What To Serve With Fried Rice: 16 Delicious Dishes
When you know what to serve with fried rice, it’ll quickly become one of those staple recipes that you return to time and time again for a quick dinner that you know will be a hit with the whole family.
Though you can add an abundance of fresh veggies and succulent chunks of meat to your fried rice to make it a satisfying main course in its own right, there are some accompaniments and side dishes that you might want to try to really take things to the next level.
Whether you want something light and crunchy, or are in the mood for a helping of fried chicken in a sticky Chinese inspired sauce, there’s something for everyone here.
Let’s take a look through 16 tasty choices for what to serve with fried rice…
(By the way, be sure to also take a look at the best sauces for fried rice, and the best toppings for fried rice!)
1. Chicken and sweetcorn soup
A side dish of chicken and sweetcorn soup is warming, comforting, and perfect for those colder days when you’re in the mood for something that will lift your spirits.
It’s also easier to make than you might initially think.
This Chinese chicken and sweetcorn soup recipe takes just twenty minutes to make, and is full of authentic Asian flavour.
2. Fried egg
Fried rice typically has egg stirred through, but you can go a step further and add a fried egg to serve on top your mound of rice.
Not only does it look visually pleasing, but having that beautiful golden yolk drip down over your meal is so delicious and satisfying!
Though frying an egg might seem like one of the most basic kitchen accomplishments, even experienced chefs can find it a little tricky to get right every time.
The secret is to crack the egg on to a small plate, slide into the pan, and then cook on a low heat with a lid on for just 3 minutes.
Always resist the urge to start moving it about or flipping it – just leave it to work its magic!
3. Chinese style chicken
If you’re a meat eater, a portion of chicken alongside your egg fried rice is always a good idea.
One of my favourite quick and easy dinner recipes is Chinese style chicken rice.
It’s packed with mushrooms, peas, and mangetout for extra nutritional goodness, and the soy sauce gives a beautiful savoury flavour.
This is one of those dishes where you can throw in any chopped veggies that might need using up, so it’s the perfect choice when you haven’t had the chance to do the grocery shopping!
4. Stuffed spring rolls
Chinese spring rolls typically consist of chicken or prawn and a mixture of vegetables, encased in a wonton wrapper and then deep fried.
They’re a hugely popular light bite, but sometimes they can be a little bit tricky to make.
Some people also like to avoid deep frying for health reasons – not to mention the mess that it can make in the kitchen!
Consider an easier alternative by using filo pastry, and baking in the oven instead of frying.
They’re just as delicious, but without the fuss.
5. Hoisin tofu
Hoisin tofu has a delicious salty, sweet, and savoury flavour that makes for a wonderful vegetarian meal when served alongside fried rice and some broccoli.
If you haven’t tried tofu, don’t be scared to give it a try.
It absorbs the flavour of any sauce that it’s marinaded in, making it a great choice for being served with bold and punchy options like hoisin.
(By the way, if you love Asian flavours, you’ll also enjoy the best side dishes for bao buns!)
6. Orange chicken
Orange chicken is so many people’s go-to option when they’re visiting a Chinese restaurant.
It’s thought that the dish actually has American origins and isn’t particularly authentic, but it’s still amazing when served with fried rice.
If you fancy giving this a try, check out my Fanta orange chicken recipe.
The not-so-secret ingredient is a can of orange soda, and it creates a slightly sweet, deliciously sticky sauce that’ll remind you of sweet and sour.
Want some more ideas for extra sides? Take a look at the best side dishes for orange chicken.
7. Prawn crackers and sweet chilli sauce
Let your fried rice maintain its place as star of the show by serving alongside a portion of prawn crackers, with some sweet chilli sauce for dipping.
These little puffy bites are so moreish, and your dinner guests can help themselves to as many as they like if you serve them in a big bowl in the middle of the table.
8. Stir fried pak choi
Some stir fried pak choi is so easy to prepare, but it brings a satisfying crunch as well as a vibrant splash of green to your plate.
You can find pak choi in many large supermarkets these days, though if you can’t get your hands on any, your local Asian supermarket
9. Spare ribs
Meaty spare ribs are a tasty choice for what to serve with fried rice.
I like to prepare mine in the slow cooker, in a marinade of soy sauce, chilli, five spice, and hoisin.
They’re budget friendly and super fun (if a little messy!) to eat, making them a good choice if you’ve got a big family to feed.
10. Beef in black bean sauce
Black bean sauce is made from fermented soya beans, and it’s widely used in Chinese cooking thanks to its subtle but deeply savoury taste.
It’s especially good when served with beef, and of course a generous portion of fried rice.
Add lots of chopped veggies to the meal, like peppers, bean shoots, water chestnuts, and onions.
The extra crunch will make your dinner that extra bit satisfying!
11. Deep fried squid
If you love seafood, then you’ll absolutely adore this option for what to serve with fried rice.
Satisfying mouthfuls of lightly battered and fried squid, served with fried rice and your favourite choice of sauce, makes for a meal that you’ll remember for a long time.
It can be a little bit of an overwhelming to prepare this recipe at home, and it’s definitely one that you’ll want to leave for the weekend when you have some more time on your hands, but it’s worth it.
12. Hot and sour soup
This popular Asian soup is a go-to when you want something that’s a little lighter than some of the popular carbohydrate based side dishes that you’ll often find on menus.
You can keep it vegetarian, or if you like, add some king prawns or chunks of cooked chicken.
13. Garlic and chilli roasted broccoli
Whatever you’re serving up for dinner, you really can’t go wrong with a helping of freshly prepared greens.
Broccoli always goes so well with Chinese cuisine.
It’s best when stir fried with a generous amount of chopped garlic and chilli for extra flavour.
Add a few splashes of soy sauce before you serve with bring all those bold flavours together.
14. Prawn toast
Prawn toast has Hong Kongese and Cantonese origins, and is typically served as part of a dim sum platter.
It’s made from small triangles of bread which are coated in minced shrimp before being deep fried and sprinkled with white sesame seeds.
They’re commonly served as a starter in Western countries, though they’re great to have on the table as part of an Asian feast where everyone can help themselves.
Make sure you add some sauce for dipping – I like to have a choice of sweet chilli, and hoisin.
15. Crispy seaweed
Crispy seaweed is lovely and crispy and light, and it’s often a real conversation starter when you serve it up to family and friends.
Sometimes it can be tricky to get hold of seaweed, particularly if you don’t live near the seaside or you don’t have an Asian supermarket in your town.
If that’s the case, check out my crispy ‘seaweed’ kale recipe – as you might have guessed, the seaweed is actually replaced with more readily available kale.
No one will know the difference, and it’s a really quick side dish to prepare!
16. Prawn wontons
As you might have guessed, I like to have some choices of finger foods available for what to serve with fried rice!
Prawn wontons are a delicious option here, and though they require a little bit of time and effort, they’re worth it if you’re planning a special occasion or you’re just in the mood for getting creative in the kitchen.
Try this recipe for boiled prawn wontons with chilli dressing from Jamie Oliver.
They’re healthier than their deep fried counterparts, and great for when you want to show off a little.
What are your favourite side dishes for fried rice?
If you love making up a batch of fried rice and you’ve got certain side dishes that you think work really well, leave a comment and share your ideas.
It’s always inspiring to hear about what other people are cooking up at home!
