Thai Pineapple Fried Rice

A delicious and authentic Thai Pineapple Fried Rice is simple to make and will be on your table in just a few minutes!

This easy to follow recipe for a copycat version of your favorite Thai takeout dish is perfect for busy weeknights and easy to customize with your favorite veggies and proteins too.

I enjoy the occasional takeout meal, and when we order from the Thai restaurant nearby, I always choose Pineapple Fried Rice.

There’s just something so satisfying and delicious about the salty, savory Thai flavors cut with the sweetness of lightly caramelized pineapple. I can’t get enough!

So of course I had to learn how to make it at home. Don’t tell the nice people at my Thai place, but I think that my version of this classic dish is even more tasty!

The method for this recipe is similar to my Better than Take Out Shrimp Fried Rice. It’s super easy!

If you enjoy Thai food, you’ll also want to learn how to make my Thai Basil Chicken, Instant Pot Chicken Pad Thai, Thai Red Curry with Chicken, Thai Fish Curry, Thai Beef Stir Fry, and Creamy Peanut Noodles with Chicken.

Thai Pineapple Fried Rice Recipe Highlights

• Quick Cooking – Once you get started, this recipe comes together in a skillet in about 8 minutes! You can use a wok as well, but it’s not necessary.
• Traditional Flavors – This might not be a fully traditional Thai recipe, but the flavors are definitely here. Soy, ginger, and garlic make the most delicious sauce for fried rice.
• Versatile Recipe – Once you have this simple stir fry recipe down, you can play around with the flavors and ingredients to make all types of different versions of homemade fried rice. Try adding something spicy like sriracha, change out the vegetables, or add protein like chicken, tofu, or pork next time.

Key Ingredients

Here’s what you need to make this Thai rice specialty at home:

Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

• Rice: You will want to have pre-cooked rice. Ideally, you cooked the rice yesterday and have it in the fridge, cold. Thai cooking uses long-grain rice rather than short-grain, so try this with regular white rice or jasmine rice.
• Pineapple: I’m using fresh pineapple cut into small bite-sized chunks. Canned pineapple tidbits also work well, just be sure to drain the fruit well before using it.
• Eggs: Scrambled eggs add protein to the dish, making it a full meal all by itself! You can skip the eggs to make this meal vegan if you’d like.
• Sauce: I’m using very simple ingredients to make the sauce for this fried rice. While traditional Thai cooking would probably include oyster sauce and/or fish sauce, my version uses soy sauce, and is seasoned with garlic and ginger. This means that you can make this dish without a special trip to the store!
• Veggies: Diced red bell peppers, green onion, and frozen peas.
• Cashews: I love the crunch that these add to the dish!

How To Make Pineapple Fried Rice:

Recipe Tips

• Cold rice works best. Leftovers are ideal for stir frying, since cold rice won’t clump together. Cook the rice in advance if you can.
• Add some spice. Serve with a drizzle of sriracha, or add some chili garlic sauce to the pan with the soy sauce. As written, this recipe is fairly mild, so feel free to add a kick!
• Don’t overcook the eggs. Add the rice to the pan while the eggs are still a bit soft. They will continue to cook as you finish the dish.
• Use other veggies. Frozen mixed vegetables are easy to add in at the end. This recipe will also be tasty with broccoli, green beans, or sauteed mushrooms.

Storing Tips

I prefer to enjoy this fried rice right away after making it, but you can store leftovers in the fridge for up to three days.

You can also freeze fried rice for up to three months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating.

When reheating in the microwave, you may want to add a small sprinkle of water, as rice tends to dry out in the fridge.

What To Serve With Thai Pineapple Fried Rice

If you want to make this pineapple cashew fried rice into a heartier meal, try it with a delicious Asian-inspired chicken dish!

Honey Lime Chicken, Honey Soy Chicken Thighs, or Glazed Apricot Chicken Thighs are all sweet and spicy and simple to make.

You might also enjoy Firecracker Chicken Meatballs or Bang Bang Chicken Skewers!

Tired of chicken? Try adding sauteed shrimp or cooked roast pork to your fried rice instead.

Recipe FAQs

What can I use instead of pineapple?

Another way to add sweetness to this Thai fried rice recipe is to use golden raisins. Soak them in water for 30 minutes to plump them up and then add them in at the end.

How can I make this recipe more authentic?

Instead of just soy sauce, add a tablespoon of oyster sauce or a tablespoon of Thai chili paste.

Is this recipe gluten free?

If you use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari in place of the soy sauce, it will be!

What type of rice is best for fried rice?

Use any type of long-grain rice for this recipe. You can use white rice, brown rice, or jasmine rice to make Thai fried rice.

Can I make fried rice with freshly cooked rice?

I don’t recommend it. Using day-old rice is ideal as it’s dryer and less likely to to be clumpy. Try to plan ahead and cook the rice a day or two before you want to cook this Thai fried pineapple rice recipe.

More Thai Inspired Recipes

Thai Beef Stir Fry (Pad Kra Pao)

Instant Pot Chicken Pad Thai

Thai Chicken Pizza

Thai Curry Soup with Chicken

All Asian Recipes →

This easy recipe for Thai Pineapple Fried rice can be ready in less than 20 minutes, so it’s the perfect meal for a busy weeknight!

Save this recipe (Pin it!) for the next time you have a craving for Thai food but don’t want to order in.

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Recipe

5 from 3 votes

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Thai Pineapple Fried Rice

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 8 minutes mins

Total Time: 23 minutes mins

Author: Diana

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Print Rate Recipe

Thai Pineapple Fried Rice is simple to make with common ingredients. It's a mild, sweet, and savory recipe that the whole family will enjoy!

6 Servings

Thai Pineapple Fried Rice is simple to make with common ingredients. It's a mild, sweet, and savory recipe that the whole family will enjoy!

Recipe Video

Equipment

• 12-inch non stick skillet

Ingredients 

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• ▢ 2 tablespoons (30 ml) vegetable oil
• ▢ 1 medium red bell pepper diced
• ▢ 4 green onions sliced, white and green parts separated
• ▢ 2 cloves garlic minced
• ▢ 2 teaspoons fresh grated ginger
• ▢ 2 large eggs beaten with a pinch of salt
• ▢ 3 cups (600 g) cooked rice cold, one-day old rice, I used jasmine
• ▢ 1 ½ tablespoons (22 ml) soy sauce
• ▢ 1 ½ cups (250 g) fresh pineapple chunks or canned, drained pineapple
• ▢ ½ cup (70 g) cashews raw
• ▢ ¼ cup (40 g) peas fresh or frozen

Instructions 

• Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a 12-inch (30 cm) pan over medium heat. Add the bell pepper, white parts of the green onions, garlic, and ginger, and cook for 2 minutes.
• Push the vegetables to the sides, and add the beaten eggs to the center of the pan. Cook without stirring until they just begin to set (20 seconds). Then, scramble with a spatula to break them up into smaller pieces (30 seconds). The eggs should be soft but not fully cooked.
• In the same pan, add cooked rice (breaking up any clumps before adding them) and soy sauce. Stir and cook until the rice is heated through (3 minutes).
• Add pineapple chunks, cashews, peas, and the green parts of the green onion. Stir to combine, taste the rice, and adjust seasoning if needed (salt or soy sauce).
• Remove from heat, and serve immediately.

Notes:

• Be sure to have all of your ingredients chopped and ready before you start cooking. This recipe happens fast! You won’t have time to chop things as you go.
• Cold rice works best. Leftovers are ideal for stir-frying, since cold rice won’t clump together. Cook the rice in advance if you can.
• Add some spice. Serve with a drizzle of sriracha, or add some chili garlic sauce to the pan with the soy sauce.
• Don’t overcook the eggs. Add the rice to the pan while the eggs are still a bit soft. They will continue to cook as you finish the dish.
• Use other veggies. Frozen mixed vegetables are easy to add in at the end. This recipe is also tasty with broccoli, green beans, or sauteed mushrooms.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 279kcal, Carbohydrates: 38g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 0.04g, Cholesterol: 62mg, Sodium: 281mg, Potassium: 287mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 11g, Vitamin A: 867IU, Vitamin C: 35mg, Calcium: 42mg, Iron: 2mg

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

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