Pineapple shrimp fried rice is the perfect combination of sweet, savory, and snappy. This recipe is about to make your usual weeknight dinner routine feel like a trip to Hawaii.

Packed with juicy shrimp, crunchy cashews, and a medley of veggies, it is a filling dinner that is so easy to make.

Pineapple fried rice in pineapple bowls.

We’re no strangers to fried rice recipes (see our Instant Pot Pork Fried Rice, our Kimchi Fried Rice and our Easy Pork Fried Rice) and this is the latest addition to our fried rice repertoire!

Why You’ll Love It

One-Pan Wonder: Minimal cleanup? Yes, please! Everything cooks in one skillet or wok, so you spend less time scrubbing and more time enjoying.

Versatile and Customizable: Have leftover veggies? Toss them in! Prefer chicken or tofu? Go for it! This recipe is as flexible as you are.

Meal Prep Hero: Got leftover rice? This dish was made for it. Plus, it’s perfect for next-day lunches (if there’s any left!).

Chopsticks holding a shrimp above fried rice.

The Ingredients

If you do a lot of Asian-style cooking, you may already have these in your pantry or fridge. If not, you can find all of the ingredients in most major grocery stores.

The sauce starts with the same ingredients as our homemade fried rice sauce then we added a few extra ingredients to give it that authentic flavor that you find in Thai restaurants.

Meat: Shrimp
Produce: Fresh ginger, garlic cloves, Thai red chilis, red bell pepper, carrot, white onion, green onions, pineapple
Pantry: Cooking oil, white rice, cashews, sugar
Pantry Seasonings: Curry powder, white pepper
Condiments: Soy sauce, oyster sauce, mirin, fish sauce, sesame oil
Other: Eggs

Ingredients used to make pineapple shrimp fried rice. — ingredients for the fried rice

The ingredients used to make sauce for pineapple shrimp fried rice. — ingredients for the sauce

Variations

Spicy Mango Shrimp Fried Rice: Swap out the pineapple for diced mango and add an extra Thai chili for more heat. Garnish with fresh cilantro.

Hawaiian Pineapple Fried Rice: Replace the shrimp with diced spam and add ½ cup of diced bell pepper for a classic Hawaiian-inspired dish.

We served the rice in pineapple bowls as we did our pineapple chicken salad. If you don’t want to take the time to carve a pineapple, just serve the rice in regular bowls.

Four process photos showing how to make pineapple shrimp fried rice. — cook the shrimp and eggs separately then add them later

Four process photos showing the steps for making pineapple fried rice. — add the rice after the veggies get sauteed

Tips for the Best Results

Use day-old cold rice: Leftover rice works best as it’s drier and prevents the fried rice from becoming mushy.

If you don’t have leftover rice, spread freshly cooked rice on a baking sheet and chill it in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Prep everything first: Have all your ingredients chopped, measured, and ready to go before you start cooking. Fried rice cooks quickly.

Don’t overcrowd the pan: Cook the ingredients in batches if necessary to ensure everything gets a proper sear and doesn’t steam.

Customize to your taste: Feel free to swap in your favorite veggies or proteins. This recipe is flexible, so use what you have on hand.

A serving of pineapple shrimp fried rice.

Storage

In the fridge: Place the cooled fried rice in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to 3 days.

Freezing: For longer storage, transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months.

Reheating: Reheat the fried rice in a skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally until heated through. You can also microwave it but remember to stir it frequently so it heats evenly.

Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love:

Grilled pineapple is an incredible way to finish a meal. Grilling the fruit will caramelize the exterior and bring out the sweetness. We added a touch of cinnamon sugar to take it over the top.

This one-pan meal makes dinnertime a breeze, and it’s the perfect recipe for even the busiest of nights! This sausage and rice skillet dinner has tender rice, meaty sausage and onions are cooked with spices and diced tomatoes for one flavor-packed dish!

You’ll love this classic Japanese pork Yakisoba with tender noodles, crisp veggies, and flavorful pork pieces (oh, and there’s bacon, too). Best of all, it’s a dish that’s incredibly easy to whip together, which means it’s bound to be a repeat one.

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Pineapple Shrimp Fried Rice

This dish is a fusion of savory, spicy, and sweet. It has all the flavors you would expect from a fried rice, but with a twist.

The curry is the secret to making this dish taste just like the local Thai restaurant. Pineapple and shrimp in fried rice will be your new favorite combination. This makes enough for four hearty servings but you can stretch it to six if you have additional sides.

5 from 5 votes

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Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 20

Total Time: 35

Servings: to 6 servings

Calories: 580kcal

Author: Dahn Boquist

Ingredients

For the sauce:

2 teaspoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon oyster sauce
1 teaspoon mirin
1 teaspoon fish sauce
1 teaspoon curry powder
½ teaspoon sesame oil
½ teaspoon sugar
¼ teaspoon white pepper

For the fried rice:

2 tablespoon cooking oil divided
1 pound shrimp peeled and deveined
3 eggs
2 teaspoons minced fresh gingerroot
3 garlic cloves minced
1 to 2 Thai red chilis diced (or Serrano peppers)
1 red bell pepper seeds removed and chopped
1 medium carrot chopped
1 small white onion chopped
½ cup cashews
3 cups cooked white rice
1-½ cups diced pineapple fresh or canned
4 to 5 green onions chopped

Instructions

Combine the ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl and set aside.
Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until they turn pink. Remove them from the pan and set them aside.
Crack the eggs in a bowl and whisk them together. Add the eggs to the skillet and stir until just barely cooked. Remove the eggs from the pan and set them aside.
Add another tablespoon of cooking oil to the skillet. Add the ginger, garlic, and Thai chilis (if using). Cook for 30 to 60 seconds until you smell the aroma of the garlic.
Add the bell pepper, carrots, onion, and cashews to the skillet. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
Add the cooked rice and the sauce to the skillet. Stir well until the rice is completely coated in the sauce.
Stir in the pineapple chunks, shrimp, and the cooked egg. Cook, stirring for 1 to 2 minutes until heated through.
Sprinkle the green onions on top and serve.

Notes

Use cold, leftover rice for best results. Fresh rice sticks together and gets clumpy and mushy. Leftover rice has time to dry out and get firm and gives fried rice its distinctive texture.
If you don't have leftover rice, spread fresh rice out on a large baking sheet and stick it in the oven at 300°F for 30 minutes then let it cool in the fridge. Leave it on the baking sheet as it cools in the fridge. You can prep all your ingredients while the rice cools down.