Introduction

Today, I’m going back into time with this Garlic Beef Fried Rice Recipe, which was one of the meals I ate growing up. This Garlic Beef Fried Rice Recipe has a few tweaks from what I grew up with, with the main difference being some fresh beef and a lot more garlic. I’ve made and tested a lot of fried rice dishes, but I love this one because it’s a full meal on its own instead of just a side.

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Why You’ll Love This Garlic Beef Fried Rice Recipe

This Garlic Beef Fried Rice Recipe is one of the easiest ways to make a full meal without too many ingredients and too many dishes. It has protein, carbs, and flavor all in one dish, and everything can be cooked in less than 20 minutes in one pan! It’s especially great if you have any leftover rice or greens sitting around in the fridge and want to turn it into a full meal. The texture stands out especially. The beef has that great maillard reaction on the exterior while still being tender, and the garlic brings its unforgettable aromatic flavor that carries through in every bite. It’s one of those dishes that I have on the weeknight rotation because it’s so reliable.

What Makes This Garlic Beef Fried Rice Recipe So Good

Beyond just the ingredients, the best part of this Garlic Beef Fried Rice Recipe is how flexible it can be. While using fresh beef marinated as laid out in the recipe is ideal for getting that restaurant-level tenderness, you can use any beef you want, even leftover beef! It works even better if the leftovers are cold because they won’t overcook when cooked in the hot pan.

Using day old rice is also very important for this Garlic Beef Fried Rice Recipe. For the same reason as using leftover beef, day old rice is colder and drier, which allows it to warm up properly and absorb the sauce without getting mushy. When you also cook the garlic in some neutral oil before adding the cold rice, the garlic oil will properly coat each rice grain without getting soft. When cooked correctly, each rice grain should be tender as should each piece of beef! It’s a classic dish that never gets old, even if you eat it repeatedly!

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Garlic Beef Fried Rice Recipe Ingredients

Sirloin steak + marinade (Shaoxing wine, salt, cornstarch) – The steak is the main protein and gives this dish its signature flavor. Marinating it with Shaoxing wine, salt, and cornstarch helps tenderize the beef and creates a light coating that locks in moisture and also gives you a better sear

Day-old rice – This is essential for a proper fried rice texture. Day-old rice fries better, each grain stays separate, and absorbs the sauce without turning mushy.

Garlic – The backbone of flavor in this dish. Cooking it in oil first infuses the entire dish with that aromatic garlic oil.

Soy sauce blend (dark soy sauce + light soy sauce) – These two work together to season the dish. Light soy sauce provides the main source of saltiness, while dark soy sauce adds color and an umami flavor.

Oyster sauce + sugar – This combination is used to balance the acidic and harsher flavors of the light soy sauce. The oyster sauce adds umami flavor, while the sugar rounds out those savory flavors and helps the sauce cling to the rice.

Shaoxing wine (in sauce) – Adds another layer of aromatic flavor that enhances the flavor and gives the rice its signature “wok hei” flavor.

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How to Make Garlic Beef Fried Rice

Place the cubed sirloin in a bowl and marinate with Shaoxing wine, salt, and cornstarch for about 15 minutes.

Finely mince the garlic while the beef marinates.

In a small bowl, mix together dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, and Shaoxing wine.

Heat a pan over medium-high heat with oil and sear the beef until browned on all sides, then remove and set aside.

In the same pan, cook the garlic until fragrant.

Add the day-old rice and break it apart, letting it fry slightly before mixing. Return the beef to the pan along with the sauce and toss everything together until evenly coated. Cook until the sauce is absorbed

Serve immediately and top with crispy onions and scallions if desired.

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What to Serve with Garlic Beef Fried Rice

This Garlic Beef Fried Rice Recipe is already a full meal, but I always like to serve it with a full spread because I like to mix up the flavors a bit! Here’s a few of my favorites:

• Cucumber salad. I like to toss together thinly sliced cucumbers with some rice vinegar, salt, sugar, and a splash of sesame oil to make a quick salad that pairs perfectly with the richness of this Garlic Beef Fried Rice Recipe.
• Sautéed vegetables. My family traditionally eats this fried rice with some sautéed bok choy seasoned with just 2 tablespoons of oyster sauce. It’s a refreshing yet flavorful side and works perfectly with this Garlic Beef Fried Rice Recipe.
• Fried egg. Eating the fried rice with the additional richness of a fried egg is great. The egg white provides another layer of texture while the egg yolk gives the fried rice some extra flavor.
• Frozen dumplings. I love to eat frozen dumplings along with my fried rice. Although this pairing is more commonly found in Japan, it’s a great combination that will fill you up!

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How to Store Garlic Beef Fried Rice For Meal Prep

This Garlic Beef Fried Rice Recipe is great to store in the fridge for meal prep or just to snack on throughout the day! I store my fried rice in an airtight container for up to 4 days. When reheating this fried rice, I ideally like to toss everything back in the wok on high heat and cook for 3 minutes, but the microwave also works too! You can microwave the fried rice for up to 3 minutes in the microwave covered, and it’ll come out with the same flavors!

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Garlic Beef Fried Rice Substitutions

As previously mentioned, this Garlic Beef Fried Rice Recipe is very flexible, and you can substitute some ingredients like the protein or even adjust the seasonings depending on whatever you have. A few of my favorite substitutions are:

• Ground beef. This is an easy substitution that makes the recipe even quicker to make! You won’t get as good as a sear, but it’ll still give you great flavor and works great if you want to control the fat in the dish.
• Chicken. If you like a lighter piece of meat, diced chicken thighs or chicken breast work perfectly well. The marinade still gives the chicken that restaurant-quality tenderness.
• Shrimp. Garlic and shrimp is one of my favorite flavor combinations, making it a great alternative protein. Just make sure that there’s still a little bit of grey when browning for the first time that way the shrimp doesn’t overcook when you add it back in.
• Cauliflower rice. If you want a lower carb option, you can use frozen cauliflower rice. I like to cook out all the moisture first (I would do this before browning your proteins) to make sure the texture isn’t too mushy.
•  Veggies. This fried rice also works as a vegetarian option! You can add frozen vegetables, corn, or even chopped spinach without changing the primary flavors too much.

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What to Make Next

Want something with even more garlicky flavor? Try my Garlic Pork Belly Fried Rice!

Craving another easy meal? You’ll love my Beef Bibimbap!

Feel like noodles instead? Cook my Garlic Chili Noodles!