• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Hint of Healthy
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Air Fryer
    • Instant Pot
    • Slow Cooker
    • Collections
  • Cooking Skills
  • About
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • All Recipes
  • Air Fryer
  • Instant Pot
  • Slow Cooker
  • Subscribe
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • All Recipes
    • Air Fryer
    • Instant Pot
    • Slow Cooker
    • Subscribe
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Rice

    Tuna Fried Rice

    Posted: Sep 6, 2020 · Updated: Sep 4, 2020 by Tonje

    Jump to Recipe

    This easy tuna fried rice is packed with flavor and beautiful colors - perfect as a side dish or main course.

    Tuna fried rice in bowls.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Top tips
    • Serving suggestions
    • Variations
    • Leftovers
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Recipe

    This post may contain affiliate links. Read more about it in the privacy policy.

    If you're anything like me, there's a good chance that you have rice and tuna in your pantry at any given point in time. They are such great staples, and such life savers for those days you simply forgot to plan or buy dinner.

    Tuna fried rice is to me the perfect dish to make for quick and easy lunches. It's so easy to throw together a batch of it, it's healthy and filling, and I always have the ingredients readily available.

    If you love this recipe, you should make sure to check out my collection of rice recipes, including dill rice and kimchi fried rice.

    Ingredients

    For this recipe you will need canned tuna, carrots, peas, scallions (spring onions), garlic, cooked rice, soy sauce, sesame oil and rice vinegar.

    I like to use frozen peas and frozen sliced carrots. These can be defrosted in minutes by soaking them in boiled water from your kettle, or by popping them in a microwave. You can also just finely chop raw carrots.

    💡 TIP! You can omit, substitute or add any vegetables you like. Feel free to use your favorite veggies, or whatever you have at the back of your fridge.

    Tuna Fried Rice Ingredients.

    Instructions

    Heat up the sesame oil in a wok or skillet on high heat. Add the cooked rice and grated or finely chopped garlic, and stir fry for a few minutes.

    Rice in a wok.

    Add soy sauce, rice vinegar, drained canned tuna, peas and finely chopped carrots. Stir fry for another few minutes until all the ingredients have cooked through.

    Fried rice with carrots, peas and tuna in a wok.

    Serve the tuna fried rice with chopped fresh scallions, and any other toppings that you like such as sliced chili or roasted sesame seeds.

    Close up of a bowl with tuna fried rice.

    Top tips

    • Leave the vegetables to sautee enough for them to cook through.
    • You must use rice that has already been boiled. You can use freshly cooked rice, or use leftovers from last night's dinner.
    • Make sure you drain the tuna thoroughly before use.
    A bowl of fried rice with tuna, carrots, peas and chili.

    Serving suggestions

    • Chinese Garlic Green Beans - these green beans are a fantastic side to pair with the fried rice.
    • Sriracha or sweet chili sauce - this dish is even better with sauce on top.
    • Add a fried egg on top.
    Colorful fried rice with tuna.

    Variations

    You can vary this dish endlessly by adding other vegetables, using other sauces, or different types of rice. Here are some of my favorite alternatives:

    Spicy: Add fresh sliced chili and a tablespoon of sriracha.

    Extra veg: Add some peppers, broccoli, sugar snap peas, onions or mushrooms.

    Other fish: You can use canned mackerel, salmon or sardines instead of tuna.

    Stir fry sauces: Add your favorite stir fry sauce, such as sweet chili, teriyaki or black bean sauce.

    Fried rice in blue bowls.

    Leftovers

    Store leftover tuna fried rice in a refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat it in a microwave before serving.

    I love to make this easy dish as a meal prep for a week's worth of lunches. I make a big batch, and store it in portion sizes. Every morning I can simply grab a container of fried rice, put it in my bag, and be off to work.

    Three bowls of fried rice.

    Frequently asked questions

    What is the best rice to use in fried rice?

    Fried rice is made with cooked long grain rice, such as Basmati rice or Jasmine rice.

    Do you have to boil rice before frying it?

    Yes. You will have to boil rice before frying it for fried rice. Ideally, you want to use slightly less water than usual, to make the grains of rice slightly dry.

    Recipe

    Tuna Fried Rice.

    Tuna Fried Rice

    This easy tuna fried rice is packed with flavor and beautiful colors – perfect as a side dish or main course.
    No ratings yet
    Created by: Tonje
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Course Dinner, lunch
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 359 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 cups cooked rice (945 ml / 750 g)
    • 7 oz drained canned tuna (2 145g or 5 oz cans, drained)
    • 1 cup frozen peas (150 g)
    • 1 cup frozen carrot slices (or use 250 g fresh carrots)
    • 2 tablespoons sesame oil
    • 2 teaspoons soy sauce
    • 2 teaspoons rice vinegar
    • 2 garlic cloves
    • 2 scallions (spring onions)

    Instructions
     

    • Heat up the sesame oil in a wok or skillet on high heat. Add the cooked rice and grated or finely chopped garlic, and stir fry for a few minutes.
    • Add soy sauce, rice vinegar, drained canned tuna, peas and finely chopped carrots. Stir fry for another few minutes until all the ingredients have cooked through.
    • Serve the tuna fried rice with chopped fresh scallions, and any other toppings that you like such as sliced chili or roasted sesame seeds.

    Video

    Notes

    • Leave the vegetables to sautee enough for them to cook through.
    • You must use rice that has already been boiled. You can use freshly cooked rice, or use leftovers from last night’s dinner.
    • Make sure you drain the tuna thoroughly before use.
    • Store leftover tuna fried rice in a refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat it in a microwave before serving.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 359kcalCarbohydrates: 54gProtein: 17gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 317mgPotassium: 352mgFiber: 4gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 5711IUVitamin C: 18mgCalcium: 51mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword carrot, peas, rice, sesame oil, tuna
    Tried this recipe?Mention @hintofhealthyfood or tag #hintofhealthy!

    More Easy Rice Recipes

    • Instant Pot Butternut Squash Risotto.
      Instant Pot Butternut Squash Risotto
    • Smoked haddock risotto on a plate.
      Smoked Haddock Risotto
    • A bowl of homemade nandos spicy rice with peas and peppers.
      Nando's Spicy Rice (Copycat)
    • Chicken and chorizo risotto on a plate.
      Chicken and Chorizo Risotto

    Latest Recipes

    Swede mash in a bowl, garnished with parsley.

    Swede Mash (Rutabaga)

    Gammon joint in air fryer.

    Air Fryer Gammon

    Instant Pot Ham and Beans.

    Instant Pot Ham and Beans

    Sauteed sweet potatoes on a plate.

    Sauteed Sweet Potatoes

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Carole

      March 11, 2022 at 7:43 am

      I am really looking forward to trying this. Thinking of both oriental foods and the things normally cooked with tuna, I plan to add mushrooms, celery, broccoli, pimentos, and Worcestershire sauce to replace 1 tsp of the soy sauce. I must use very low salt and am pleased with how low salt it already is. I also love oriental vegetables. I use brown rice. If you have any suggestions about all of this I would appreciate your guidance.

      Reply
      • Tonje

        May 08, 2022 at 11:12 am

        Those additions all sound fantastic! Let me know how it turns out 🙂

        Reply

    Leave a comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Tonje! I make easy and healthy everyday recipes that your family will love. Browse my recipe collection to discover new favorites, and make sure to let me know what you think!

    More about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • Close up picture of air fried eggplant fries.
      Air Fryer Eggplant
    • Mediterranean Roast Vegetables
      Mediterranean Roast Vegetables
    • Two thin pancakes with walnuts on a plate.
      Crepes with Almond Milk
    • Sliced pork with crackling.
      Air Fryer Pork Roast
    • Slow Cooker Beef Stew.
      Slow Cooker Beef Stew
    • Air Fryer Tilapia.
      Air Fryer Tilapia

    As Seen In

    Hint of healthy as seen in

    Footer


    2022 © Hint of Healthy Privacy Policy Disclaimer Contact About