This One Pan Nasi Goreng (Indonesian Fried Rice) is made with chicken and Chinese sausage for a flavorful sweet and savory bite. We fry the rice using day old rice to make this 20 minute classic meal!
🔍 Quick Look: Nasi Goreng (Indonesian Fried Rice) Recipe
- What is it? Nasi goreng is a super flavorful chicken fried rice with sweetness from kecap manis and spiciness from the thai chilis. Served with fresh lime to balance the sweet and seafood flavor.
- Why you’ll love this recipe: This quick one pan recipe is easy to throw everything together and tastes just like authentic Indonesian fried rice
- 🕒 Total Cook Time: 20 minutes
- 🔥 Cook Method: Fry the chicken and rice in one pan or wok for an unbelievable weeknight meal!
- Skill Level: Easy.
- 👩🍳 Flavor Profile: Savory, a little sweet, umami from the fish sauce and Chinese sausage
- ⭐ Difficulty: Easy and little dishes!
Summarize & Save this content on:
What is Nasi Goreng?
Nasi goreng is a popular Indonesian fried rice dish made with day-old rice and stir-fried with seafood and/or chicken. The aromatic flavor comes from a special sweet soy known as kecap manis. This popular dish is commonly served as street food or made at home across Southeast Asian.
The smokey flavor of the rice pairs well with a sunny side egg or some chicken satay (like this Air Fryer Chicken Skewers). I like to serve with freshly cut cucumber and sliced tomatoes to cut the fattiness of the sausage.
If you’re craving more Asian fried rice recipes, don’t miss my kimchi fried rice and golden fried rice—both are packed with flavor and satisfy your fried rice cravings!
Ingredients
Here’s a look at what you need to make this Nasi Goreng. The highlights are here but the full ingredient list and quantities of each are in the recipe card.
- Cooked white rice – day old rice works best because the rice stays dry and smoky when fried. I use jasmine rice (the most authentic), but short grain rice or even brown rice works for this dish!
- Chinese sausage – this adds so much saltiness and flavor to your rice. You can find this at asian grocery stores even Costco!
- Chicken breast – slice the chicken breast thinly and saute quickly so the meat isn’t dry (1 minute MAX). You can substitute the protein with shrimp or use chicken thigh!
- Sweet soy sauce is known as kecap manis is a must have for authentic flavor. The brand I use is ABC sauces listed in the photo above. The texture is thicker and has a more sweet flavor that salty compared to regular soy sauce. Find this at your local asian grocery store in the soy sauce aisle.
- Fish sauce – this adds umami to the sauce without over seasoning the rice. You can also substitute with soy sauce as well. Don’t worry the fish sauce won’t make your rice taste fishy at all.
- Fresh aromatics such as fresh onion, garlic, green onion and thai chilis is needed to make your rice extra fragrant. This is why this Indonesian fried rice is so popular!
- Lime – freshly squeezed lime juice balances the sweetness of the sausage and the sweet soy sauce. A little bit of acidity also complements the thai chilis as well!
How to Make Nasi Goreng
Step 1. Slice Chinese sausage thinly. Then, slice your chicken breast in 3 inch thin pieces.
Step 2. Chop your onion and garlic.
Step 3. In a pan, heat on medium high. When the pan is hot, add 1 tablespoon oil and your chicken breast. Add some salt.
Step 4. Cook your chicken for 1 minute and set aside. It doesn’t have to be perfectly cooked because we will cook it again later.
Step 5. In the same pan, add your onions and garlic and fry for one minute.
Step 6. Then add your rice and chicken sausage in the pan. Break up any pieces and cook for 3 minutes until there are no clumps.
Step 7. Add your cooked chicken, fish sauce, and sweet soy sauce. Mix together quickly so the soy sauce doesn’t burn the rice.
Step 8. Turn off the heat and garnish with sliced green onions and thai chilis. Enjoy with freshly squeezed lime, sliced cucumber and tomatoes. If you have extra time, fry a sunny side egg.
Substitutions and Variations
- Protein swap. Instead of chicken breast, you can use shrimp or extra firm tofu. Just remember to adjust the cooking time.
- Add more veggies! If you want to make this vegetarian, skip the Chinese sausage, chicken, and fish sauce. Add mushrooms, cabbage or even bell peppers! Add the vegetables during the time when you saute the chicken.
- Spice level. Adjust the heat by adding more or less Thai chili depending on your spice preference. You can also add sambal (spicy Southeast Asian chili paste) to the fried rice as well.
Expert Tips
- Use day-old rice. Cold, leftover rice works best because it’s firmer and won’t turn mushy when stir-fried. Freshly cooked rice tends to clump together and make your rice more mushy.
- Prep everything first. This one pan fried rice Nasi Goreng cooks fast, so have all your ingredients chopped, sauces measured, and ready to go before you start.
- High heat is key. Cooking over medium-high to high heat gives you that signature smoky “wok hei” flavor that makes fried rice so irresistible.
- Add that sunny side egg for that extra ‘oomph’ to your Nasi Goreng. The extra creamy yolk coats the texture of the rice so nicely.
Recipe FAQs
Yes you can, but day-old rice works best because it’s drier and won’t clump together when stir-fried.
You can swap it with ham (like spam) or even smoked sausage for a similar savory-sweet flavor.
This Indonesian fried rice recipe (Nasi Goreng) pairs well with simple sides like Chinese Cabbage Stir-Fry and Lotus Root Cakes. You can also serve it with Carrot Ribbon Salad for a refreshing crunch. Some prawn crackers on the side adds extra texture and makes it feel like a complete meal.
Check Out More Easy Asian Fried Rice Dishes:
Did you try this recipe? Leave a ⭐️ rating below and share it on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest!
One Pan Nasi Goreng (Indonesian Fried Rice)
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked white rice (day old rice works best!)
- 1 Chinese sausage
- 1 chicken breast
- 1 tablespoon oil
- ½ tablespoon sweet soy sauce (kecap manis)
- ½ tablespoon fish sauce (add more if you like it savory!)
- ½ teaspoon salt (for the chicken)
- 1 small onion chopped
- 2 garlic minced
- 1 green onion sliced
- 1 red eye thai chili sliced (optional)
Optional Garnishes
- lime
- cucumber
- tomato
- fried sunny side eggs
Instructions
- Slice Chinese sausage thinly. Then, slice your chicken breast in 3 inch thin pieces.
- Chop your onion and garlic.
- In a pan, heat on medium high. When the pan is hot, add 1 tablespoon oil and your chicken breast. Add some salt.
- Cook your chicken for 1 minute and set aside. It doesn’t have to be perfectly cooked because we will cook it again later.
- In the same pan, add your onions and garlic and fry for one minute.
- Then add your rice and chicken sausage in the pan. Break up any pieces and cook for 3 minutes until there are no clumps.
- Add your cooked chicken, fish sauce, and sweet soy sauce. Mix together quickly so the soy sauce doesn’t burn the rice.
- Turn off the heat and garnish with sliced green onions and thai chilis. Enjoy with freshly squeezed lime, sliced cucumber and tomatoes. If you have extra time, fry a sunny side egg.
Notes
- Use day-old rice. Cold, leftover rice works best because it’s firmer and won’t turn mushy when stir-fried. Freshly cooked rice tends to clump together and make your rice more mushy.
- Prep everything first. This one pan fried rice Nasi Goreng cooks fast, so have all your ingredients chopped, sauces measured, and ready to go before you start.
- High heat is key. Cooking over medium-high to high heat gives you that signature smoky “wok hei” flavor that makes fried rice so irresistible.
- Add that sunny side egg for that extra ‘oomph’ to your Nasi Goreng. The extra creamy yolk coats the texture of the rice so nicely.
Leave a Reply