Gluten Free Fried Rice with Leftover Turkey is a super flavorful, quick, and easy one-pan meal you can throw together with leftovers! It combines crispy rice, juicy turkey, and crisp-tender veggies for a fast weeknight dinner. My leftover turkey fried rice is also soy-free, egg-free, peanut-free, and Modified AIP compliant.
Gluten Free Fried Rice with Leftover Turkey Recipe
This Gluten Free Fried Rice recipe makes the most of your turkey leftovers after Thanksgiving. Inspired by traditional Chinese fried rice dishes, I left out the soy sauce for a gluten-free version that keeps the comforting flavors we know and love.
With aromatic garlic, ginger, and onions, enhanced by warm toasted sesame oil for an authentic, subtle nutty flavor, plus the signature blend of crispy rice and tender veggies, this dish brings out key flavors and textures of classic fried rice. The leftover turkey is a savory, hearty addition, and the coconut aminos add a sweet-salty, umami flavor. Green onions add a light, fresh bite to finish.
This turkey fried rice is perfect for holiday leftovers or quick weeknight dinners. It’s ready in under 20 minutes, using basic pantry staples. Feel free to add more veggies, switch up the proteins, or use whatever leftovers you have for a fast, delicious comfort meal.
Looking for more easy turkey leftover recipes? Try this Turkey and Kale Soup, Hearty Turkey Soup with Vegetables, or swap the chicken with your shredded leftover turkey in this Chicken and Dumpling Soup or this Chicken and Pumpkin Soup.
What You’ll Need
Ingredient Notes
- Rice is naturally gluten-free, but check the labels and look for certified gluten-free rice to avoid cross-contact.
- Peas can partially thaw at room temperature as you prepare the ingredients but don’t need to be fully defrosted.
- You can use any part of your leftover cooked turkey. Shred, dice, cube, or mince it into smaller bite-sized pieces.
- AIP Modifications: This recipe complies with the Modified AIP elimination stage of the AIP diet. For Core AIP, replace the rice with cauliflower rice or grain-free orzo. Omit the toasted sesame oil and use avocado or olive oil, or no additional oil, instead.
Let’s Cook!
Step 1. Sauté Aromatics
Sauté onion, garlic, and ginger in heated avocado oil until fragrant.
Step 2. Add Carrots
Add the carrots and stir until softened.
Step 3. Add Rice
Over high heat, add the chilled leftover rice. Stir to break up clumps.
Step 4. Add Liquid Seasonings
Add toasted sesame oil and coconut aminos and stir.
Step 5. Add Leftover Turkey and Peas
Add frozen peas and leftover turkey. Stir to combine.
Step 6. Serve
Garnish with sliced green onions. Serve hot and enjoy!
Tips & Tricks
Use Day-Old Rice
If you plan to make this dish, make the rice a day in advance. Medium and long grain rice are best, you can use white or brown. I used jasmine rice.
Using cooked, chilled rice that’s at least a day old creates the ideal fried rice texture since it has dried out and is less sticky. We need dry rice to prevent clumping and to keep the rice from sticking to the pan. This ensures the grains remain separate and crisp nicely.
Spread the rice flat on a plate or on a baking dish and store, preferably uncovered, in the fridge overnight.
However, if you don’t have day-old rice, you can still use fresh rice. Spread it flat and place it in the fridge or freezer for at least 30 minutes, to allow the moisture to absorb and for the rice to chill.
Prep All Ingredients Before Cooking
Since most ingredients are already cooked, we’re just tossing it all together. Have everything prepped and ready to go so you can work quickly. You don’t want anything to overcook or burn over the high heat.
Stir Often
Stirring continuously with each ingredient addition helps to distribute the heat evenly and ensure everything is well combined.
Use What You Have
We’re using leftovers, so you don’t need to be super precise with the turkey and rice amounts. Use whatever you have and increase or decrease your vegetable add-ins and other ingredients accordingly.
Customize Veggies
Feel free to include more vegetables for varied flavor, texture, and extra nutrition. Veggies like bell peppers, mushrooms, bok choy, snow peas, corn, spinach, kale, shredded cabbage, or broccoli make this gluten-free fried rice even heartier. However, you don’t want to overcrowd the pan as it can trap heat and make the rice mushy.
Add an Egg
Eggs are a staple ingredient in Chinese fried rice dishes. To include eggs, either scramble them or make a thin omelet, then break or cut it into small pieces. At the end of cooking, toss with the fried rice turkey stir fry.
Additional Flavor
Finish the dish with a squeeze of lime and some chopped cilantro alongside the green onions to enhance and add fresh flavor. Add heat and spice it up with some red pepper flakes.
Storage & Reheating Instructions
- Fridge: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Store cooled gluten free fried rice in a freezer-safe resealable bag or container in the freezer for 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
- Reheating Instructions: Add a sprinkle of water if the rice looks a bit dry before reheating. Reheat on the stovetop in a skillet over medium heat with a little oil, stirring until heated through to break up clumps. Or, warm up in the microwave in 1 minute intervals, stirring in between, until hot.
As the creator of an online dairy-free and gluten-free baking school, I understand how challenging it is to find dairy and gluten-free dishes that taste as delicious as their conventional counterparts. That’s why you’ll love my Gluten Free Fried Rice with Leftover Turkey recipe! It’s full of classic fried rice flavors and crisp-tender textures, without gluten or soy. If you do, I would appreciate it if you would give the recipe a rating and review. Be sure to snap a picture of the finished product and share it with me on Instagram by tagging @healmedelicious and using the hashtag #healmedelicious.
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Gluten Free Fried Rice with Leftover Turkey Recipe
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4–5 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Gluten Free Fried Rice with Leftover Turkey is a super flavorful, quick and easy one-pan meal to throw together with leftovers! It perfectly combines crispy rice, juicy turkey, and crisp-tender veggies for a comforting weeknight dinner. This leftover turkey fried rice is also soy-free, egg-free, and Modified AIP compliant.
Ingredients
- 3 TBSP avocado oil
- 1/2 small onion, finely diced
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, minced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup finely diced carrots
- 2 cups chilled leftover white rice*
- 3 TBSP coconut aminos, divided
- 1/2 TBSP toasted sesame oil
- 1/2 cup frozen peas
- 1 cup leftover cooked, diced turkey
- 3 green onions, sliced
- sea salt to taste
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet or wok over medium heat. Add avocado oil.
- Once oil is hot and sizzling, add onion, ginger, and garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
- Then, add carrots and cook until tender.
- Turn heat up to high heat.
- Add the cooked rice and break up clumps, stirring intermittently for 2-3 minutes until hot and slightly toasted and crispy.
- Add coconut aminos and toasted sesame oil, stirring well to evenly coat the rice.
- Toss in leftover cooked turkey and frozen peas and stir to cook another 1-2 minutes.
- Remove from heat and garnish with sliced onions. Taste and adjust for salt as needed.
- Serve hot and enjoy.
Notes
*I used jasmine rice. It’s best to use day-old rice, stored in the fridge to dry out. See the Tips & Tricks for info on how to prepare the rice.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Mains
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Chinese-inspired
Rice is allowed on AIP?
Not on Core AIP, but on Modified AIP. All the details on the recipe classification are in the post 🙂