Instant Pot Fried Rice is a 30-minute recipe for fried rice that is healthier than take-out, and tastes so much better! Customize it with your choice of veggies and protein.
(This recipe was first published in April 2019 and has been updated with detailed instructions, and options for both Non-Vegetarian and Vegan/Vegetarian diets)
Jump to:
There are days when you want to eat your favorite takeout-style meal, but you know it's not healthy for you - and you could do without the extra calories (and the guilt trip!). This Instant Pot fried rice is the answer to my takeout cravings - It is so easy to make, gets done in 30 minutes, and is so much healthier than takeout fried rice.
I'm all for using the Instant Pot to make our lives simpler and to rustle up some of our favorite 1-pot meals such as Instant Pot rice and veggies or this Instant Pot chicken and rice on busy weeknights. With this Instant Pot Fried Rice recipe, you can make delicious restaurant-style fried rice just the way you like it. Want more celery or sugar snap peas? Just toss them in! Or add your favorite meat protein - toss in some rotisserie chicken or shrimp and customize your fried rice just the way you want it.
Why you will love this Instant Pot Fried Rice
- Made in under 30 minutes
- Super customizable - add veggies or protein of your choice
- Healthier than store-bought wok-fried rice
- Tastes just like the real thing!
What Goes Into This Recipe
To make Instant Pot Fried Rice, you will need:
- The Rice: For authentic-tasting fried rice, use Jasmine rice. However, if you don't have Jasmine rice, you can use Basmati rice or any long-grain variety of rice.
- Use protein of your choice: This recipe is extremely customizable! I have used bacon in the above list of ingredients, but you can substitute it with shrimp or chicken or pork or simply omit it altogether.
- Make it Vegetarian/ Vegan: For a vegetarian version, simply skip the eggs and meat. Add veggies as per your preference. I like using bell peppers, celery, broccoli, mushroom, carrots, peas, and green onion (use the white part).
- Condiments and Sauces: To make the sauce for this fried rice, you will need soy sauce (I used light soy sauce), rice vinegar (substitute with apple cider vinegar), chili sauce, and oyster sauce. Oyster sauce is optional but it adds amazing flavor to the recipe. Add brown sugar to balance out the sauces.
Recipe Instructions
To make Instant Pot fried rice, we are going to be cooking the rice first, taking it out of the Instant Pot, and using the Instant Pot to saute our vegetables and protein. Feel free to omit the protein or customize it as per your dietary preferences. At the end, we add the cooked rice to the veggies and protein in the Instant Pot, and mix in the sauces - everything comes together at the end!
The rice can be made either pot-in-pot as shown in the images below, or by cooking it in the Instant Pot insert directly (check out this recipe for cooking Jasmine rice directly in the Instant Pot).
Wash the rice thoroughly, until the water runs quite clear. Add 1.5 cups water to the pot and insert the trivet that comes with the IP. Next, add washed and drained rice to a heat-safe vessel (this is the one I use) and place it on the trivet. Add 1.5 cups water to the rice and let the rice cook in ‘Manual’ or ‘Pressure’ mode for 6 minutes.
(Pro tip - Use the time when the rice is cooking to prep and keep your vegetables ready)
After the cooking cycle is complete and the Instant Pot beeps, let rest for 5 minutes, then open up the Instant Pot and take the rice out.
Drain the water in the Instant Pot, add sesame oil, ginger-garlic paste (or minced ginger and garlic) and sesame seeds to the pot and sauté using the ‘Saute’ mode of the IP. Add the carrots, and continue to sauté for 3-4 , minutes. Then add the bacon (if using), and continue to sauté.
Add the rest of the veggies, and saute until tender (3-4 minutes). Make a well in the center and add the eggs (if using). Mix the eggs like you would to scramble them and after they are cooked, add the rice back into the Instant Pot.
In a bowl, mix together the soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, chili sauce and oyster sauce. Stir this together (Step 8 in the image below) and add to the rice and other ingredients.
Mix everything well, check for salt and add as needed. The rice and veggies should be evenly coated with the sauce. Garnish with chopped green onions/spring onions and serve.
Pro Tips For Making Fried Rice
Here are some tips to keep in mind while making this super simple Instant Pot fried rice recipe:
- Use Jasmine Rice in this recipe, as it's best suited for take-out style fried rice. Optionally, you can replace jasmine rice with any other aromatic rice, such as basmati rice. Be sure to rinse out the Jasmine rice 3-4 times to get rid of excess starch before you start to cook. Skipping this step will result in super sticky rice.
- For a Vegan/ Vegetarian option, skip the meat, eggs, and oyster sauce. Instead of eggs, simply replace the eggs with a mixture of cornstarch mixed in cold water. This will add thickness and give it that authentic fried-rice taste and feel. (Take a look at the video in this recipe for a vegan/vegetarian option)
- Using Sesame oil and Sesame Seeds gives the fried rice a distinct flavor. Optionally, use olive oil as a substitute.
- Brown sugar is perfect for off-setting the sour flavor of the soy sauce and the rice vinegar. Use honey as a substitute if you don’t have brown sugar.
- Use Tamari instead of soy sauce for a gluten-free option
Serving Suggestions
Try any of our Asian restaurant-style favorite sides to go with this Instant Pot fried rice:
Sweet and Sour Cauliflower
Spicy Honey Garlic Shrimp
Easy Chicken Satay with peanut dipping sauce
Instant Pot Thai Chicken Curry and Rice
More Instant Pot Recipes
Instant Pot Thai Chicken Curry and Rice
Instant Pot Peanut Noodles
Instant Pot Rice and Veggies
Instant Pot Chicken Biryani
Instant Pot Shrimp Biryani
Easy Instant Pot Fried Rice
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups Jasmine rice rinsed 3-4 times in water, drained
- 1 tbsp Sesame Oil
- 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste or use minced ginger and garlic
- 1 tsp sesame seeds
- 1 large carrot diced
- 200 grams Bacon chopped
- ¾ cup Bell Peppers diced
- ½ cup Broccoli Florets
- 1 cup Mushroom chopped
- 2-3 green onions / spring onions finely chopped
- 2 tbsp Soy Sauce use low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Rice Vinegar
- 1.5 tablespoons Brown Sugar
- ½ tbsp Chili Sauce
- 1 tbsp Oyster Sauce
- Salt to season
Instructions
To cook rice pot-in-pot
- In the Instant Pot, add 1.5 cups of water, followed by the trivet
- In a heat-safe container, add 2 cups jasmine rice. To the rice, add 1.5 cups water.
- Turn the Instant Pot to ‘Manual’/’Pressure Cook’ mode in the ‘High’ setting. Set the cooking time for 6 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes and then quick release pressure.
To cook rice directly in the Instant Pot
- Add 1 cup of water to the Instant Pot and close the lid.Hit 'Pressure Cook' or 'Manual' and set the time for 5 minutes. Let the IP come to pressure and complete the cooking cycle. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes and then quick release pressure.
To make the fried rice
- Once the rice is done, take out the rice and keep aside. To prevent it from cooking further, rinse it under cold water, drain and keep aside.
- Drain any water from the insert of the Instant Pot. Turn on the ‘Sauté’ mode in the ‘More’ setting.
- Now add the sesame oil, followed by the ginger-garlic paste/ minced ginger and garlic and the sesame seeds.
- Add the carrot. Sauté for a couple of minutes until slightly tender.
- Now add the bacon, and saute for a couple minutes more. Add the rest of the vegetables and cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Make a well in the center and add the eggs (if using). Mix the eggs as though you are scrambling them, for a minute, until they are almost cooked.
- Add the rice back into the Instant Pot. Mix with the rest of the ingredients and Hit 'Cancel'.
- In a bowl, mix together the soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, chili sauce and oyster sauce. Stir this together and add to the contents of the Instant Pot.
- Add salt to season and mix to combine, such that the sauce coats the rice and vegetables.
- Garnish with green onions and serve.
Video
Notes
- For a Vegan/Vegetarian version: Skip the meat, eggs, and oyster sauce. Instead of eggs, simply replace the eggs with a mixture of cornstarch mixed in cold water. This will add thickness and give it that authentic fried-rice taste and feel.
- Jasmine rice can be replaced with any other aromatic rice, such as Basmati rice. Be sure to rinse out the Jasmine rice 3-4 times to get rid of excess starch before you start to cook. Skipping this step will result in super sticky rice.
- Sesame oil can be replaced with olive oil.
- Brown sugar can be replaced with honey.
- Use Tamari instead of soy sauce for a gluten-free option
What if J want to do it with brown jasmine rice, how many minutes on manual high?
Thank you in advance!
T
Hi Tamila, 20 minutes on High pressure, with 10 minutes of natural release time should work well for brown Jasmine rice. I hope you give it a try!
Made the recipe tonight. Turned out excellent. The whole family loved it.
Thank you so much for your feedback, Wayne!
The recipe calls for ginger garlic paste. Can you just used minced ginger and minced garlic?
Yes, you can use minced ginger and garlic instead of the paste. There won't be any difference in taste.
I love a good fried rice recipe but never thought of using an Instant pot. This looks so good so I may need to add an instant pot to my kitchen. Seems they are great for so many recipes.
My fried rice never turns out but doing it this way might be a good idea. Thanks for the tip.
I've never made fried rice in my IP, I need to try this! thanks for sharing
I could eat this for dinner any night of the week! Taste so good!
This makes me want to get an instant pot! And the rice looks awesome btw! (: