Listen… If you’ve been lookin’ for that go-to fried rice that’s easy to make, packs big flavor, and hits just right every time — then let me welcome you to this House Special Fried Rice. We talkin’ garlic butter, steak, shrimp, veggies, eggs, and a whole lotta flavor comin’ off that griddle. Whether you’re throwin’ down on a Blackstone or workin’ a stovetop skillet, this one’s a straight-up game changer.
Now, I’m not out here sayin’ this is the most authentic fried rice you’ll ever eat, but I will say it’s some of the best you’ll make in your own backyard or kitchen. This is how we do it AB-style: keep it simple, keep it bold, and make sure every bite speaks for itself.
Why You Need This Fried Rice in Your Life
Here’s the deal. A lot of folks think fried rice is just rice, soy sauce, and whatever leftover meat you got in the fridge. But this right here? This is a full-blown meal. This is what happens when you level up your rice game and bring it into the world of flavor. We’re using day-old rice for texture, garlic butter for richness, juicy steak for that deep, savory bite, shrimp for a little surf action, and eggs to bring it all together. Toss in some veggies and soy sauce, and what you’ve got is a masterpiece in a bowl.
Best part? It comes together fast. Once you got your ingredients prepped, this takes less than 30 minutes to whip up.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Let’s break this down. No fluff, just what you need:
Protein
- 6 oz ribeye or sirloin steak, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 8–10 jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
- Salt, to taste
- Your favorite steak seasoning (I used my Level Up A Rub)
- 1–2 tablespoons butter
Rice
- 4 cups cooked white rice (day-old is best)
Veggies
- 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn, green beans)
Flavor Base
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic (or garlic paste)
- 1–2 tablespoons garlic butter
- 1–2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 2–3 tablespoons soy sauce (adjust to your liking)
Eggs
- 3 to 5 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon neutral oil (for cooking eggs)
Equipment
- Flat-top griddle or large nonstick skillet/wok
- Spatulas or tongs
- Bowl for beating eggs
- Paper towels for cleanup
Let’s Cook This Up – Step-by-Step
Step 1: Heat Up the Griddle or Skillet
If you’re using a griddle, set up zones: hot, medium, and cool. On a stove? Keep it medium-high.
Drizzle a bit of oil on the hot side and let it heat up. That’s your searing zone.
Step 2: Cook the Steak
Add the steak pieces to the hot zone. Hit it with a little salt and whatever seasoning you like.
Sear until the steak is about 70 percent done, then move it to the cooler zone to rest.
Step 3: Melt in the Garlic Butter
Add butter to the hot side, then toss in the minced garlic. Let that melt down and get fragrant. That right there is the base of your flavor.
Step 4: Add the Day-Old Rice
Bring that cold rice over and spread it on the griddle. Break it up with your spatula and mix it into that garlic butter. Let it toast for a minute, and let it soak up that flavor.
Step 5: Mix in Frozen Veggies
Toss in your frozen mixed vegetables. No need to thaw them.
Add sesame oil (just a little — that stuff is potent) and then drizzle in soy sauce.
Now mix it all together so the flavor’s evenly spread. That rice should be lookin’ golden and smellin’ amazing right about now.
Step 6: Sear the Shrimp
Move your rice over to the cooler side.
Drop a little more butter onto the hot zone, then lay out your shrimp. Keep them flat so they cook evenly.
After a couple minutes, flip them. Once they’re pink on both sides, they’re ready.
Step 7: Combine the Shrimp with the Rice
Bring the shrimp back into the mix. Fold them into the rice and veggies. Everything should be nice and hot, coated with garlic butter and soy sauce.
Step 8: Scramble the Eggs
Add a little oil to a clean space on the hot side. Crack your eggs directly on the griddle.
Scramble them right there, keeping them soft and fluffy. Once they’re cooked, break them up and fold into the fried rice.
Step 9: Mix and Finish
Now it’s time to bring it all together — steak, shrimp, veggies, rice, eggs. Mix it up thoroughly.
Taste and adjust with more soy sauce or seasoning if needed.
How to Serve It Up
This House Special Fried Rice is a full meal all on its own. But if you’re lookin’ to turn this into a full spread, serve it with:
- Egg rolls
- Sweet chili sauce
- Hot mustard
- A side of spicy cucumber salad
- Kimchi
- Sesame green beans
- Fried dumplings
- A drizzle of sriracha or yum yum sauce
- Orange Chicken
Storage and Reheating
Got leftovers? Here’s how to store them:
- Fridge: Keep in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze in single portions up to 2 months.
- Reheat: Warm it up in a skillet with a splash of water, or microwave covered until hot.
How Much Does This Make?
This batch will feed about 4 to 6 people generously. Need more? Just double the ingredients and cook proteins in batches to keep that sear right.
Make-Ahead Tips
Want to speed things up even more?
- Cook your rice the day before and chill it overnight.
- Prep and season your proteins ahead of time.
- Mix your garlic butter early and keep it ready at room temp or in the fridge.
Try These Variations
Once you master this version, play around with it. Here are some ideas:
- Chicken Fried Rice – Swap steak and shrimp for grilled chicken.
- Spam Fried Rice – Use bacon-flavored Spam like in the next batch AB mentioned.
- Veggie Fried Rice – Leave out meat, double up the veggies.
- Spicy Fried Rice – Add chili paste, sriracha, or hot sauce.
- Pineapple Fried Rice – Toss in diced pineapple for sweet and savory.
- Kimchi Fried Rice – Stir in chopped kimchi for a tangy kick.
- Cajun Fried Rice – Use Cajun seasoning and smoked sausage.
- Crab Fried Rice – Replace shrimp with lump crab meat.
- Breakfast Fried Rice – Add bacon, extra eggs, and a drizzle of maple syrup.
- BBQ Fried Rice – Throw in chopped brisket and a splash of BBQ sauce.
House Special Fried Rice
Ingredients
- 6 oz ribeye or sirloin steak cut into bite-sized pieces
- 8–10 jumbo shrimp peeled and deveined
- Salt to taste
- 1–2 tablespoons butter
- 4 cups cooked white rice day-old
- 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1–2 tablespoons garlic butter
- 1–2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 2–3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 3–5 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon oil
Instructions
- Heat griddle or skillet over medium-high heat and add oil.
- Cook steak pieces, season with salt, and sear until 70% done. Move to cooler zone.
- Add butter and garlic. Let melt and become fragrant.
- Add rice and mix with garlic butter. Break up clumps and toast.
- Stir in frozen vegetables. Add sesame oil and soy sauce. Mix well.
- Move rice aside. Add butter and shrimp. Cook until pink on both sides.
- Mix shrimp into rice and combine.
- Add oil, crack eggs, scramble, and fold into rice.
- Mix everything together and serve hot.
