You know those meals that always sound good? Mine is this Fried Rice! Honestly, I can’t decide which is better: how freaking delicious it is or how it literally only takes 15 minutes to make. Most weeks Carter and I are usually working on 10,000 things at once, but we will NEVER sacrifice having a delicious meal. I am all about using the ingredients that we have and this recipe allows me to do that. The nice thing with the Trader Joes Fried Rice is that it is frozen, so of course we have a stash in our freezer ready to be made!

What ingredients do you need?

Butter
Vegetable Fried Rice
Ground Beef
Salt & Pepper
Onion and Garlic
Eggs
Soy Sauce & Japanese Barbecue Sauce

How do you made fried rice?

Fried rice is all about the flavor! I start by melting my butter in my pan, this is what actually makes the rice “fried.”

Chop up your onion and mince your garlic. I like to use a garlic press, they are inexpensive and work the best to get the most flavor out of your garlic. Add both to the butter, your house is about to start smelling real good! Cook until your onion becomes translucent.

Once your garlic and onion is cooked, add your ground beef to your pan and season with salt and pepper. Brown the beef all the way through and then you will remove it to make room for the rice and eggs.

Next you will want to beat your eggs and set aside. Add your rice package and cook until done, move to the side and add your beaten eggs. Once fully cooked mix in the beef, onion, and garlic mixture. Add your soy sauce and Japanese barbecue sauce to the pan and cook for another couple minutes. Remove from heat and serve. You are going to LOVE it.

Protein-packed Meal

Fried rice is already so good, but then adding the ground beef and eggs? NOTHING beats it. I love adding protein to the rice because it becomes a whole meal that will leave you satisfied. The protein in it, mixed with the vegetables, and the sauce is seriously the perfect combo. I need you to experience it yourself so you know what I mean.

What Other Rice Can I Use?

If you don’t have the trader joes fried rice, that is totally fine! I love using jasmine rice for fried rice. It is soft and soaks up the flavors. Use whatever vegetables you have on hand, steam them, and throw those in there, as well! It will taste amazing either way!

What is Japanese BBQ Sauce?

You may have seen more people using Japanese BBQ sauce lately and I promise it is for a good reason. It is like a mixture of soy sauce, bbq, and teriyaki sauce. This sauce MAKES the meal. I love the brand Bachan, they have nailed it. I get the three pack off amazon and love all three variations.

What Kind of Pan do I Need to Make Fried Rice?

Some people get really into their fried rice and get a wok. However, I 100% can say I am all-in with this fried rice and I don’t use one, although it would be fun. You can use a cast iron or a large skillet, as well, but make sure it doesn’t stick. My personal favorite is my Caraway pan! There is no sticking, it is non-toxic, and it looks pretty.

I cannot wait for you to try this simple fried rice! You are going to love it.

Trader Joe’s Ground Beef Fried Rice

Print Recipe

Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter
1 package of Trader Joe’s Vegetable Fried Rice
1 lb ground beef
Salt & Pepper
1 onion finely chopped
3 cloves garlic minced
2 eggs beaten
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/4 cup Japanese barbecue sauce

Instructions

Heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
Melt butter in pan.
Finely chop the onion and mince the garlic, then add to pan.
Sauté until the onion is translucent and the garlic is fragrant, about 2-3 minutes.
Add the ground beef and season well with salt & pepper.
Cook the beef, breaking it apart with a spatula, until it is fully browned. Once cooked, remove the contents from the skillet and set it aside.
Add the package of Trader Joe’s Vegetable Fried Rice to the skillet. Stir and cook according to the package instructions, usually about 5-7 minutes.
Beat your eggs in a small bowl.
Push the rice mixture to one side of the skillet. Pour the beaten eggs into the other side and scramble them until fully cooked, then mix them into the rice.
Add the beef back in and stir to combine with the rice and egg mixture
Add the soy sauce and Japanese barbecue sauce to the skillet. Stir everything together and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes to let the flavors meld.
Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Remove from heat and serve hot.