This Easy Baked Fried Rice is the ultimate low-effort recipe. Instead of cooking rice in a wok, everything is simply mixed together in a baking dish and baked in the oven. The result is fluffy, perfectly seasoned rice filled with vegetables and crispy bacon—all without stirring or frying.
Just combine uncooked rice, broth, soy sauce, garlic, vegetables, and bacon, place it in the oven, and let it cook. That’s it!
While it’s technically baked rice rather than traditional fried rice, it delivers the same savory flavors and satisfying texture we love about classic fried rice—without the work.
❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
✔ No frying or wok required
✔ Made with uncooked rice
✔ Minimal preparation – just mix and bake
✔ Fluffy rice with rich savory flavor
✔ Perfect quick side dish for almost any meal
This recipe is ideal for those nights when you need a fast, reliable side dish that everyone will enjoy.
🍳 The “Dump and Bake” Method
Traditional fried rice usually requires day-old cooked rice, which helps prevent the grains from becoming mushy in the wok.
But this recipe skips that step entirely.
Instead, everything cooks together in the oven:
- uncooked rice
- broth
- soy sauce
- garlic
- frozen vegetables
- bacon
Once baked, the rice absorbs all the flavor from the broth and seasonings, creating a dish that’s surprisingly close to classic fried rice.
Even better, there’s no need to stir the rice while it cooks—in fact, stirring can make it mushy!
🧄 Ingredients
For the Baked Fried Rice
- 1½ cups long grain white rice (uncooked)
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
- 1½ tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Chinese cooking wine (Shaoxing wine)
(or dry sherry, sake, or mirin) - 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
(carrots, peas, corn, etc.) - ¼ tsp white pepper
- 1¼ cups chopped bacon or ham (uncooked)
For Finishing
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- ½ cup green onions, finely sliced
👨🍳 How to Make Baked Fried Rice
1. Preheat the Oven
Preheat the oven to 390°F / 200°C (180°C fan).
2. Combine the Ingredients
In a baking dish (about 9×13 inches / 22×32 cm), add:
- uncooked rice
- broth
- soy sauce
- cooking wine
- garlic
- frozen vegetables
- white pepper
Mix everything together and spread the rice evenly.
3. Add the Bacon
Scatter the chopped bacon across the surface.
The bacon will release flavor into the rice as it cooks and become golden and crispy during the final bake.
4. Bake Covered
Cover the baking dish tightly with foil.
Bake for 40 minutes.
5. Bake Uncovered
Remove the foil and continue baking for 15 minutes.
This allows the bacon to crisp and the rice to finish cooking.
6. Rest the Rice
Remove the pan from the oven and loosely cover it with foil.
Let the rice rest for 10 minutes.
This step is important because the rice will finish cooking and absorb any remaining moisture.
7. Finish and Serve
Add the sesame oil and green onions, then gently fluff the rice with a fork.
Serve immediately and enjoy the perfectly fluffy baked fried rice.
🍽 What to Serve with Baked Fried Rice
This versatile dish pairs well with many meals, including:
- Honey Garlic Chicken
- Sticky Chilli Chicken
- Pan-fried fish
- Mushroom stuffed chicken
- Grilled vegetables
It’s also delicious on its own as a quick and satisfying meal.
🍳 Add-In Ideas
You can easily customize this baked fried rice with extra ingredients such as:
- Scrambled eggs or thin omelet ribbons
- Cooked chicken or pork
- Shrimp or prawns
- Baby spinach stirred in at the end
- Kimchi for a spicy twist
The possibilities are endless!
🍚 Tips for Perfect Rice
✔ Use long-grain white rice for the best fluffy texture.
✔ Do not stir while baking—it can make the rice sticky.
✔ Let the rice rest before fluffing so it finishes absorbing moisture.
✔ Frozen vegetables work best because they release water while cooking.