I love spicy foods and my Tex-Mex heritage has provided lots of inspiration helping me create dishes like Cowboy Fried Rice.
I love food, and in fact, you could say I eat for a living! And I was one happy camper when I sat down to this plate of deliciousness.
Whether you serve my Cowboy Fried Rice for breakfast, lunch or dinner, I can promise you there will be smiles at your table!
Table of Contents:
What are the ingredients needed to make Cowboy Fried Rice?
Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make Cowboy Fried Rice. In Chef Speak this is called the Mise en Place which translates into Everything in its Place.
Not only does setting up your ingredients ahead of time speed the cooking process, but it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.
Do I have to use Brown Rice in this dish?
No you don’t. You can use your favorite type of rice, farro, or grain.
How do I make cowboy fried rice?
After gathering your ingredients the first step is to sauté the bacon and onions with olive oil in a large sauté pan or skillet over medium-heat.
Next add in the garlic and let it cook for a minute before adding in the tomatoes and corn. Season with sea salt and black pepper and continue sautéing for 2-3 minutes.
Now it’s time to add the cooked brown rice and pulled pork. Turn the heat down to medium and continue cooking the mixture.
**Add additional olive oil or a little water if the ingredients start to stick.
Do I have to cook a pork roast to make this dish?
No you don’t. You can get pulled pork from your favorite barbecue restaurant (most sell it to go) or try your local grocer, many of them are now cooking their own pulled pork.
You can always buy a sauced variety and if you don’t mind the flavor of the barbecue sauce you can use it as is. If not, give it a quick rinse to get most of the sauce off the pork.
I’ve got an easy pulled pork recipe if you’re going to cook your own pork.
Do I have to use pork in my Cowboy Fried rice?
No you don’t, some of my other choices would be:
- Chicken
- Beef Brisket
- Shrimp
- Salmon (blackened would be nice)
Or leave the meat out altogether and serve it as a side dish. This is your dinner, have fun and make it fit your tastes or use what you have on hand.
The final step to making my Cowboy Fried Rice is adding the chili beans and seasonings. Mix well and continue to heat the mixture for 3-5 minutes.
**If the mixture starts to stick, add in a little water, chicken stock or vegetable stock.
Do I have to use Beans in the Cowboy Fried Rice?
No you don’t. Are you seeing a pattern here? If you’re not a fan of beans, add some of your favorite veggies instead.
- Roasted Cauliflower
- Broccoli Rabe
- Mushrooms
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes or Regular Potatoes
There are so many different ways you can create this dish!
Serve up the Cowboy Fried Rice with over easy or sunny-side up eggs and heated corn or flour tortillas. Add in some jalapeño slices, lime wedges, your favorite hot sauce and you’re living!
Do I have to use Fried Eggs?
No you don’t. You can leave out the eggs, or add scrambled eggs right into the fried rice. It’s your choice.
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Cowboy Fried Rice with Pulled Pork & Chili Beans
Ingredients
- 1 cup onion diced
- 3 slices bacon diced
- 2 cloves garlic fine dice
- 1 cup sweet corn fresh, frozen or canned(drained)
- ½ cup tomatoes diced
- 4 cups cooked brown rice or your favorite rice
- 1 cup chili beans drained and rinsed
- 1½ cups pulled pork homemade or store bought
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 2 tsp oregano dried
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1 tablespoon cilantro chopped
- 8 large eggs
- 8 corn tortillas or flour tortillas
- 2 jalapeño seeded and sliced
- 1 lime cut into wedges
- hot sauce optional
Instructions
- After gathering your ingredients the first step is to saute the bacon and onions with olive oil in a large sauté pan or skillet over medium-heat. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until the bacon starts to crisp up.
- Next add in the garlic and let it cook for a minute.
- Add the tomatoes and corn. Season with sea salt and black pepper and continue sautéing for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the cooked brown rice and the pulled pork. Turn the heat down to medium and continue cooking the mixture.**Add additional olive oil or a little water if the ingredients start to stick.
- The final step in making my Cowboy Fried Rice is adding the chili beans and seasonings. Mix well and continue to heat the mixture for 3-5 minutes over medium heat. When the mixture is hot, cover the pan and remove from the heat until ready to serve.**If the mixture starts to stick, add in a little water, chicken stock or vegetable stock.
- While the mixture is heating, heat the tortillas and fry the eggs for the topping.
- Serve up the Cowboy Fried Rice with over easy or sunny side up eggs and heated corn or flour tortillas. Add in some jalapeño slices, lime wedges and your favorite hot sauce and you’re living!*I like sunny side up eggs so you can see the yolks, but cook them however you like.
Christal
I refer to my family as food snobs. It is very hard for me to find new recipes that they ask for me to make more than once. This recipe is the best new recipe I have tried in years. It sounds like an exaggeration, but it is not. It is full of flavor and texture and can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, dinner or snack. It also pack well for in the go meals or food prep for the week. We have a local BBQ restaurant where I buy smoked pulled pork which makes this recipe come together easily and quickly and makes enough to feed a small group. Chef Dennis, you have make me very excited to try more of you recipes. I can’t wait! Thank you!
EJ Rosa
I liked the cowboy twist you created on this fried rice recipe so I had to try it. I am surprised and enjoy the wonderful flavors you created. Followed recipe but I flavored my rice by frying tomato paste, and garlic paste in pan before adding dry rice and tomato flavored liquid broth. We used this finished rice recipe as taco salad mix and filled baked tortillas. Multiple uses expands this dish as a winner! Thanks Chef!
Chef Dennis Littley
Thank you for taking the time to leave such a nice comment and review. I’m happy to hear you enjoyed the dish and that you added your own little twist to the recipe. Its all about creating food you enjoy eating and adding ingredients or leaving them out is the best way to accomplish that.
Brenda Washburn
STEP 3 STATES TO ADD TOMATOES BUT IT IS NOT LISTED IN THE INGREDIENT LIST.
I MADE THIS WITHOUT TOMATOES AND WITH BRISKET. VERY GOOD BUT FLAVOR WAS EXCELLENT THE NEXT DAY.
Chef Dennis Littley
sorry about that Brenda, it was just a half a cup of diced tomatoes and more for color than flavor. I bet it was excellent with the brisket!
Kushigalu
Love how this rice is packed with full of flavor. What a delicious dish to try. Thanks for sharing
Gail Montero
I make fried rice all the time and love this cowboy version with bacon and beans! We would thoroughly enjoy this for breakfast!
Jacqueline Debono
I love putting a fried egg on top of rice dishes! This cowboy fried rice looks delicious. I really like all the chili spices you have used! On my to make list!
Jo
I’m a hige fan of rice and this cowboy fried rice looks like my next favorite thing to try. I’m a rice eater and always looking for new recipes using rice. I love how hearty and delicious this cow boy fried rice looks.
Beth
I know that my son and daughter-in-law, who enjoy hearty morning meals, would love this for a Christmas morning breakfast. Planning ahead!
Betty Watt
Sorry I can’t see how much pulled pork in the ingredients.
Chef Dennis Littley
I used a cup and half of pulled pork. It can be more less depending upon your tastes
Laura Arteaga
Loved the step by step pictures, so easy to follow! Thank you for this recipe, it was lovely! Made it for dinner and kept the leftovers for breakfast 🙂
Erin
I’ll have to check out those tablets! I just recently started getting heartburn. Ugh. And this fried rice looks awesome!
Mama Maggie's Kitchen
Hmm yum! I just can’t wait to try making this Cowboy fried rice! Just the sight of this makes my tummy growl.
Moop Brown
Being from Texas myself, I always love seeing tasty looking Tex-Mex recipes like this! Can’t wait to try making this one
Joyce
Wow this recipe looks super delicious! I love the fun name too!! Huge fan of fried rice so I got to try this one soon!
Stine Mari
I love Tex-Mex and all these ingredients are perfect together! What a fabulous cowboy fried rice, this is a keeper for sure.
veenaazmanov
This is Picture perfect presentation. Kids to relish every bit of it. This platter is a welcome for any meal. I love it.
Amy
This look so delicious! I love being able to try different types of fried rice! I will definitely be adding some additional hot sauce on top as I love spicy food too. Thankfully I don’t suffer from heartburn and I’m sorry that you do!