Fried rice is the classic way to turn leftovers into dinner. Day-old rice, a few eggs and a bag of frozen vegetables make a full meal for four in about 20 minutes, and it's the cheapest recipe in this collection.
Ingredients and cost
Each cost is for the amount this recipe uses. Pantry items like oil, spices and soy sauce cost more on your first trip, then last for many meals.
| Ingredient | Price used | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Long-grain white rice1⅓ cups uncooked, cooked a day ahead (about 4 cups) | $1.12/lbBLS, Sep 2026 | $0.63 |
| Eggs4 large, beaten | $2.27/dozenBLS, Sep 2026 | $0.76 |
| Frozen peas and carrots2 cups (10 oz) | $2.06/lbUSDA, 2023 | $1.29 |
| Onion½, diced (3 oz) | $1.06/lbUSDA, 2023 | $0.20 |
| Garlic3 cloves, minced | $0.06/cloveEstimate | $0.18 |
| Green onions3, sliced | $0.17/onionEstimate | $0.51 |
| Soy sauce3 tbsp | $0.08/tbspEstimate | $0.24 |
| Vegetable oil2 tbsp | $0.05/tbspEstimate | $0.10 |
| Total | $3.91 | |
| Per serving (serves 4) | $0.98 |
Directions
- Break up any clumps in the cold rice with your hands.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the eggs and scramble until just set, about 1 minute. Move them to a plate.
- Add the rest of the oil and the onion. Cook for 2 minutes, then add the garlic and frozen vegetables and cook until hot, about 3 minutes.
- Add the rice and spread it out. Let it sit for 1 minute to crisp, then stir-fry for 3 to 4 minutes until heated through.
- Stir in the soy sauce, the eggs and most of the green onions. Taste, add more soy sauce if it needs it, and top with the rest of the green onions.
Budget tips
- Cold, day-old rice is the key. Freshly cooked rice turns mushy in the pan. Cook a double batch earlier in the week, for example with honey garlic chicken thighs.
- Eggs averaged $2.27 a dozen in September 2026 (BLS). Two more eggs add about $0.38 to the whole pan and make it heartier.
- Any frozen vegetable mix works, and so does leftover chicken or ham.
How we priced this recipe
- BLS, Sep 2026: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Average Price Data, U.S. city average, September 2026.
- USDA, 2023: USDA Economic Research Service, Fruit and Vegetable Prices, 2023 (the latest year published).
- Estimate: Food Butler estimate of a typical U.S. store-brand shelf price, October 2026. Neither BLS nor USDA publishes an average price for these items.
Your store's prices will differ. See all priced recipes.