Cooking Food Cloud

Sunday, 2 April 2023

Pork Fried Rice

This one pan Pork Fried Rice is one of my favorite dishes of all time. It’s quick, easy, super flavorful, and always satisfies a crowd. We make ours with pork tenderloin, scrambled egg, and whatever leftover rice and veggies you have in your freezer. It’s the perfect meal to make the most out of leftovers.

I love a simple rice dish. We grew up eating a lot of rice as kids so I’m often making a batch of rice for whatever reason. I love making extra because day old rice is the perfect thing to make fried rice out of! If you want more rice inspired dishes, you’ve got to try this Mexican Rice, this delicious Dirty Rice, and this yummy Red Beans and Rice.

Pork Fried Rice Recipe

The reason I love pork fried rice so much is because you get to clean out your fridge! Take a look, do you have some vegetables that are going bad? Do you have rice that is getting dry and bland? Pop all of those ingredients into a wok with some seasonings and you’ve got a refreshed meal that is waste-free and SO yummy. My kids love it when I make fried rice because it’s a meal all in one that is popping with fresh flavors.

You will need precooked rice for this recipe. I like to plan to make fried rice after I’ve made a rice-heavy meal like broccoli and rice chicken casserole. I will make extra rice and store it in the fridge for tomorrow. You can also make the rice fresh. I love cooking white rice in my instant pot for this quick and easy instant pot rice. If you love this recipe as much as I know you will, you’ll have to try this Better Than Takeout Ham Fried Rice too!

Ingredients

Check out these simple ingredients! I love a meal with just a few straightforward ingredients like the ones in this pork fried rice recipe. Other things you could absolutely add to this recipe is fresh garlic cloves, fresh ginger grated or sliced, bell peppers, oyster sauce, and mushrooms. More about that below in the tip box. You can find the measurements below in the recipe card.

Sesame Oil: I love sesame oil, it’s nutty and super flavorful and perfect for flavoring rice.
Pork Tenderloin: This is the key to this recipe. You cook the pork in sesame oil to make it packed with flavor.
Onion Powder: You could add other powders too, like garlic powder!
Kosher Salt: High quality salt makes a difference! You are adding soy sauce so make sure to not overdo the salt. This is to season the pork.
Black Pepper: Freshly cracked black pepper helps to season the meat and adds a little heat.
Cooked Rice: Use your leftover rice for this recipe. You need 3 cups.
White Onion: They just add so much flavor, you can’t leave them out!
Peas and Carrots: Frozen veggies are perfect, so really pull whatever you have out of the freezer.
Soy Sauce: For so much flavor!
Eggs: you will scramble them with the veggies.
Green Onion: This is optional, but they add tons of flavor.

Process photos showing how to cook the veggies and the eggs, and add the rest of the ingredients.

How to Make Pork Fried Rice

Pork fried rice is a really simple recipe to master. It might seem like more work because of all the ingredients, but it’s actually a few quick steps! It’s perfect for using up leftovers and clearing out the freezer. You cook everything in the same skillet, just in different stages. So grab your favorite skillet or wok and lets get cooking.

Cook Pork: Preheat a large skillet or wok to medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of sesame oil, pork, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Cook for 5-7 minutes or until no longer pink. Remove from the wok and set aside.
Cook Veggies: Returning to the same wok, add the remaining 2 tablespoons sesame oil, onion, peas, and carrots. Cook until tender.
Cook Eggs: Slide the onion, peas, and carrots to the side, and pour the beaten eggs onto the other side of the skillet. Then using a spatula, scramble the eggs. Once cooked, mix the eggs with the vegetable mix.
Add Rice: Add the cooked rice to the veggie and egg mixture. Then pour the soy sauce on top. Stir and fry the rice and veggie mixture until warmed through and combined.
Put It All Together: Add the cooked pork back to the rice and veggie mixture and then stir to combine.
Season and Enjoy: Season with additional salt and pepper if needed. Then garnish with chopped green onion if desired.

Tips for Making Pork Fried Rice

Pork fried rice is such a fun recipe to play with! You can go literally any direction you want with this one. Here are a few suggestions for making this recipe your own.

More Proteins: You can add more meat to this recipe, like bacon and sausage, or you can change out the protein entirely for something like beef. One of my favorite fried rice recipes is shrimp fried rice. There are so many ways to make this recipe your own, so feel free to switch things up. You can also use precooked leftover meat, just chop it up into bite-size pieces and add it at the end. You won’t have to cook it in the wok first.
Add More Veggies: A package of stir fry frozen veggies has definitely made an appearance in my fried rice before. Sometimes you just have to use what you’ve got! That’s the whole point of fried rice really. You’ve got to use up those leftovers and not waste anything! You can add things like broccoli, watercress, green beans, mushrooms, cauliflower, etc.
Add Spice: I love a little spice in fried rice every once in a while. You can add red pepper flakes to kick the heat up a notch. You can also add more black pepper if you think it could use a little more heat. Ginger is another great way to get a really warm flavor into the dish that is borderline spicy.

Storing Leftovers

Pork fried rice makes the ultimate leftovers. Warming the rice up again adds extra flavor and life to the dish, and here is how to store your leftovers.

In the Refrigerator: Store your leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Pork Fried Rice

This one pan Pork Fried Rice is one of my favorite dishes of all time. It's quick, easy, super flavorful, and always satisfies a crowd. We make ours with pork tenderloin, scrambled egg, and whatever leftover rice and veggies you have in your freezer. It's the perfect meal to make the most out of leftovers.

Course Dinner, Side Dish

Cuisine Asian American

Keyword pork fried rice

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Servings

Calories 382kcal

Author Alyssa Rivers

Ingredients

3 tablespoons sesame oil divided
3/4 pound pork tenderloin, cut into bite-sized pieces
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper
3 cups rice, cooked
1/2 white onion, chopped
1 cup frozen peas and carrots, thawed
2-3 tablespoons soy sauce more or less to taste
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons green onions , chopped, optional

Instructions

Preheat a large skillet or wok to medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of sesame oil, pork, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Cook for 5-7 minutes or until no longer pink. Remove from the wok and set aside.
Returning to the same wok, add the remaining 2 tablespoons sesame oil, onion, peas, and carrots. Cook until tender.
Slide the onion, peas, and carrots to the side, and pour the beaten eggs onto the other side of the skillet. Using a spatula, scramble the eggs. Once cooked, mix the eggs with the vegetable mix.
Add the cooked rice to the veggie and egg mixture. Pour the soy sauce on top. Stir and fry the rice and veggie mixture until warmed through and combined.
Add the cooked pork back to the rice and veggie mixture and stir to combine.
Season with additional salt and pepper if needed. Garnish with chopped green onion if desired.

Nutrition

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Saturday, 1 April 2023

Loaded Fries

For your next cheat day, look no further than these loaded fries with all the fixin’s: melty colby jack cheese, crispy bacon, tangy green onions, and a little kick of jalapenos! They’re so good, you might just forget you’re actually eating a vegetable (potatoes totally count, right?).

Really, there’s no wrong way to make fries. I love them smothered in melted cheese and bacon, but they’re also tasty covered with carne asada! You’ll have to try both!

Loaded Cheese Fries Recipe

Loaded fries are an absolute game-changer when it comes to satisfying your craving for something salty, crispy, and delicious. Imagine a heaping plate of freshly fried, crispy fries, topped with melted cheese, crispy bacon bits, and spicy jalapenos. The combination of flavors and textures is so irresistible. These loaded fries are the ultimate appetizer for any occasion, be it a party or a game day. They’re guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser, and it’s impossible to resist reaching for just one more fry.

If you want to take your loaded fries game to the next level, then making them from scratch is the way to go. Not only can you ensure that the fries are perfectly cooked and crispy, but you can also customize the toppings to suit your taste buds. Maybe you want to add some tangy salsa, creamy guacamole, or some extra heat with a drizzle of hot sauce or sriracha mayo. The possibilities are endless!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s what I used to make loaded fries! The great thing about making these at home is that you can customize all of the toppings to your liking. See my tips section below for more topping ideas!

French Fries: Crispy and golden French fries are what make loaded cheese fries so irresistible. Whether you use store-bought frozen fries or whip up your own batch at home, these crispy taters are the perfect vehicle for all of the other toppings.
Colby Jack Cheese: Shredded Colby Jack cheese is the perfect topping for loaded cheese fries. It melts beautifully and adds creamy, cheesy goodness to every bite.
Green Onions: Sliced green onions add a pop of color and a subtle onion flavor to the mix. Plus, they make the dish look fancy, even though it’s just a pile of fries.
Bacon: Cooked until crispy and crumbled into little bits, bacon takes these loaded fries to the next level. It’s salty, smoky, and adds a satisfying crunch to every bite. Use precooked bacon for easy prep!
Jalapeños: Sliced jalapenos add a spicy kick to the dish. They’re not for the faint of heart, but for those who love a little heat, they’re the perfect addition.
Famous Fry Sauce: Optional for dipping, famous fry sauce is a tangy and creamy sauce that’s the perfect complement to loaded fries. It makes everything taste better. Trust me, you’ll want to dunk every fry in it.

How to Make the Best Loaded Fries

Who says you need to be a master chef to impress your friends with delicious food? Loaded fries are the ultimate game day or party food, and the best part is, they’re beyond easy to make. With just a few simple ingredients and a sprinkle of creativity, you’ll have a plate of crispy fries topped with gooey cheese, crispy bacon, and spicy jalapenos that will have everyone drooling. Trust me, once you serve up a plate of these bad boys, you’ll be the MVP of the gathering.

Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit or to the temperature noted on the back of the fry package.
Bake Fries: Add the fries to a rimmed baking sheet and then cook according to package instructions or until extra crisp, stirring after 10 minutes. Alternatively, you can also cook the fries in the air fryer and transfer the cooked fries to a baking sheet after they are cooked and crisp.
Broil: Once the fries are crisp, remove them from the oven. Then change the temperature on the oven to the broil option to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
Add Bacon and Cheese: Top the fries with shredded cheese and cooked crumbled bacon. Then place the fries back into the oven for 1-3 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
Add Toppings and Serve: Top with green onions, sliced jalapenos, and serve with my famous fry sauce. Enjoy!

4-photo collage of toppings being added to fries.

Tasty Variations

Don’t settle for boring fries when you can easily take them to the next level with a little customization! Whether you’re feeling spicy or craving something cheesy, loaded fries are the perfect canvas for all of your favorite toppings, so get creative and make them your own.

French Fries: Any kind of fries will work! Waffle fries, sweet potato fries, steak fries…the choice is yours!
Cheese: I love freshly shredded cheese, but my homemade cheese sauce would also be amazing. Switch up the cheese and use any variation you would like.
Toppings: There are endless possibilities for toppings. Chopped tomatoes, avocados, guacamole, salsa, sour cream, olives, beans, and onions are all great options!
Dips or Sauces: I have so many delicious sauces and dips that would be delicious with these fries. Try homemade ranch, blue cheese dip, copycat Cane’s sauce or sriracha mayo!
Add Protein or Meat: Try adding beef, chicken, chili, or beans.

Closeup of a cheese fry being pulled from the pan.

How Long Do Loaded Fries Last?

Once you load your fries up with all the cheesy, bacon-y goodness, they are best enjoyed immediately for maximum deliciousness. While you can store leftovers in the fridge for a few days, the fries will lose their crispiness and the toppings won’t be as fresh. So, don’t wait too long to devour this tasty snack and savor every crispy bite while they last!

Loaded Fries

For your next cheat day, look no further than these loaded fries with all the fixin's: melty colby jack cheese, crispy bacon, tangy green onions, and a little kick of jalapenos! They're so good, you might just forget you're actually eating a vegetable (potatoes totally count, right?).

Course Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine American

Keyword loaded cheese fries, loaded fries, loaded fries recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes

20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings

Calories 614kcal

Author Alyssa Rivers