Chicken Fried Rice | Khao Pad Gai | ข้าวผัดไก่

5 from 1 vote

Quick, easy, and delicious, Khao Pad Gai is a great choice for a stand-alone dinner or side dish to accompany a Thai meal.

Prep Time15

Cook Time15

Total Time30

Course: Rice Dishes

Cuisine: Thai

Servings:

Calories: 220kcal

Author: Rachel

Prepare the Ingredients: Chop the garlic and shallots finely. Slice the green onions into small rounds and coarsely chop the cilantro leaves. Trim excess fat off the chicken and cut into bite-sized pieces.
Saute the Aromatics: Heat a wok or pan over medium high heat. Add a tablespoon or so of mild-flavored oil. Then saute the garlic and shallots until they are aromatic, and the shallots have become translucent.
Cook the Chicken: Add the chicken pieces to the hot pan and stir fry with the aromatics until they are almost done. Be sure not to overcook them, as they will cook for another few minutes in this stir fry.
Stir Fry the Rice: Add the cooked jasmine rice to the pan. Stir to mix the chicken and aromatics into the rice. Then add your fish sauce and Thai thin soy sauce and continue to mix everything together.
Add the Eggs: Move the seasoned rice to the sides of the pan. Add a little more oil to the middle of the pan and allow it to heat. Then add your eggs and scramble them. Once cooked, mix into the rice.
Add the Herbs: Add the white pepper powder, green onion, and cilantro. Mix to combine these herbs with the rice, then immediately take off the heat. If left on the heat for too long, the herbs will turn brown and wilt.
Serve: Plate your Chicken Fried Rice and serve with a side of Prik Nam Pla, Lime Wedges, and Cucumber slices. Enjoy!

Chicken thighs will be the most tender in this recipe. Chicken breast will also work, however, you should be sure to cook it until it is *almost* done, then stir fry the rice quickly to avoid overcooking the chicken breast.
The cooked jasmine rice is best when it's had time to dry out a little bit. Day old rice that's been stored in the refrigerator works perfectly. If you only have fresh rice, you can spread it in a thin layer on a sheet pan to allow it to dry out while you're preparing the other ingredients.