Introduction

Fried rice is one of those meals that a lot of people already know how to make, but this Chili Oil Butter Fried Rice Recipe takes normal fried rice to another level. It’s rich and buttery, but still incredibly simple and approachable. Out of all the fried rice dishes that I’ve made over the years, this one stands out because it’s super good on its own and doesn’t need a bunch of side dishes to compliment it.

How This Chili Oil Butter Fried Rice Recipe Is So Flavorful

This Chili Oil Butter Fried Rice Recipe gets a ton of its flavor from cooking in a precise number of steps, which is what makes it taste so much more complex than the ingredient list may suggest. Cooking the eggs keeps them soft and fluffy while also allowing them to stay separated from the rice grains instead of coating them. The scallions whites and garlic are cooked after the eggs are removed, which infuses with the oil they’re cooked with and becomes the foundation of the dish. Once the rice, chili oil, soy sauce, and butter are added, the infused oil and sauce ingredients coats every grain, creating that amazing texture that makes fried rice so good.

Wooden spoon lifting a bite of Chili Oil Butter Fried Rice filled with fluffy eggs, scallions, and glossy chili oil coated rice grains.

Why The Sauce Is So Important For This Chili Oil Butter Fried Rice Recipe

The sauce and seasonings are what makes this Chili Oil Butter Fried Rice Recipe. Yes, the soy sauce and chili oil are important for flavor, but the butter is what really changes the dish. The sharp flavors from the soy sauce and chili oil are balanced out, and the butter also creates a richer finish that coats the rice. Instead of tasting greasy, it gives the rice that “fuller” flavor that you find in a lot of flavorful dishes. Including this one!

Chili Oil Butter Fried Rice Recipe Ingredients

Day-old rice – Essential for proper fried rice texture. It stays separated, cooks evenly, and absorbs the flavors of the sauces without becoming mushy.

Eggs – Add richness and softness that balance the spicy and savory flavors in the rice.

Scallions + garlic – The aromatics that build the base flavor. The scallion whites and garlic infuse the oil, while the greens add freshness at the end.

Seasoning sauce (soy sauce, chili oil, sesame oil, sugar, butter) – A balanced mix that brings spice, richness, nuttiness, and umami flavor and coats every grain of rice evenly.

Optional garnish (extra scallions) – Adds freshness and a bit of sharpness that helps balance the richness of the dish.

How to Make Chili Oil Butter Fried Rice

Thinly slice the scallions, separating the whites and greens, and mince the garlic.

Fresh scallions being thinly sliced on a wooden cutting board to prepare aromatics for homemade Chili Oil Butter Fried Rice Recipe.

Whisk the eggs until fully combined.

Eggs being whisked in a patterned bowl until smooth and fully combined to prepare fluffy scrambled eggs for this Chili Oil Butter Fried Rice Recipe.

Heat a pan with oil and scramble the eggs until cooked, then remove and set aside.

Beaten eggs being poured into a hot pan to make soft scrambled eggs for this quick and flavorful Chili Oil Butter Fried Rice Recipe.

In the same pan, cook the scallion whites and garlic until fragrant.

Minced garlic and sliced scallion whites sautéing in oil in a skillet to build flavor for homemade Chili Oil Butter Fried Rice Recipe.

Add the day-old rice, cooked eggs, soy sauce, chili oil, sesame oil, and sugar. Toss until evenly coated.

Chili oil and soy sauce mixture being poured over rice and scrambled eggs in a skillet to season this spicy Chili Oil Butter Fried Rice Recipe.

Add the butter and scallion greens and continue mixing until the butter melts completely.

Cube of butter and fresh scallions added to spicy fried rice in a skillet to create rich buttery flavor in this Chili Oil Butter Fried Rice Recipe.

Serve immediately and garnish with extra scallions if desired.

Fresh scallions being sprinkled over a bowl of Chili Oil Butter Fried Rice Recipe as a final garnish for this savory and spicy weeknight rice dish.

What to Serve with Chili Oil Butter Fried Rice

This Chili Oil Butter Fried Rice Recipe is really good on its own…trust me! However, it’s also to serve along with a bigger meal. A few of my favorites are:

Fried eggs. Adds another layer of texture and rich flavor.
Pickled vegetables. The acidity works perfectly to balance the richness of the fried rice.
Sliced cucumbers. I’ve found that the freshness of sliced cucumbers works perfectly with the rich fried rice.

How to Store and Reheat Chili Oil Butter Fried Rice

This Chili Oil Butter Fried Rice Recipe stores well and can be a really good meal prep option. I recommend keeping it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. When reheating, you have a couple of options.

In a pan. I love to use this method to bring back that texture.
Microwave. Great for convenience. I like to add a small splash of water while reheating it to help loosen up the rice.

Chili Oil Butter Fried Rice Substitutions

This Chili Oil Butter Fried Rice Recipe is very flexible, and you can substitute some ingredients depending on what you have available. A few of my favorite substitutions are:

Brown rice or cauliflower rice. If using cauliflower rice, cook prior to using in the recipe. I like to cook it until no moisture remains.
Different chili oils. You can use chili crisp, crunchy chili oil, or just a simple chili oil depending on how much texture and spice you like.
Coconut aminos or tamari. A great substitute for soy sauce if you want a gluten-free option.
Roasted chicken. Any protein really works well if you want to add additional protein to the dish.