If you need a cheap dinner that doesn’t feel like a cheap dinner, this easy chicken fried rice is one of my favorites. It’s quick, filling, uses simple ingredients, and is a great way to turn leftover rice into another full meal.
Even better, you can grab everything you need at Aldi without buying a cart full of ingredients. Chicken, rice, eggs, frozen vegetables, soy sauce, garlic, and a little oil are really all you need.
This is exactly the kind of dinner I love making when we’re trying to keep the grocery budget under control but I still want something everyone will actually eat.
Why You’ll Love This Chicken Fried Rice
There are a few reasons this one deserves a spot in the weeknight dinner rotation:
- It’s budget friendly. The ingredients are inexpensive, and several are probably already in your pantry or refrigerator.
- It’s ready fast. Once everything is prepped, the actual cooking only takes a few minutes.
- It’s perfect for leftover rice. Instead of letting extra rice sit forgotten in the fridge, you can turn it into an entirely different dinner.
- It’s family friendly. Nothing fancy or complicated here – just a simple fried rice that you can adjust for your family.
- It’s easy to customize. Change the vegetables, protein, or seasonings based on what you already have.
Ingredients You’ll Need
One of my favorite things about this recipe is how short the ingredient list is.
Cooked white rice: Day-old rice works especially well for fried rice because it’s a little drier and doesn’t get as soft in the skillet.
Chicken breast: Dice the chicken into small pieces so it cooks quickly and you get chicken throughout the entire dish.
Eggs: Two eggs add that classic fried-rice texture and make an inexpensive dinner a little more filling.
Frozen peas and carrots: This is my shortcut. No chopping a bunch of vegetables, and frozen veggies are inexpensive and easy to keep on hand.
Soy sauce: This gives the fried rice most of its savory flavor.
Garlic: Fresh minced garlic adds a ton of flavor without requiring another expensive ingredient.
Oil: You’ll just need a little for cooking everything in the skillet.
The Secret to Better Fried Rice: Use Leftover Rice
If you can, make your rice ahead of time and refrigerate it before making this recipe.
Freshly cooked rice contains quite a bit of moisture, which can make homemade fried rice softer or stickier. Cold leftover rice has had time to dry out slightly, so the individual grains separate much better when you cook them in the skillet.
It’s also one of my favorite ways to prevent food waste. If we have rice left from another dinner, this recipe gives me an easy way to turn it into something completely different the next night.
Don’t have leftover rice? You can still make this recipe. Cook your rice first and spread it out on a baking sheet or large plate so it can cool before adding it to the skillet.
How to Make Chicken Fried Rice
Start by heating oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Add your diced chicken and cook until the chicken is completely cooked through.
Next, add the minced garlic and frozen peas and carrots. Cook everything together for about 3–4 minutes, or until the vegetables are heated through.
Push the chicken and vegetables over to one side of your skillet. Crack the eggs into the empty side and scramble them right in the pan.
Once the eggs are cooked, add your cold cooked rice and soy sauce. Stir everything together until the chicken, vegetables, egg, and rice are evenly combined.
Continue cooking for another 3–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until everything is hot.
That’s it. Dinner is done!
Easy Substitutions
This is definitely a “use what you have” kind of recipe.
No chicken breast? Try boneless chicken thighs or leftover cooked chicken.
Different frozen vegetables? Use them! Corn, peas, carrots, broccoli, or a mixed vegetable blend can all work.
No fresh garlic? Garlic powder will work in a pinch.
Want to use brown rice? You can substitute cooked brown rice for the white rice.
Have leftover meat? This is also a great recipe for using small amounts of leftover pork or steak that aren’t quite enough to make another full dinner on their own.
That’s part of what makes fried rice such a good budget meal — you don’t have to buy every ingredient specifically for this recipe.
What to Serve With Chicken Fried Rice
Honestly, we usually eat this as the entire meal. You’ve already got chicken, rice, vegetables, and eggs all in one skillet.
If you want to stretch it a little further or serve something alongside it, try:
- Steamed or roasted broccoli
- Extra mixed vegetables
- Egg rolls
- Fresh cucumber slices
- A simple side salad
For an especially tight grocery week, I’d skip the extra sides altogether. This is filling enough to stand on its own.
How to Store Leftovers
Let leftover chicken fried rice cool before transferring it to an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator and reheat individual portions until they’re steaming hot throughout.
When reheating it in a skillet, you can add a tiny splash of water or a little additional soy sauce if the rice seems dry.
Chicken Fried Rice FAQs
Can I use freshly cooked rice for fried rice?
Yes, but cooled leftover rice works better. Fresh rice contains more moisture and can become soft when fried. If you’re making the rice specifically for this recipe, let it cool before adding it to your skillet.
What kind of rice is best for chicken fried rice?
Long-grain white rice works great for homemade fried rice. The biggest thing is using rice that has cooled so the grains separate easily.
Can I use frozen vegetables?
Absolutely. I actually prefer frozen peas and carrots for this recipe because they’re inexpensive, require almost no prep, and I can keep a bag in the freezer for dinners like this.
Can I make chicken fried rice with leftover chicken?
Yes! If your chicken is already cooked, you can add it later in the cooking process instead of cooking raw chicken at the beginning. Just make sure it’s heated completely through before serving.
Is homemade chicken fried rice budget friendly?
Definitely. Rice, eggs, and frozen vegetables are all inexpensive ingredients, and the chicken stretches across the entire skillet instead of being the main focus of each serving. It’s also a great way to use ingredients you already have instead of letting leftovers go to waste.
A Budget Dinner Worth Keeping in the Rotation
This chicken fried rice is exactly what I mean when I talk about budget-friendly dinners. Saving money on groceries doesn’t mean dinner has to be boring or that you need to serve the same few meals every week.
Sometimes it’s as simple as taking inexpensive ingredients, or leftovers you already have, and turning them into something your family is actually excited to eat.
And when dinner comes together this quickly on a busy weeknight? Even better.
Chicken Fried Rice (Budget Friendly Aldi Dinner)
Description
This easy Chicken Fried Rice is a budget friendly Aldi dinner made with chicken, rice, eggs, and vegetables. Ready in 25 minutes, this takeout fake-out feeds 4 for under $8.
Ingredients
Instructions
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Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook diced chicken until fully cooked.
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Add garlic and frozen vegetables. Cook 3–4 minutes.
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Push everything to one side and scramble eggs in the pan.
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Add rice and soy sauce. Stir everything together.
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Cook 3–5 minutes until heated through.
