One of my best friends recently threw a fried chicken party (Happy Birthday Samantha!) and went all out, catering a massive spread of fried chicken and all the fixings from Ezell’s. There was so much fried chicken that everyone went home with a generous share of leftovers. Staring at my take-home box, I was reminded of a viral food trend from a few years back: Rice Cooker Fried Chicken and Rice. Now, I will say that I don’t typically follow viral food trends, but this one has become one of our favorites for how tasty and easy it is. It’s an incredibly simple yet delicious way to transform leftover fried chicken into a flavorful, comforting meal, all with minimal effort. If you’ve got leftover fried chicken in your fridge, this is your sign to try this viral recipe!
How Did This Recipe Become So Viral?
This clever recipe took the internet by storm for its sheer simplicity and genius use of leftovers. The Japanese publication Get News published an article in December 2019 detailing how to make this dish, and soon after, the trend caught fire on TikTok. People were amazed at how effortlessly the fried chicken infused flavor into the rice, leading to countless recreations and adaptations. It originated from the idea that fried chicken already packs so much flavor—why not let that flavor infuse into rice as it cooks? The concept quickly gained traction, with home cooks raving about how easy and delicious it was. Since then, many variations have surfaced, but the core of the recipe remains the same: rice, water, seasonings, and leftover fried chicken. Let the rice cooker do the work, and you’ll have a comforting meal with almost no cleanup.
Why You’ll Love This Rice Cooker Fried Chicken and Rice
Minimal Effort, Maximum Flavor: The fried chicken seasons the rice as it cooks, infusing it with all its delicious flavors. By adding a few aromatics and seasonings, we really maximize the punch.
Perfect for Leftovers: Got day-old fried chicken? This recipe gives it a second life in the most delicious way.
One-Pot Wonder: Everything cooks in a single rice cooker, making cleanup a breeze.
Pro Tip: Use Dark Meat!
Now, I actually had to use white meat because that is what I had left over, but for the best results, use dark meat (like thighs or drumsticks) over white meat instead! Dark meat stays juicy and tender during the cooking process, ensuring that your final dish is packed with flavor and moisture.
This viral rice cooker fried chicken and rice perfectly transforms leftovers into something comforting, easy, and packed with umami. Whether you’re reliving the trend or trying it for the first time, you’re in for a treat!
Viral Rice Cooker Fried Chicken and Rice
4-5
servings5
minutes25
minutesIngredients
- For the Rice:
2 Cups 2 Uncooked Jasmine Rice
2 Cups 2 Water
2 2 -3 Pieces Leftover Fried Chicken (Preferably Dark Meat)
1 Tbsp 1 Soy Sauce
1 Tbsp 1 Chicken Bouillon
1 Piece 1 Sliced Ginger
1 Tbsp 1 Minced Garlic
1 1 Tsp Sesame Oil
- For Garnish:
Green Onions
Crispy Chicken Skin (Optional)
Directions
- Prepare the Rice:
- Wash and rinse 2 cups of uncooked jasmine rice 3-4 times, or until the water runs mostly clear. Add the rice to your rice cooker
- Pour in 2 cups of water and add 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of chicken bouillon, a slice of ginger, 1 tablespoon of minced garlic, and 1 teaspoon of sesame oil. Stir well to ensure the seasonings are evenly distributed
- Remove the skin from the fried chicken and set it aside for later. Place the chicken pieces on top of the rice
- Cook: Set your rice cooker to the standard white rice mode and let it do its magic
- Once the rice is done cooking, remove the chicken, debone it, and shred the meat. Add it back into the rice cooker and mix everything thoroughly
- Crisp Up the Chicken Skin: (Optional)
- While the rice is cooking, air fry the reserved chicken skin at 350°F for 2-3 minutes or until crispy. This will be used as a crunchy topping
- Serve:
- Scoop the chicken and rice into a bowl, then top with crispy chicken skin and chopped green onions. Enjoy!
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