Egg Roll in a Bowl is the best of both worlds – an egg roll and fried rice, all in one spot. This weeknight meal will take less than 30 minutes to get to the table and it sure to be hit with everyone. Egg roll fried rice is the perfect weeknight meal and comes together in a snap.
When I was a kid, Chinese food was my all-time favorite food. If my dad – a single dad stuck with 2 teenage kids and zero cooking skills – would give me free reign to choose takeout for dinner, I always chose our favorite local Chinese food restaurant. It’s still one of my favorite foods – give me lo mien and sesame chicken any day of the week and I’ll be one happy lady.
Luckily, the boys (Alex included!) enjoy it as well. While we occasionally get take out, we tend to make our own at home more and more often these days. It’s a more cost-efficient way to enjoy the food you love and there is no packing the kids up to go pick it up or paying a driver a tip for delivery.
As you probably know by now, I’m a big fan of sneaking veggies into foods my boys already love, which is how this Egg Roll Fried Rice – or egg roll in a bowl – came about. Ryan and Owen love rice but aren’t always willing to go for veggies. I love serving up fried rice because so long as I chop the veggies up small, they either a. don’t even notice they’re eating vegetables or b. are forced to eat them because picking out tiny veggie pieces between rice grains is kind of totally impossible. So it’s a win-win for me.
Okay, it’s a win-win-lose, because oh my goodness, the mess those boys make when they eat rice is kind of obscene.
Anyway, when I first made this egg roll in a bowl, it was because I was craving an egg roll but knew there was no way I would have the time or patience to roll up egg rolls for everyone. So instead, I used our beloved fried rice as a vehicle to cure my craving – and man, was that an amazing idea.
Egg roll in a bowl takes your two Chinese food takeout favorites – egg rolls and fried rice – and mixes them into one family please, veggie packed dinner. The pork and cabbage mixture you typically find in egg rolls is cooked up along with your normal fried rice ingredients in a one pan dinner sure to please.
It’s also super customizable – switch up the frozen veggies – the boys love peas and corn but really anything smaller (or chopped) would work, so spinach or chopped broccoli would also be a perfect addition. Leave out the eggs, add-in extra, use brown rice instead of white rice, add even more coleslaw mix to increase the veggie to rice ratio, omit the meat, try beef – whatever works for your family, try it!
Want to sneak in more veggies?
A win in our house is using riced cauliflower in substitution for some of the rice. My kids never know, since it doesn’t add must taste, but the veggie impact is huge. Cook it in when you’re adding in the cabbage.
Want to get the kids involved?
While I can’t recommend the kids help with the cookie aspect, they can definitely help with prep. Scrambling eggs, helping to peel ginger (with a spoon!) or using a food chopper to cut the garlic or onion is a great way to get the kids helping.
Tips for making an egg roll in a bowl
- Start with less soy sauce – you can always add more, but you can’t take it back out.
- Add the rice with the coleslaw if you’d prefer crisper coleslaw. My kids tend to pick at it if it’s crisper, so I like to allow the coleslaw to wilt a bit before adding in the rice.
- Only use a tiny bit of sesame oil – the taste is very strong!
- If you want to bump up the veggie ratio even more, substitute half of the rice for rice cauliflower. Add after the meat is cooked through and cook one 1-2 minutes before adding the coleslaw.
- Use day old or cooled rice when making fried rice!
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We received a huge stainless steel pan like this one when we moved into our house and use it at least once a day. It’s big enough for a huge bath of Mexican fried rice, but also oven safe so you can toss the whole pan in the oven to keep it warm.
Egg Roll Fried Rice
Egg Roll in a Bowl is the best of both worlds - an egg roll and fried rice, all in one spot. This weeknight meal will take less than 30 minutes to get to the table and it sure to be hit with everyone.
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 3 cups cooled, cooked rice
- 1 package of coleslaw mix (see notes)
- .5 cup frozen peas
- .5 cup frozen corn
- .5 onion diced
- 4-5 garlic cloves minced
- 1 inch of ginger peeled and grated
- 1 dash of sesame oil optional
- .25 cup soy sauce more or less to taste
- 1 pound ground pork or beef
- 1 tbs of lime or rice wine vinegar
Instructions
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Scramble eggs with about a teaspoon of soy sauce and cook in a pan with a little oil. Set aside.
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Add ground pork to a large pan over medium heat. As the pork begins to render, add in the onion, garlic, and ginger. When the pork is cooked through, drain all but 2 tablespoons of oil.
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Add lime juice or vinegar and coleslaw and saute with the pork mix. If you wish to have crisper cabbage, also add in the rice at this point. If not, cook 2-3 minutes before adding rice, cooked egg and sesame oil.
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Stir often to avoid sticking for about 1-2 minutes until the rice is heated through, and then add 2 tablespoons of soy sauce. Taste and add more if needed.
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In the final minute, add frozen veggies. Once heated through, remove from heat and serve with sesame seeds.
Recipe Notes
-If you wish to avoid bagged coleslaw mix, 3-4 cups of finely sliced cabbage and some julienned carrots.
-Be careful with the soy sauce - start small and add more as necessary.
So tell me – What’s your favorite combination of foods? Favorite spin on an old favorite? Let me know in the comments!
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Kristina @ Ms.Modify says
This sounds really good! I’m a big fan of one dish meals, so I for sure need to try this!
xo, Kristina
Morgan says
It’s SO good! And 1 million yes’s to one dish meals. I do not have the time or patience for all of those dishes!
Gretchen Solomon says
these look easy enough for me!!!
Morgan says
It’s beyond easy! I swear anyone can do it!
Kristy @ Southern In Law says
I’ve got to make this for Jesse! Egg rolls used to be one of his favourite foods but since you can’t buy them here (or we haven’t been able to find them!), he hasn’t had one in ages!
Morgan says
Seriously so good. It tastes just like the insides of a good egg roll!
Robyn @ Simply Fresh Dinners says
Great recipe, Morgan. I love a dish that’s so versatile and you can make your own. Leftover veggies and shrimp are what I always seem to have on hand so I’ll have fun with this one. Great to land on your beautiful blog!
Morgan says
Leftovers are the PERFECT filling for fried rice!! Thanks for stopping by, Robyn!
Nicole @ Blunders and Absurdities Blog says
Looks great, I have the ingredients on my grocery list for tomorrow! Favorite combination of foods…ice cream + anything crunchy?
Morgan says
Oh, I hope you enjoy it!! Thanks Nicole!
Psychic Nest says
Hi Morgan,
This looks like a delicious recipe! I already have the ingredients so I will make it tonight. Thank you!
Zaria
Morgan says
Oh, let me know how you like it!! It’s a new favorite around here!
Heather @ Polyglot Jot says
Yum! I love egg rolls but cant eat them anymore with the whole gluten probs. This will be a lifesaver for my egg roll cravings!! 😀
Morgan says
hahah yes! I’ve actually made it with Tamari as well, so good!!
Charlene Asay says
I love fried rice. This recipe looks great. You should link up at Family Joy Blog Link Up Party. Check it out http://thinking-outside-the-pot.com/?p=2407
Morgan says
Thanks Charlene, it’s SO good!
Amberjane says
Looks very tasty – thanks for sharing your recipe with Pin worthy Wednesday Morgan
Morgan says
Thank, Amberjane!
Sandra Garth says
Using the coleslaw mix makes this so much easier. This is going to be good!
Morgan says
It really does! I love shortcuts like this!
Suzie@Suziesview says
Ok so happy to find this at the hop. This is amazing girl! love it! Pinning this ekkkkkkk 🙂
Morgan says
I’m so glad you like it, Suzie!!
Cara says
This looks incredible! I love fried rice so much!
Morgan says
It’s such a perfect, easy meal – how could one not love it!
Danita Carr says
Yum! This sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing! #SmallVictories
Morgan says
It’s delicious! Thanks for stopping by, Danita!
Jenny Kavanagh says
I am going to have to try this!!
-Jenny
Joy @ Joy Love Food says
I love egg rolls and fried rice, this sounds amazing!