Easy Sheet Pan Fried Rice

Frustrated that there is nothing easy to make for dinner that will please the whole family? May I propose Sheet Pan Fried Rice? Thinking of dinner ideas for our family is a constant struggle: usually, if one person likes it, another is gagging. I have cooked (too many) extensive meals, spending hours prepping, just for everyone to hate it. This recipe only takes about 30 minutes to come together, and the best part is the silence of nobody complaining. My kids sometimes pick around the vegetables, but they cannot avoid them all! Since our house is split between meat-eaters and vegetarians, I usually bake some crispy tofu and pull meat from a rotisserie chicken, folding in whatever everyone wants while serving. We all agree on eggs, so I mix those in right when the pan comes out of the oven.

Easy Sheet Pan Fried Rice – V, GF+SF substitutions
Serves 6 - 8

Gluten-free? Use tamari instead of soy sauce
Soy-free? Use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce (you may want to add 1 tsp or so of salt)

6 cups rice, cooked and cooled or leftover (brown or white)

1/2 c shredded carrot

1/2 c peas, cooked and cooled or leftover

1/2 c finely chopped red bell pepper

½ c finely chopped onion

For the Sauce

¼ c canola oil

1/3 c low sodium soy sauce, tamari, or coconut aminos

¼ c rice wine vinegar

1 tbsp sesame oil

1 tbsp agave or honey

1 large clove garlic, grated

1 tsp sambal chili sauce (optional but recommended!)

Stir-ins to Make it Your Own!

1 lb cooked protein

4 eggs, whisked together with a little salt and pepper and scrambled lightly

Toasted sesame seeds

Chopped cilantro/scallions

More sambal or sriracha

Preheat oven to 450º

Prepare a large sheet pan with foil or parchment paper and nonstick spray. Mix together the sauce by whisking all the ingredients in a small bowl until combined. Then, stir the rice and vegetables until evenly combined in a large bowl. Add the sauce, mixing thoroughly. Spread the rice mixture out on the sheet pan, making an even layer. Bake for 10-15 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the rice on the edges is just starting to turn golden brown and crisp slightly. Add any stir-ins you would like and enjoy while it is warm!