Corn Fried Rice Recipe

Updated: August 19, 2023, By Swasthi

Corn Rice! Sweet corn kernels in fried rice? I say why not! Though few people would refuse a plate of steaming hot Fried Rice, it’s our absolute favorite at home. A hearty meal with a good mix of proteins and vegetables, this Chinese Corn Rice dish is a crowd favorite, especially with kids. Fried rice is one of those versatile dishes with a seemingly long list of variations. This recipe gives the popular vegetable fried rice a new twist with the addition of corn kernels – fresh or frozen.

Corn fried rice made with precooked rice and corn kernels



Add a tasty side like Manchurian or tofu chili or even a dry panner dish and you have great meal option.

Before fried rice become available in literally every street corner of the world, it was best enjoyed at select restaurants serving Chinese food or prepared at home from a cookbook.

Ever wondered why fried rice – Asian soul food is popular with kids and adults?
The smoky flavor from hot wok. The hot-sour-salty tang from soy and chili sauce makes the dish so tempting.

About Corn Rice

Corn Rice is simply a Chinese style stir fried rice variety made with pre-cooked rice, sweet corn kernels, soya sauce and black pepper. To keep the dish vegetarian I have not added eggs here. But sweet corn and soft scrambled eggs! Imagine how delicious that sounds! Right?

If you eat eggs, give that combo a try and I am sure kids and adults will love it alike. I have the instructions for that in the Recipe notes below.

This an healthy meal ready in 30 minutes or less, we know it’s a fried rice dish all right, but with some tweaks that enrich it and provide a new flavor profile.

While the vegetables and rice get the smoky touch from the high flame, we use green chili for the extra heat, regular onions add some sweetness and substitute the sesame oil with any healthier oil of your choice or even with butter.

The fresh herbs add a lot of refreshing flavor, while the apple cider vinegar adds a sweet and tart taste to the corn rice.

Ingredients

Cooked Rice: For this recipe, you will need al dente cooked rice. We do not want mushy or sticky rice here. We want the rice grains in the dish to be separate and fluffy. You may cook rice in a pot, electric cooker or an Instant pot. I detail the instructions here on this post – Fried rice recipe.

I have used basmati rice but any other non-sticky rice goes well.

Sweet corn kernels: You can use fresh corn on the cob or frozen corn. If using corn on the cob, you have to boil the corn cob first until the kernels turn tender and then separate the kernels from the cob. I prefer to use the frozen ones as it is easier and quicker option.

More similar recipes
Rice Recipes
Sweet Corn Pakoda
Sweet Corn Soup
Corn Chaat
Sweet Corn Cutlet
Corn Cheese Sandwich

Photo Guide

How to make Corn Rice (Stepwise Photos)

1. Rinse bell peppers, green chilli and onions under running water. Chop the bell peppers, slice the green chilli and onions. You will need about

  • 2 garlic cloves fine chopped
  • ¾ cup chopped bell peppers/ capsicum
  • 1 medium onion thin sliced
  • 2 tablespoons of fresh herbs of choice. I use celery, mint or coriander, basically any of these I have.

2. If using corn on the cob, boil the corncob until the kernels are tender. Then with a knife remove the kernels. I prefer to use frozen corn for convenience. You also need cooled grainy cooked rice.

3. Heat a wok or pan. Add 2 tablespoons oil or butter. Once hot, fry garlic until it begins to smell good.

frying garlic

4. Add sliced onions and chili. You can also use spring onions whites. If making for kids skip chilli or deseed and use .

frying onions in oil to make sweet corn rice recipe 2

5. Stir fry until the onions turn lightly golden but not too soft and soggy.

golden fried onions

6. Increase the heat/ flame on your stove to the highest. Add corn and capsicum. Stir fry until the bell peppers become slightly tender, yet crunchy and not too soft. Your corn kernels should also be tender by then.

addition of veggies to the pan to make sweet corn fried rice

7. Add fresh herbs of your choice.

addition of chopped herbs

8. Add cooled rice, ¼ teaspoon Crushed black pepper and ½ teaspoon salt. You can also drizzle some toasted sesame oil or olive oil like the way I did. This is optional and not included in the recipe below. Optionally pour 1 to 2 teaspoons of rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar and 1 to 2 teaspoons of soya sauce or tamari, across the pan.

addition of cooled rice pepper

9. Mix and Stir fry the rice for 2 minutes. Taste test and add more salt, black pepper, soya sauce or vinegar as per your taste.

frying the cooked rice

Serve sweet corn fried rice hot.

Corn rice made in Chinese Style

Related Recipes

Recipe Card

corn rice

Corn Fried Rice Recipe (Corn Rice)

4.99 from 51 votes
Quick and delicious corn rice made in Chinese style by stir frying cooked rice, corn kernels, black pepper and vinegar.
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For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card

Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Servings2
AuthorSwasthi

Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )

  • 3 cups cooked rice (or 1 cup uncooked raw rice like basmati or jasmine)
  • 1 cup corn kernels (frozen or boiled)
  • 2 tablespoon cooking oil or butter as needed
  • 2 garlic cloves fine chopped
  • 1 medium onion slice thin or 2 spring onions chopped
  • 1 to 2 green chili slit (optional)
  • ¾ cup bell peppers (chopped, Capsicum)
  • 2 tablespoons celery or mint or coriander leaves chopped
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons soya sauce (or tamari)
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar


Instructions

Preparation (skip this section if you have pre cooked rice)

  • Wash and soak 1 cup rice for 15 to 20 minutes. Drain the water.
  • On a low flame, cover & cook rice with 2 cups of water in a pot. When the rice is al dente cooked, drain any excess water. If using basmati you won't be left with any excess water.
  • Spread the rice and cool completely.
  • Rinse and chop the onions and bell peppers. Chop garlic and slit chili.

How to make Corn Rice

  • Heat a wok or pan. Pour oil and fry garlic until it smells good.
  • Add onions, green chilli and fry until light golden.
  • Next add all the veggies including corn and stir fry on the highest heat until they are partially cooked, not mushy and not too soft. We want the veggies to be crunchy.
  • Add chopped celery, cooled rice, salt and black pepper. Pour vinegar and soya sauce across the pan. If you have, you can also add a tsp of toasted sesame oil.
  • Toss and give a good mix. Stir fry for a minute or 2 until the rice become hot. Taste test and adjust the sauces & vinegar.
  • Serve sweet corn rice hot.


Notes

  1. To add some protein, include some eggs in the dish. After stir frying the corn and bell peppers, slide them to one side of the wok and heat another teaspoon of oil. Pour the beaten eggs and scramble. Cook just until soft set but not over cooked. Mix with the veggies and add herbs, rice. Follow the recipe.
  2. If using eggs, you can skip onions and bell peppers too. Simple stir fry the garlic, chilli and corn kernels. Then stir in the beaten eggs. Scramble and cook until soft set but not overcooked. Then follow the recipe.

NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)

Nutrition Facts
Corn Fried Rice Recipe (Corn Rice)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 527 Calories from Fat 117
% Daily Value*
Fat 13g20%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g
Monounsaturated Fat 7g
Sodium 1003mg44%
Potassium 442mg13%
Carbohydrates 94g31%
Fiber 6g25%
Sugar 8g9%
Protein 10g20%
Vitamin A 1851IU37%
Vitamin C 82mg99%
Calcium 55mg6%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @SwasthisRecipes or tag #swasthisrecipes!

© Swasthi’s Recipes

Corn Rice Recipe first published in August 2015. Updated & republished in February 2022.

About Swasthi

I’m Swasthi Shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthi’s Recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthi’s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills. More about me

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5 stars
Easy and fast recipe for my children. Thank you

5 stars
Thank you Swasthi for all your time and effort in writing these recipes for us and making the cooking easier and intersting for us..keep going…

4 stars
Nice recipe. Came out perfectly. Thanks for sharing

Can I use sunflower oil instead of olive oil

5 stars
Very easy and tasty recipe..my kids loved it. thanks

5 stars
I never thought making fried rice is this much easy. All ur recipes r very nice without seeing ur site my day wont complete. Tried so many verieties n came well thank u very much swasthi

5 stars
Hi Swasthi,

Verrrrr… yyyyyyy yummm… .mmmy. I prepared this without using any sauces, but still it tasted like fried rice.

5 stars
very thanks for this recipe. This is very much used for my kids.

5 stars
The best easy fried rice..i mean tasty fried rice I ever made…I finally I made a tasty fried rice. Yahoo….. I am very excited. Thank you so much…

5 stars
Good. surely i will try

Simple and yummy rice.