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If you love fried rice but don’t feel like standing over a hot stove, air fryer fried rice is a great shortcut. It’s quick, low-effort, and perfect for using up leftover rice.
This recipe takes a more thoughtful approach than most by air-frying the rice first and adding the sauce and egg later. That timing helps the rice dry out before seasoning, so it cooks up fluffy with light crisp edges instead of soft or soggy.
What makes this air-fryer fried rice crispier?
Most air-fryer fried rice recipes add everything at once, which often leads to soggy or uneven results. This version is designed to help the rice fry, not steam, inside an air fryer.
- Crisp up the rice first, then season later: The rice is air-fried on its own first so moisture can cook off, helping the grains dry out and crisp instead of clumping.
- Seasoned without excess moisture: Dry seasonings and a small amount of sauce add flavor without weighing the rice down.
- Adjusted heat and stirring to mimic a wok: Cooking at two temperatures and stirring more often helps the rice cook more evenly.
- The result: Crisp-edged, fluffy rice that’s well seasoned and less likely to clump — with the understanding that air-fried rice is different from classic wok fried rice.
Key Ingredient Notes
- Cooked rice (day-old is best): This recipe uses fully cooked rice, not raw rice. Medium- to long-grain rice like jasmine or basmati works best because it has less surface starch, helping the grains stay separate and air fry more evenly..
- Frozen mixed vegetables: Frozen vegetables add color, texture, and nutrition, but more importantly, they’re already cut and pre-cooked. This helps them heat through quickly without releasing too much moisture into the rice.
- Dry seasonings: Salt, garlic granules, onion granules, and white or black pepper season the rice without adding moisture. Dry seasonings cling well to the rice grains and help keep the fried rice crisp instead of soggy.
- Soy sauce or coconut aminos (used lightly): A small amount adds savory depth and color without weighing the rice down. This recipe is intentionally not sauce-heavy so the rice stays dry and fluffy.
- Egg (optional): Egg adds richness and extra protein, but it’s completely optional. You can leave it out for a simpler, lighter fried rice.
Air Fryer vs Stovetop Fried Rice: An Honest Comparison
There are clear trade-offs between making fried rice in an air fryer and cooking it on the stovetop. Neither method is “better” in every situation — it depends on what you value most.
- Stovetop fried rice
Cooking fried rice on the stovetop takes more hands-on effort, but it delivers the most even texture. Constant tossing helps moisture escape, keeps the rice grains separate, and allows the eggs to cook into soft curds that coat the rice evenly. High heat and direct pan contact also create the classic wok aroma that’s hard to replicate without a stovetop. - Air fryer fried rice
Fried rice made in an air fryer is more hands-off and uses less oil, making it convenient for quick meals. Because the rice cooks in a contained space without constant tossing, the texture can be slightly less even, and the eggs may stick to the rice rather than forming distinct pieces. Cooking the egg separately and stirring during cooking helps improve the result. - Final thoughts
If your goal is the most authentic fried rice flavor and texture, the stovetop still wins. The air fryer version trades a bit of precision and aroma for convenience and ease. It’s a practical option when you want fried rice with minimal effort — as long as you understand the differences.
Common Air Fryer Fried Rice Problems (and How to Avoid Them)
- Rice turns soggy instead of crispy
Fried rice relies on constant tossing to release moisture. In an air fryer’s enclosed space, excess liquid has nowhere to go. If the rice is already wet or too much liquid is added, it steams instead of frying. - Rice clumps together
Cold, leftover rice naturally packs and sticks. Gently separating the grains by hand and coating them evenly with oil before cooking helps prevent clumping and allows the rice to fry more evenly. - Uneven texture (some grains crisp, others soft)
An air fryer uses dry heat and airflow, not pan tossing. Stirring the rice during cooking is necessary to bring the bottom grains to the surface so they can dry and crisp more evenly. - Egg disappears into the rice or turns gummy
Eggs cook differently in dry, enclosed heat. Without constant movement, they can coat the rice instead of forming soft curds. Adding whisked egg later—or cooking it separately—gives a better texture. - Rice doesn’t taste “fried” enough
Fried flavor comes from oil contact and surface browning. If the rice isn’t evenly coated with oil or isn’t stirred during cooking, it won’t develop the lightly crisp, fried texture people expect.
Tip: If your rice tends to blow around in the air fryer, using an oven-safe cake pan or baking dish helps keep the grains contained while still allowing airflow for crisping.
Air fryer fried rice recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked rice refrigerated and cold
- 1.5 cup frozen mixed vegetables
- 1.5 tbsp avocado oil
- ½ tsp coarse sea salt
- ½ tsp garlic granule
- ¼ tsp onion granule
- ¼ tsp ground white pepper or black pepper
- 0.5 tbsp soy sauce or 1 tbsp coconut aminos
- 2 bulb scallion diced, white and green parts separated
- 1 large egg whisked, optional
Instructions
- Coat the rice with oil: In a large mixing bowl, add the cold rice, frozen vegetables, and oil. Gently toss to coat the oil evenly over the rice grains. This helps the rice “fry” evenly in the air fryer. I recommend wearing a kitchen glove and using your hands for better control.
- Season the rice: Add the salt, garlic granules, onion granules, and ground pepper. Toss again until the seasonings are evenly distributed.
- Transfer to a cake pan: Transfer the rice mixture to an oven-safe cake pan that fits inside your air fryer basket. The pan should be large enough to hold the rice in an even layer, but small enough to fit comfortably. (My pan is 7.5 inches wide × 3.5 inches tall and fits a 6-quart air fryer.)
- Air fry to dry and crisp the rice: Spread the rice into an even layer. Air fry at 380°F (193°C), uncovered, for 5 minutes. While the rice cooks, whisk the egg if using.
- Add seasoning and egg: Carefully remove the cake pan from the air fryer. Some rice grains on the surface may be lightly browned and crisp—that’s totally fine. Use a wooden spoon to stir the rice, then add the coconut aminos and the white scallion parts. Pour in the whisked egg and stir again to distribute evenly.
- Finish cooking at a lower temperature: Reduce the air fryer temperature to 360°F (182°C). Return the pan to the air fryer and cook for 5 more minutes.
- Break up the rice and egg: Remove the pan from the air fryer and stir again to break up the rice and egg fully.
- Garnish and serve: Garnish with the green scallion parts. Taste and adjust with salt and pepper if needed. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Optional garnish: Finish with a light drizzle of toasted sesame oil and a sprinkle of sesame seeds before serving.
- Storage: Let the fried rice cool to room temperature, then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- How to reheat in the air fryer: Sprinkle the rice with a few drops of water and reheat in an oven-safe pan at 360°F (182°C) for 3–5 minutes, stirring once, until warmed through.
- Rice texture tip: Good fried rice has separated grains, not clumps. Coat the rice evenly with oil and dry seasonings first, and cook it partway before adding liquid seasonings so the rice fries evenly instead of steaming.
- Egg texture note: Eggs behave differently in the air fryer than in a hot wok with constant stirring. If you prefer distinct scrambled egg pieces, cook the eggs separately in the air fryer and fold them into the rice at the end. See my air fryer scrambled eggs recipe.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
What to serve with air fried rice
This crispy air-fried rice works well as a side dish or a light main, especially when you’re using leftover rice in the air fryer for a quick, low-effort meal. I usually serve it family-style with one or two simple dishes.
- With a savory main: Pair this air fried rice with a saucy or bold-flavored dish like Panda Express orange chicken, black pepper beef, or Chinese eggplant with garlic sauce.
- With a vegetable or tofu dish: If you’re keeping things lighter, serve the fried rice alongside something fresh or crunchy, such as an Asian cucumber salad or a simple Air fried salt and pepper tofu dish.
- With soup: Rice and soup is a classic pairing. Serving this air fried rice with a light, clear soup like Shrimp wonton soup or Deconstructed wonton soup makes for a cozy, satisfying meal without needing extra sides.
FAQs
Yes. You can make fried rice in an air fryer, but the texture is different from stovetop fried rice.
An air fryer cooks with circulating hot air instead of constant tossing, so the rice won’t develop wok aroma. With cold rice and staged cooking, you can still get flavorful air-fried rice with lightly crisp edges.
Medium- or long-grain rice works best, especially jasmine or basmati. These varieties are lower in starch, so the grains stay separate and crisp. Day-old rice is ideal because it’s drier and easier to cook as leftover rice in an air fryer without clumping.
Start with cold rice and coat it evenly with oil and dry seasonings. Air fry the rice in stages, stirring partway through so more surfaces contact the hot air. Add liquid seasonings later to help the rice dry-fry first and develop air fryer crispy rice instead of steaming.
More Air Fryer Rice Recipes
- Air fryer rice: A step-by-step guide to cooking rice from scratch in an air fryer, starting with raw jasmine or basmati rice.
- Air fryer chicken fried rice: Fried rice with cooked chicken, made in one pan in the air fryer for an easy, protein-packed meal.
- How to make crispy rice: A technique guide for turning cooked rice into ultra-crispy rice in the air fryer or oven, perfect as a crunchy topping or base.
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This air fry fried rice is great! Perfect for a busy family. Very fast and convenient to put together and my kids loved it. It’s also a great way to use up leftover cooked protein and vegetable scrapes. Thanks for sharing!