rice. All you have to do is stir fry the rice with other items you may have in the fridge or pantry to get a delicious dish!
Delicious Asian Dish
Almost any Asian restaurant offers a wide selection of foods to go with fried rice. Whether it’s the main dish or a side dish, you can order things like egg drop soup, Chinese dumplings, spring rolls, sweet and sour soup, snow peas, bean sprouts, and much more.
At our home, we will serve it with anything you can have with plain white rice. The extra ingredients in the fried rice add flavor to the simplest side dish. It’s a great way to satisfy both your hunger and taste buds at the same time.
There’s a reason Chinese cuisine is such a popular choice all over the world. It’s absolutely delicious. Below, you’ll see different condiments and then a variety of sides and main dishes to accompany your fried rice.
Choose sides with a strong or mild flavor—it’s up to you. There should be enough dishes listed below to find something you and your family will enjoy.
Years ago, I had to go to Asian grocery stores to find ingredients to make some of my favorite Chines food. Now you can find them at almost any grocery store. Make sure you have plenty of soy sauce and sesame oil before you begin.
Condiments for Fried Rice
There is an unlimited number of condiments you can serve with your fried rice. These are some of our favorites:
- Soy sauce
- Green onions
- Oyster sauce
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Red pepper flakes
- Cayenne
- Red bell pepper
- Hoisin sauce
- Sesame seeds
- Chili sauce
- Teriyaki sauce
Salads to Serve with Fried Rice
Whether you like a salad served before your entree or alongside it, here are some delicious options to make the meal complete.
Watermelon Cucumber Salad
Refreshing and oh-so delicious, this watermelon cucumber salad adds a light touch to the meal. It goes with anything and is especially nice when served with Asian foods.
Broccoli Slaw
Add crunch, flavor, and nutrition to your table with this yummy broccoli slaw. Make it in advance and refrigerate it until you need it. I like to make enough to have for several meals.
Creamy Coleslaw
This coleslaw is another salad that you can serve with anything. If you want to add more of an Asian flair to it, drop in a few water chestnuts for a whole lot of crunch.
Great Main Dishes to Go with Fried Rice
I like to serve fried rice as a side dish to go with a variety of meats and other main dishes. Some of them are Asian-inspired, while others are simply foods we enjoy.
Sesame Ginger Ribs
You can make either ginger beef or pork ribs to go with your fried rice. I like either one. It’s delicious, whether you cook them in your crock pot or in the oven.
Teriyaki Chicken
I love making chicken teriyaki with broccoli. Sometimes I add extra vegetables, depending on what I have in my fridge. It’s a super simple recipe, and it pairs so well with fried rice, white rice, or even brown rice.
Ginger Beef (from Lord Byron’s Kitchen)
This 30-minute ginger beef recipe from Lord Byron’s Kitchen is super easy and absolutely wonderful! It has a hint of sweet flavor that makes the dish pop. And you’ll love the fact that it’s budget-friendly!
Garlic Lemon Chicken
Next time you’re in the mood for chicken, make this delicious garlic lemon chicken. It is absolutely wonderful with the perfect balance of tart and garlicky flavors. You can serve it with traditionally American sides or turn it into Asian cuisine with the side dishes.
Grilled Pork Chops
These grilled pork chops are delicious with a wide variety of side dishes, including fried rice. I used my indoor grill for this recipe because it’s so easy to get great results every single time.
Sweet and Sour Pork (from Dinner at the Zoo)
Try this delicious sweet and sour pork recipe from Dinner at the Zoo. It’s easy, delicious, and pairs extremely well with fried rice and other Chinese food you might be serving for dinner. The small pieces of pork absorb all of the flavors of the sauce and deliver an amazing tasty payoff.
Best Side Dishes to Serve with Fried Rice
If I add a lot of meat to my fried rice, it becomes the main dish. Then I like to come up with at least a couple of sides to go with it.
Sautéed Spinach and Tomatoes
This colorful mix of spinach and tomatoes is packed with all kinds of savory flavors. Add this to your fried rice dinner, and you don’t need anything else!
Egg Rolls (from Natasha’s Kitchen)
These homemade egg rolls from Natasha’s Kitchen are absolutely divine! You’ll love the varied textures in each and every bite. With a crunchy texture on the outside and flavor explosion in the center, you’ll think you’re eating something from your favorite Chinese restaurant.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
If you’ve never tried roasted Brussels sprouts, you’re in for a huge surprise. There’s just something about roasting them that brings out their natural deliciousness that has a hint of sweet and a whole lot of flavor. I’ve made these in the oven and the air fryer. They turn out delicious either way!
Balsamic Glazed Zucchini
I pick up zucchini almost every time I go grocery shopping because it’s such a versatile vegetable. And once I discovered how good it was with a balsamic glaze, my taste buds were so happy! The intense flavor of the balsamic glaze will have you looking for other ways to use it.
Egg Drop Soup (from Taste of Home)
One of my favorite Asian soups is egg drop soup. This recipe from Taste of Home will certainly have you making it often … or at least whenever you want Asian cuisine.
Don’t Forget Dessert
We don’t always have dessert at our house. But when we’re enjoying any kind of special dinner or celebration, I like to have something sweet after the meal.
Fudgy Chocolate Banana Brownies
Do you have some extra ripe bananas that you need to use? If so, this recipe is perfect for them. It’s easy to make, and it has a delicious flavor that will have people asking for the recipe. It’s up to you whether or not to give it to them.
Blueberry Sauce
Keep dessert simple by making this wonderful blueberry sauce that you can spoon over store-bought ice cream, pound cake, or cheesecake. Trust me when I say that no one cars about what’s beneath the sauce. The blueberries will be the star of the dessert table!
Coconut Macaroons
If you like anything with coconut, you’ll love these easy-to-make macaroons. I offer 2 different ways to finish these delicious goodies—one that’s plain but delicious and the other that’s colorful … and delicious.
Lemon Bars
With only 3 ingredients, these delicious lemon bars are super easy to make. And they’re easy on the budget, making them the perfect way to finish off a meal without breaking the bank.
Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream
Did you know that you can make ice cream without a churn or ice cream maker? Well, you certainly can, and it just might be some of the best ice cream you’ve ever had! Give it a try. This has become our favorite way to make ice cream.
Fried Rice Recipes
If you want to make fried rice but don’t have a great recipe, I’ve rounded up a few that I like. It’s nice if you have a large wok. But if you don’t, that’s fine. The key is to use cold rice in a hot pan to get the texture and flavors you want.
Based on my personal experience, meal prep is the key to having the best fried rice that turns out delicious every single time. Measure and cut everything that requires it and set it aside to add to the recipe as you cook. This saves time and ensures that you have what you need without having to hunt for it.
There’s a very good reason that fried rice is so popular dish: It’s delicious! You can make any of these yummy fried rice dishes using whatever type of skillet or pan you have.
Here are some of them:
Basic Fried Rice Recipe – When you want traditional fried rice, you’ll find it here at Gimme Some Oven. I like the fact that you’ll also find some hints and tips on making the best fried rice every time.
Low Carb Cauliflower Fried Rice – This recipe is from Julia’s Simply Southern satisfies on so many levels. Not only do you get the flavors of the fried rice you want without the carbs, but it’s also absolutely delicious!
Shrimp and Vegetable Fried Rice – This wonderful shrimp and vegetable fried rice from Call Me PMc is a delicious one-pan meal with lots of fresh vegetables. Or if you’re like me, you’ll serve this as a main dish and offer a few other side dishes along with it.
How to Keep Leftover Chicken Fried Rice
After you enjoy your mail, you might have a little bit of fried rice left over. When I make it, I like to have a little extra to add to lunch the next day. There are a couple of ways to store it.
You can either store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for a couple of months. Either way, make sure you put it in an airtight container so it doesn’t dry out or get freezer burn.
Fried Rice for the Win
Whether you choose some of the recipes listed above or simply get inspired by one of them, fried rice is always a good meal to serve dinner guests or a hungry family. It’s easy to make and delicious.