Pineapple Fried Rice

Do you love restaurant style fried rice? What if I told you that you can make the same at home!? Pineapple Fried Rice is right up your alley! 

overhead shot of fried rice in a pineapple


 

Not challenging, nor sophisticated, homemade fried rice does require time. Not hands-on time, but time to have day old cooked rice. Or at the very least, cooked and then chilled.

My recipe also includes a carnival of festive and colorful veggies with a hint of sesame oil. Many recipes also use fish sauce, oyster sauce or even coconut oil, but I find my seasoned soy sauce mixture to be just the right amount of flavor. For even more robust flavor, consider adding a tablespoon or two of Huli Huli Sauce.

Why You’ll Love This Pineapple Fried Rice

An easy fried rice that you can make at home and tastes great- what’s not to love!

  • Tropical flavor – Whether you’re craving a tropical vacation or just love pineapple, this rice will give it to you.
  • Fun twist – If you’re already a fan of fried twist, this fun pineapple twist will make you fall even more in love.
  • Simple ingredients – I’d be willing to bet you already have a lot of these ingredients in your pantry or refrigerator.
close up of fried rice with pineapple in a skillet

Ingredients

You can easily find all of these pineapple fried rice ingredients at your local grocery store.

  • Coconut Lime Rice – Day-old rice is always best to use for fried rice. I like the coconut flavor of this rice, but you could use plain rice too.
  • Vegetables – I like to use a combination of red onion, carrot and red bell pepper. But you could use any veggies you’d like to. I also use serrano peppers for heat and fresh garlic for flavor.
  • Lime – We will be using both the lime juice and the lime zest. You can also serve this rice wit a lime wedge if you’d like.
  • Sugar – In addition to the sweetness of the pineapple, we need a little more sugar for optimal sweetness.
  • Eggs – Always assume a recipe is calling for large eggs. You want your eggs to be lightly whisked.
  • Dark soy sauce – I like to use dark soy for a bolder flavor, but you could also use low sodium soy as well.
  • Fresh ginger – Fresh ginger really adds the best flavor to this rice. I like to make sure mine is finely grated.
  • Salt and pepper – I used a blend of fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper for my pineapple fried rice.
  • Ham – Ham is the protein of choice for my Pineapple Fried Rice, but it is typically seen in Polynesian culture made with SPAM.
  • Fresh pineapple – I much prefer to use fresh pineapple. A great way to use up leftover pineapple from a fruit tray.
  • Cashews -You can totally leave this out for nut allergies, but they add a nice crunch to the dish.

Variations

There are plenty of ways you can make this pineapple fried rice recipe your own. Here are a few suggestions.

  • Pineapple – If you don’t have fresh pineapple, you can sure use canned pineapple chunks or pineapple slices cut into chunks. 
  • Brown rice – Brown rice is perfectly good to be used in a fried rice recipe, just cook it well before using. It tends to be a little more gummy and taunt. 
  • Nuts – You can omit the cashews for someone with a nut allergy or substitute with almonds or macadamia nuts. 
  • Rice noodles – You can swap the rice for noodles instead. Just cook the noodles and continue with the recipe. 
  • Vegetarian – You can easily make this a vegetarian fried rice by leaving out the ham completely. Tofu would also taste wonderful.
  • Meat – You can also substitute the ham for shrimp, chicken or even another form of pork. Just make sure it is fully cooked before adding it. 
  • Vegetables – You can really add any kind of veggie you want. Peas, carrots, broccoli and onion are some of my favorites.
close up shot of serving spoon full of pineapple fried rice

How to Make Pineapple Fried Rice

Making this fried rice with ham and pineapple is so easy, you’ll want to make it every week!

  1. Make vegetable mixture. In a small bowl, combine serrano pepper through sugar. Allow to sit.
  2. Make soy mixture. In another small bowl, whisk together dark soy sauce through black pepper, set aside.
  3. Cook veggies. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Then add vegetable mixture to hot oil until it starts to soften.
  4. Add eggs and ham. Add eggs, tossing like you would with scrambled eggs. When eggs are fully cooked, add ham, stirring for another minute.
  5. Add rice. Add rice, breaking into pieces. Drizzle with sauce mixture, tossing instead of stirring (stirring will make rice mushy).
  6. Top with pineapple and cashews. Lastly, add pineapple and cashews, heating and tossing for only one minute before serving immediately.

Also check out my tips on making Perfect Rice before getting started!

How to Serve Pineapple Fried Rice

You can garnish your finished dish with sliced green onions (scallions) or toasted sesame seeds. 

I like to serve this ham and pineapple fried rice with pretty much any takeout favorite I can dream up. Sweet and sour chicken and orange chicken are some of my favorites.

close up overhead shot of bowl of pineapple fried rice

Storage and Freezing

How to Store Pineapple Fried Rice

Like most food, when kept chilled and covered in a airtight container, leftover fried rice is good for about five days. 

You can easily reheat it in the microwave or a saucepan. I would add a small amount of liquid, water will do, so it doesn’t get too dry. 

Can I Freeze Pineapple Fried Rice?

Yes, you can freeze leftover rice if packaged correctly. It will stay good for 3-4 months. Freezing items in airtight plastic bags works best since you can get the most amount of air out. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is fried rice gluten free?

Rice itself is gluten free, but be weary of the soy sauce you are using, as it isn’t always gluten free. 

Can fried rice be eaten cold?

Sure can! In fact, hubby might tell you that cold fried rice is the best kind of leftover fried rice! LOL. 

What is the secret to good fried rice?

Making sure to use the right rice and also the right pan! I like frying my rice in a wok, but you can also use a regular pan.

close up overhead shot of fried rice in a pineapple

More Rice Recipes

Rice is such a versatile recipe. It’s the perfect base for adding almost any flavor or seasoning to. These are some of our favorite rice recipes.

This EASY Ranch Rice recipe is a super versatile side dish that will add gentle flavor to any dinner you are serving. A great way to use a pantry staple! #ranchrice #ricerecipes #ranchricerecipe #easyricerecipes www.savoryexperiments.com

Ranch Rice

Calling all ranch fanatics! This Ranch Rice is super easy to make and adds fun flavor to your meals. No more boring rice recipes!
See The Recipe!
Close up from cauliflower fried rice

Cauliflower Fried Rice

If you've ever wondered how to make Cauliflower Fried Rice, look no further! This cauliflower fried rice recipe is the perfect way to cut down on carbs!
See The Recipe!
Cilantro-Lime Coconut Rice - The only way to eat rice! Flavored with coconut milk, fresh cilantro or Thai basil and citrus zest!

Coconut Rice Recipe

Cilantro Lime Coconut Rice uses coconut milk, fresh lime and Thai coconut for the best sticky rice recipe ever! 
See The Recipe!
close up overhead shot of pineapple fried rice with text overlay
overhead shot of fried rice in a pineapple

Pineapple Fried Rice

4.84 from 12 votes
Pineapple Fried Rice Recipe – A quick and easy weeknight meal that’s so much cheaper, tastier and healthier than take-out! Make it a vegetarian meal or add ham.
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, combine serrano pepper through sugar. Allow to sit for 5-10 minutes.
  • In another small bowl, whisk together dark soy sauce through black pepper, set aside.
  • Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Add vegetable mixture to hot oil, stirring for 2-3 minutes, or until it starts to soften. Add eggs, tossing like you wold with scrambled eggs. When eggs are fully cooked, add ham, stirring for another minute.
  • Add rice, breaking into pieces. Drizzle with sauce mixture, tossing instead of stirring (stirring will make rice mushy).
  • Lastly, add pineapple and cashews, heating and tossing for only one minute before serving immediately.
  • If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was! 

Nutrition

Calories: 807 kcal, Carbohydrates: 129 g, Protein: 24 g, Fat: 20 g, Saturated Fat: 7 g, Cholesterol: 103 mg, Sodium: 1010 mg, Potassium: 544 mg, Fiber: 3 g, Sugar: 10 g, Vitamin A: 3120 IU, Vitamin C: 44.1 mg, Calcium: 70 mg, Iron: 3.2 mg
Author: Chef Jessica Anne
Calories: 807
Course: Main Dish, Side Dish
Cuisine: Chinese
Keyword: fried rice recipe, pineapple fried rice
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!
collage of pineapple fried rice
Jessica Formicola in her ktichen

About the Author

Chef Jessica Anne Formicola

Jessica the mom, wife and chef behind Savory Experiments. You might see her on the Emmy- nominated TV show Plate It! or on bookshelves as a cookbook author. Jessica is a Le Cordon Bleu certified recipe developer and regularly contributed to Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal, Mashed and more!

Read More About Jessica

4.84 from 12 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Questions and Reviews

  1. 5 stars
    Super delicious and much healthier than take out! The sweet fresh pineapple really does it for me!

  2. 5 stars
    This rice was just wonderful – I made it for my grandkids and I had zero leftovers, once they had a taste. They’re already asking for it again 🙂

  3. 5 stars
    We love fried rice, but had never tried this version. It was so good! The pineapple makes it so juicy and fresh!

  4. 5 stars
    I love the sweet & savory flavor combination of pineapple fried rice. This was so delicious!

  5. 5 stars
    Super delicious and so easy to make too, the best fried rice I’ve ever made! Everyone loved it, and no leftovers to prove it! Thank you!

  6. 5 stars
    I loved this! I decided to try it with the coconut lime rice recipe, and OH MY GOODNESS!!! My kids, husband, and myself included could not stop eating it (which did not help my diet…lol). Thanks so much for sharing; I’m adding it to my meal rotation!!

  7. 5 stars
    I had some extra pineapple to use so I made this fried rice for dinner and it was a winner! My husband asked me to add it to the regular rotation!