A video was just posted of an air traffic controller welcoming Charlie Kirk home with a heartfelt message, as Air Force 2 landed carrying his body. It almost made me choke up . . .

It’s difficult to remember a more gut-wrenching day in American politics than yesterday, the day campus debater Charlie Kirk was gunned down in cold blood. We’ll all be forever scarred by the footage of that day, and we’ll all remember where we were when we heard the news. But what I’ll remember most is sitting silently at my school’s library, hearing my classmates mock his death. Snide remarks and barely contained glee were the norm at my school, and judging by my social media feed, this pattern was repeated by cowards across the country. To celebrate so senselessly the political assassination of a 31-year-old father, a man who built a career fighting the culture war with words and not bullets, is a blatant case of intellectual weakness and petty resentment. The message is clear: they’re glad Charlie’s dead so they don’t have to hear his ideas. This type of fragility is unbecoming of strong, civilized people. Young people who looked up to Charlie Kirk should instead choose to live energetic, bold, and consequential lives like his. The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Charlie Kirk is his energy and optimism. By the age of 31, he had founded Turning Point, hosted a 3-hour radio show, and written several books. All while cultivating a vibrant family life. Charlie didn’t sleep in or take days off. He didn’t put his goals off until later in life, when he had built a nest egg or raised his kids. He chased them as soon as he could. We should all be thankful that he didn’t wait, and his untimely death is a clear message: if you’re interested in politics, now is the time to dive in. Charlie was also a man of boundless optimism, described by Ben Shapiro as “almost exhausting.” He always had a grin on his face, even when called vile names by his debate opponents or discussing difficult topics. Charlie’s life is a reminder to us all that true strength isn’t just engaging with the world; it’s doing it joyfully. Petty resentment and bitterness were what killed Charlie Kirk, but joy and optimism are our domain. Charlie Kirk blew up online because he was incredibly bold. At a time when college campuses were even more homogeneously left-leaning, he set up his table, stared down the crowd, and said what he believed with his chest. That’s also what he died doing, and we can honor Charlie’s memory by boldly doing the same. I understand the desire to suppress conservative beliefs. I did it for years because I was petrified of cancel culture, of losing out on a job, and of being called a “fascist” by people who don’t know the meaning of the word. But our silence emboldens people like Charlie Kirk’s assassin. It emboldens people to laughingly say “nice shot” after a father dies a bloody death before going back to discussing classwork. What good is a career, a relationship, or a friendship if you have to lie to maintain it? If you have to live in a society where political violence is normalized? Generation Z should emulate Charlie Kirk. Don’t do it rudely or emotionally. Calm, reasoned discussion was Charlie’s way. Face any accusations of the “-isms” with dismissive laughter — those words have no power. Charlie Kirk is dead, but we can honor him by filling his place with a thousand Charlie Kirks. Finally, Charlie Kirk lived a life of consequence. He started organizations and raised money. He swayed elections, wrote books, and debated ideas. Those of us who can write should keep writing. If you can speak, get on the air. If you can shake hands, man a table, or knock on doors, do that. There is no time like the present. But politics isn’t for everyone. If you’re in that camp, Charlie can be your role model too. He had a family that he sacrificed for and provided for. He had dear friends and reached out to strangers with messages of goodwill. Nobody who actually knew Charlie Kirk had a bad thing to say about him. If any of us achieve a fraction of that beautiful life, then we will have lived a life of consequence as well. One can’t help but feel we’re at a turning point. Charlie Kirk is in Heaven, but my generation has some Earthly business to attend to. Do we choose the emotion-driven, sniveling relativism that killed Charlie Kirk? Or do we choose the principled, resolute truth-seeking that he embodied? One leads to chaos, but the other leads to civilization. READ MORE: Charlie Kirk’s Assassination Is a Turning Point for the USA Charlie Kirk: 1993–2025 Charlie Kirk and My Friend From Boy Scouts Ethan Watson is a Young Voices contributor and O’Connor Fellow at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. He also holds a degree in Political Science from the University of Kansas. His commentary has appeared in USA TODAY, RealClearPolitics, and The Daily Caller. He has appeared on the David Webb Show and is a regular guest on Point of View Radio. Follow him on X: @erwatson13.

I have heard it said that Charlie Kirk was all of us. To some extent, that’s true. Charlie and I had a lot in common: he was only a year my senior, he was a Christian, he was a husband and a father, and he was obsessed with ideas, especially the ideas that made this great nation so great. But there are several significant differences, too: Charlie was a far kinder man than I am, someone far more understanding, someone far more willing to extend the benefit of the doubt. He spent his time entering into good-faith arguments with anyone, anywhere. He was animated not by a need to be right, nor by a desire to crush his opposition, but by a seemingly genuine love of the truth and, upon finding it, a desire to share that truth, to invite others to join him in the truth as though it were a meal or a party. Yet despite Charlie’s kindness, his goodwill, his good faith, many of us will forever be haunted by that split second of a video that made the rounds on social media Wednesday, that image of his neck bursting open and a stream of crimson pouring forth. Many of us (especially fathers, and especially fathers of little girls) will have difficulty sleeping at night, knowing that Charlie’s three-year-old daughter was there and ran for her daddy because she was afraid of the noise of the gunshot. Many of us have already shed tears, just reading Charlie’s old tweets or seeing videos of him hugging his wife and children, knowing that he’s gone forever. (RELATED: Charlie Kirk’s Assassination Is a Turning Point for the USA) But while those on Charlie’s right (myself included) often did little more than debate philosophical minutiae online, Charlie debated hundreds of thousands of college students and won over a great many. Charlie was also a moderate and often took flak from those on his right for not being far enough right. But while those on Charlie’s right (myself included) often did little more than debate philosophical minutiae online, Charlie debated hundreds of thousands of college students and won over a great many. While the rest of us were hoping that our niche, extremist political essay might make it past ten thousand likes on X/Twitter, Charlie was bringing tens of thousands of ex-liberals, ex-libertarians, or even just non-political people into the fold. While the rest of us were making memes that might be seen by a hundred people and only really enjoyed by ten, Charlie was registering thousands to deliver President Donald Trump the first Republican popular vote victory in decades. Charlie’s gift was that he could and would debate anyone; he would dialogue with anyone. He would sit down and have an earnest conversation with the blue-haired barista with a septum piercing and a “Shout Your Abortion” t-shirt, with the morbidly obese they-them studying for a degree in the history of genderfluid interior decoration, with the arch-libertarian who doesn’t understand the moral difference between a 41-year-old smoking a cigar and a 14-year-old smoking a joint — and Charlie would treat each of these people with care and respect. He would articulate his own position clearly and concisely, and he would never treat error as truth, but he would never denigrate or deride his interlocutors. I can barely control my frustration in a heated debate with my own family members or lifelong friends, but Charlie extended to perfect strangers the same degree of courtesy and kindness that he did to the president of the United States. Yet Charlie was killed, shot in the throat in front of hundreds, including his own daughter. His only crime, his only offense was wanting to talk, wanting to dialogue, wanting to have a conversation. And he was killed for it. Charlie Kirk was the last debater. The rest of us watched Charlie die. Even if any of us — after a decade of being smeared as racists, bigots, fascists, and Nazis — after a decade of being ostracized, deplatformed, debanked, investigated, and even arrested in some cases — after being locked down, watching our businesses forced to close, losing our jobs for not wearing a mask or not being bullied into taking an experimental mutant form of the flu shot — even if any of us felt inclined to talk, to dialogue, to have a conversation, we don’t anymore. (RELATED: Charlie Kirk Must Now Be Made Immortal) It wasn’t just Charlie Kirk who was killed on September 10: every moderate conservative, every conservative willing to talk, every conservative who thought he could find common ground with the Left was killed. Charlie was all of us. Every single young conservative man saw himself die when Charlie did. The wives of every single one of those young conservative men saw their husbands die when Charlie did. There is no going back. September 10 was a turning point. The last debater is gone now. The next Charlie Kirk will not be a debate club moderate but the sort of cold, fascistic nightmare that leftists have spent the last decade fearing without cause. Now there is cause. READ MORE from S.A. McCarthy: The End of Catholic Europe? USCCB Misrepresents Church’s Immigration Teachings — Again Cradle Catholics Are Leaving the Church. Why?

The words scribbled on the shell casings, bullets, and rifle tell us the motive as much as obfuscate it. We do not need the killer to inform us of the underlying reason. We know it. All assassins share a trait. Their victims nearly as universally share the opposite trait. Charlie Kirk was a winner. We do not, as of filing, know his assassin’s name. We do know that he is a loser. When we learn his name, it will lack familiarity. But by murdering Kirk, the rub to the famous and accomplished gives his name a glow — so he thinks. Losers hate winners. Winners dwell on losses. But they do not think about losers. Losers, on the other hand, obsess over anyone enjoying life’s victories. Losers, on the other hand, obsess over anyone enjoying life’s victories. They imagine their own pathetic state as outside of their control and similarly regard the bounty of success that others enjoy as deriving strictly from good luck. These views may seem distinct from the shooter’s stated political motives, reportedly involving transgenderism. They are actually connected (more on that later). Many sober-minded Americans calculate that Kirk elected Donald Trump president in 2024 by changing minds among Generation Z and energizing the young male vote. We do not know what future victories an assassin’s bullet snatched from Americans. Charlie Kirk stood six-foot-five. He was a millionaire who never graduated from college. He debated intelligently and attempted to teach his opponents patience and tolerance by practicing it. He married Miss Arizona. He fathered two beautiful little ones. People want to follow a guy like that. He looked like the picture of success, which, to jaundiced eyes, looks ugly. Success offends failures. It’s a nagging reminder of their inadequacies. This served as the underlying motive of the statuary murders of the summer of George Floyd. How dare society honor excellence? Here, it propelled yet another loser to kill yet another winner. Kirk stood up against an ideological hallucination that imagines America’s greatness as coming at the expense of victimized nations, the successful deriving their wealth from money stolen from the poor, and “privileged” groups perpetually brutalizing the “oppressed.” It celebrates the alien and abnormal. It perpetually wages war against norms, standards, and traditions. Grievance, resentment, and envy fuel this ideology so all-consuming that those under its sway imagine the murder of a dad, husband, and beloved figure to millions as a righteous and good act. The killer’s ideology undoubtedly reflected this oppressor-oppressed mindset. But it infected not just his politics but his soul. The trans obsession seems but an extension of this disease of the soul that internalizes several of the seven deadly sins. Kirk texted Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) before his death: “Event I think is going to be a win.” On the day of his death, Charlie Kirk exhibited the attitude of a winner. And by murdering the Turning Point USA founder, his assassin tacitly submitted in the argument with Charlie Kirk that occurred perpetually inside his brain. In Kirk’s last moment, he won the debate — just like every other speaker who has been shouted down on campus. Winners don’t bite the other fighter’s ear or scream the other debater into silence. People losing break the rules out of the humiliation of a checkmate. Charlie Kirk died as he lived — as a winner. READ MORE from Daniel J. Flynn: The Part That the Obits Left Out About SF Power Broker John Burton ‘SNL’ Hires the Next Eddie Murphy for Its New Cast Marc Maron, Chief of the Joke Police

WASHINGTON — The Sept. 8 headline in The New York Times said it all: “A Gruesome Murder in North Carolina Ignites a Firestorm on the Right.” The Gray Lady leaped over the warm body of victim Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old immigrant from Ukraine, and led with its usual blame-the-right politics. The story’s subhead: “Security footage capturing the unprovoked stabbing in Charlotte became an accelerant for conservative arguments about the perceived failings of Democratic policies.” The Wall Street Journal was like-minded: “Woman’s Stabbing Death Becomes MAGA Talking Point.” Sadly, the headline writers missed the story: Zarutska was riding Charlotte’s light rail system after her shift at a pizzeria on Aug. 22, shortly before 10 p.m., when an apparent stranger stabbed her in the neck and killed her. (RELATED: She Fled the Ukraine War for Safety. America Delivered Her to a Killer.) Authorities later arrested and charged Decarlos Dejuan Brown Jr., 34, a serial offender with 14 prior convictions. (RELATED: Charlotte Murderer Who Killed Ukrainian Refugee Shares Family Ties to Another Convicted Killer) Hence big media outlets’ decision to frame the young woman’s death as a chew toy for the right, instead of a crime that never should have happened. Brown is a Black homeless man with a history of mental illness, according to his lawyer. Zarutska was a white woman who was holding down a job. Hence big media outlets’ decision to frame the young woman’s death as a chew toy for the right, instead of a crime that never should have happened. And they can’t even demand gun control as a remedy. In the course of my career, I’ve dealt with thought leaders in the criminal justice system who, deep down, believe that government has no right to incarcerate a man who is a danger to himself and society. When a senseless act of violence took a young life, they would shrug as if they lacked the power to prevent such crimes. All they could do, really, was mitigate risk along the margins. After the attack, for example, Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles released a statement in which she offered, “We will never arrest our way out of issues such as homelessness and mental health.” (RELATED: These Are Your Damned ‘Root Causes,’ Vi Lyles) And: “I want to be clear that I am not villainizing those who struggle with their mental health or those who are unhoused.” I, too, have wondered about Brown’s mental health. He killed a total stranger. But Brown also had the presence of mind to remove bloodied clothing and try to leave the scene without being arrested. That tells me he wanted to get away with it. I suppose that is a right-wing argument. As I was writing this, conservative activist Charlie Kirk, 31, was shot and killed at an event at Utah Valley University. Kirk was a committed conservative, but also an open man, ever happy to debate. And we know why he was assassinated. READ MORE from Debra J. Saunders: Epstein’s Playbook: Slime Operates by Spreading Itself The Senate, the COVID Inquisition, and the COVID Skeptic CBS in the Harsh Public Spotlight Again Contact Review-Journal Washington columnist Debra J. Saunders at dsaunders@reviewjournal.com. Follow @debrajsaunders on X. COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM

This one-bowl easy apple cake is my go-to when it’s time for fall baking and I don’t want too many dishes to wash. It’s fluffy, warmly spiced, and packed with chopped apples. No one believes it’s this easy. This is the easiest, most moist, flavorful apple cake we’ve ever tried. In This Article Amy’s NotesKey Recipe IngredientsSubstitutions And VariationsStep-By-Step Recipe InstructionsHow To Prep AheadVideo: Watch Us Make This RecipeEasy Apple Cake (One-Bowl) RecipeFrequently Asked QuestionsMore to Bake And Eat View more This post may contain affiliate links, at no additional cost to you. Amy’s Notes This Easy Apple Cake is my favorite fall dessert to throw together when I don’t want to overthink it. Here’s why I keep coming back to it: One Bowl, No Fuss: Like my Easy Apple Coffee Cake, everything gets mixed in one big bowl with no fancy steps or equipment. Cleanup is fast, and the batter comes together in minutes! So Moist, So Tender: The apples and applesauce make this cake incredibly soft and flavorful. Every slice stays perfectly moist, even the next day. Works With or Without Frosting: It’s delicious plain or with the cream cheese drizzle. I usually keep a baggie of frosting in the fridge just in case I want to dress it up. Naturally Sweet and Spiced: The warm spices and sweet apples make every bite feel cozy. The fresh flavors remind me of my Apple Cake with Caramel. Great for Any Season: I bake this year-round because it never feels too heavy. It’s the kind of treat that disappears fast at brunch or after dinner. Key Recipe Ingredients Olive Oil & Applesauce – This duo keeps the cake incredibly moist while adding richness and natural sweetness without relying on butter. Eggs & Vanilla – Just two eggs and a splash of vanilla bring structure and warmth to the batter with minimal effort. White Whole Wheat Flour – A lighter alternative to traditional whole wheat, it blends beautifully with the spices and apples for a tender crumb. Warm Spices – A trio of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger infuses the cake with cozy flavor in every bite – no need for anything artificial. Chopped Apples – With over four cups folded in, the apples bake up tender and juicy throughout the cake for fresh, fruity flavor and texture. Cream Cheese Frosting (Optional) – A creamy, tangy drizzle made with real cream cheese and butter takes this cake from everyday treat to holiday favorite. Substitutions And Variations Here are some of our favorite substitutions and variations: Flour Choices: I usually go with white whole wheat flour because it’s milder than regular whole wheat, but you can do a half-and-half blend with all-purpose flour. Spice Adjustments: This cake is spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Feel free to adjust the amounts or add a pinch of cloves or allspice if you want a little more warmth. Apple Varieties: I like using Honeycrisp or Fuji for their sweet-tart flavor and firm texture, but any firm apple that holds up during baking will work. Granny Smith adds a nice tang if you prefer something more tart. Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions Whisk oil, applesauce, vanilla, eggs, and sugar until smooth. Stir in flour, spices, baking soda, and salt. Gently fold in chopped apples. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 35–45 minutes. Drizzle cream cheese frosting over cooled cake. Cut into slices and serve. For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below. How To Prep Ahead Take a look at our best prep-ahead strategies for this recipe: Make the Cake Ahead: This cake stays moist for days, so you can bake it 1–2 days in advance. Once cooled, cover tightly and keep at room temperature or in the fridge until ready to frost and serve. Chop Apples Early: Peel and chop the apples the day before and store them in an airtight container with a splash of lemon juice to prevent browning. Keep them chilled until ready to mix in. Make the Frosting Ahead: The cream cheese frosting can be made up to 3 days ahead and stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Let it soften slightly at room temp before drizzling over the cake. I come back to this one-bowl apple cake every fall. It’s turns out so moist and flavorful. Video: Watch Us Make This Recipe Print Easy Apple Cake (One-Bowl) Easy One-Bowl Apple Cake comes together in a pinch. All natural, nothing artificial, and tastes incredible. Luscious Cream Cheese Frosting is optional. This cake is a keeper you'll want all year round. Course Breakfast, DessertCuisine AmericanDiet VegetarianMethod baking Prep Time 30 minutes minutesCook Time 40 minutes minutesTotal Time 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes Servings 16 Calories 379kcal Author Amy Dong IngredientsFor the Cake: ½ cup olive oil½ cup unsweetened applesauce2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract2 large eggs1 ⅔ cups sugar2 cups flour2 teaspoons ground cinnamon1 teaspoon ground nutmeg1 teaspoon ground ginger1 teaspoon baking soda½ teaspoon table salt4 ½ cups apples peeled and chopped (I use Fuji or Honeycrisp)Optional Cream Cheese Frosting:½ cup butter softened to room temp16 ounces regular cream cheese softened1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract1 pounds powdered sugar1-2 tablespoons milk as needed InstructionsPreheat oven to 350F, with rack on lower middle position. Grease a 9×13 baking dish and set aside.In a large bowl, combine the oil, applesauce, vanilla, and eggs. Using a hand whisk, mix until well combined and smooth. Add the sugar and whisk until combined.Gently add remaining ingredients and stir with wooden spatula (it's a thick batter) until just combined and no flour streaks remain. Do not over-mix. Use rubber spatula to gently fold in apples.Scrape batter evenly into your prepared baking dish, ensuring batter spreads evenly into the corners. Bake 35-45 min or until toothpick inserted in center comes out with few tender crumbs attached. Let cool to room temp.Meanwhile, make Cream Cheese Frosting (if using.) In a bowl, combine butter, cream cheese, and vanilla, beating until smooth. Add powder sugar and gently mix in until incorporated. Add a bit of milk as needed to reach desired consistency.Transfer to a Ziploc baggie, press air out, and seal. Snip off a bit of the corner and drizzle onto cooled apple cake. Video Notes I use white whole wheat flour, which is milder than typical whole wheat. You can use half whole wheat + half white flour, or use entirely all-purpose flour. Use a sweet, crisp apple like Honeycrisp or Fuji for the best texture and flavor. Chop them finely so they bake evenly into the cake. Don’t overmix the batter once the dry ingredients are added. Stir just until the flour is absorbed to keep the cake tender. Let the cake cool completely before adding frosting. If it’s even a little warm, the cream cheese drizzle will melt and slide right off. This recipe is part of our Apple Recipes Collection.   If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating. We hearing from you!  Join our Free Recipe Club and get our newest, best recipes each week!   NutritionCalories: 379kcal | Carbohydrates: 47.8g | Protein: 4.6g | Fat: 19.7g | Saturated Fat: 8.4g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 52.8mg | Sodium: 331.1mg | Fiber: 2.7g | Sugar: 29.3g Frequently Asked Questions Do I need to peel the apples? Peeling the apples gives the cake a smoother texture, but if you don’t mind a bit of chew, you can leave the peels on. Just make sure to chop them finely. Can I use all-purpose flour instead of whole wheat? Yes, this recipe works perfectly with all-purpose flour. You can also use a 50/50 mix of all-purpose and whole wheat if you’d like a heartier crumb. Is the cream cheese frosting necessary? The cake is delicious on its own! It’s moist, flavorful, and packed with apples. The cream cheese drizzle just adds a little something extra, especially if you’re serving it for company. How long does this apple cake keep? This cake keeps well covered at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerated for up to 5 days. If frosted, keep it chilled and bring to room temperature before serving. More to Bake And Eat Best Apple Pie with Flaky Butter Crust – This is hands-down the Best Apple Pie recipe. The filling is loaded with just the right amount of apples and sweetness. Apple French Toast Casserole – If I’m hosting brunch during fall, this Apple French Toast Casserole is the perfect potluck dish. It’s easy to assemble, feeds a crowd, and smells incredible as it bakes. Broccoli Apple Salad – This broccoli apple salad is one of the few that remains crunchy for hours. It’s flavorful, and tossed in a bright, creamy dressing. It works for any season, but I especially love it in fall. Apple Bread Pudding – This Apple Bread Pudding is perfect for breakfast or dessert. It’s made with fluffy bread, apples, and an applesauce custard for an utterly delicious bread pudding. The post Easy Apple Cake (One Bowl) appeared first on Chew Out Loud.

This Thai fried rice is one of the first things I make with leftover rice. It’s packed with succulent flavors in every bite. I love how it comes together in one pan in under 30 minutes! This Thai Fried Rice is one of my favorite one-pan meals to throw together on busy weeknights. In This Article Amy’s NotesKey Recipe IngredientsSubstitutions And VariationsStep-By-Step Recipe InstructionsHow To Prep AheadWhat To Serve with Thai Fried RiceVideo: Watch Us Make This RecipeThai Fried Rice RecipeFrequently Asked QuestionsMore to Cook And Eat View more This post may contain affiliate links, at no additional cost to you. Amy’s Notes This Thai Fried Rice is my go-to when I want a better than takeout family meal everyone will love. Here’s why I make it so often: Bold, Balanced Sauce: The mix of tamari, fish sauce, palm sugar, and oyster sauce creates deep flavor with just the right balance of salty and sweet. Perfect Texture: Using cold, day-old jasmine rice gives the fried rice that ideal chewy texture. Like my Chinese Style Fried Rice, it fries up beautifully. One Pan Only: Everything from the shrimp to the scrambled eggs and herbs cooks in one big pan. It keeps cleanup minimal. Fresh and Herby: Thai basil and scallions go in right at the end, adding a fresh pop that brightens the entire dish. Fast, Filling Dinner: It’s one of our favorite under 30-minute meals. Key Recipe Ingredients Sauce Mixture – A blend of tamari or soy sauce, fish sauce, palm sugar, and oyster sauce adds authentic salty-sweet umami flavor to every bite of the rice. Cold Cooked Jasmine Rice – Day-old long grain rice is key to perfect texture; it stays fluffy and never mushy when stir-fried. Shrimp – Lightly cooked shrimp add juicy, savory protein that pairs beautifully with the punchy sauce and aromatic rice. Garlic, Onion & Carrots – This trio forms the savory, slightly sweet flavor base and adds hearty texture to the stir-fry. Eggs – Scrambled directly into the pan, eggs add richness and protein while helping bind the ingredients together. Thai Basil & Scallions – Stirred in at the end, fresh basil and scallions give a burst of bold, bright flavor without overpowering the dish. Cherry Tomatoes – Halved tomatoes offer juicy bursts of sweetness and color throughout the fried rice. Substitutions And Variations Here are some of our favorite substitutions and variations: Protein Swaps: I love making this with shrimp, but it works just as well with shredded rotisserie chicken or thinly sliced beef. Rice Alternatives: Cold jasmine rice is ideal here because of its fluffy texture, but you can also use leftover basmati or long grain white rice. I don’t recommend using short grain or brown rice since it tends to clump more and changes the texture. Vegetable Add-Ins: This recipe is flexible with veggies. Sometimes I’ll toss in snap peas, chopped green beans, or diced bell peppers depending on what I have on hand. Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions Sauté onion and garlic, then add carrots and tomatoes. Stir in shrimp and cook until opaque. Add cold cooked rice and sauce mixture. Toss in Thai basil and scallions. Push rice aside, scramble eggs in the center, and mix into rice. Season to taste and garnish with cucumbers or lime. For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below. How To Prep Ahead Take a look at our best prep-ahead strategies for this recipe: Prep the Sauce First: The sauce mixture can be whisked together and stored in an airtight jar or container in the fridge up to 3 days in advance. This saves time when you’re ready to cook. Chop and Store Veggies: You can chop the onions, garlic, carrots, and tomatoes ahead of time and store them in airtight containers in the fridge. This makes it easy to toss everything into the pan when cooking. I make this Thai Fried Rice when we’re craving takeout but want something fresh and homemade. What To Serve with Thai Fried Rice Stir Fries We like serving Thai Fried Rice alongside stir-fried favorites like Thai Basil Chicken with Peppers or Easy Teriyaki Chicken for a vibrant, satisfying meal. If you’re in the mood for something saucier, try it with Extra Crispy Orange Chicken to add a sweet-savory balance to your plate. Other Thai Favorites Pair it with Crunchy Thai Salad for extra texture and freshness, or serve it with Thai Green Curry Noodles to build a bold and flavorful spread. Thai Peanut Noodles also make a great companion if you’re feeding a crowd and want multiple noodle options on the table. Video: Watch Us Make This Recipe Print Thai Fried Rice One-Pan Thai Fried Rice is done in under 20 minutes. It’s easy, healthy, and tastes authentically delicious. Avoid the takeout and whip up this quick, tasty dish that’s sure to become a family favorite. Course DinnerCuisine Asian, ThaiDiet Low LactoseMethod Stovetop Prep Time 10 minutes minutesCook Time 10 minutes minutesTotal Time 20 minutes minutes Servings 4 Calories 450kcal Author Amy Dong IngredientsFor the Sauce Mixture:2 tablespoons Tamari soy sauce2 tablespoons Asian fish sauce1 tablespoon palm sugar1 tablespoon Asian oyster sauce½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepperFor the Fried Rice:4 tablespoons cooking oil1 onion chopped6 cloves garlic chopped1 cup grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes, halved½ cup matchstick carrots½ lb large raw shrimp pre-shelled and deveined6 cups cold cooked long grain rice such as jasmine2 large eggs1 cup Thai basil leaves½ cup chopped scallionskosher saltfreshly ground black pepperGarnishes: sliced cucumber, sliced tomatoes, or lime wedges InstructionsCombine all ingredients for sauce in a small bowl and whisk. Set aside.In a large, deep pan (or wok) add the cooking oil and heat over medium-high until hot. Add onions and garlic, stirring frequently until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add carrots and stir until tender, 2-3 minutes. Add tomatoes and stir to combine well. Once vegetables are softened, add shrimp and stir until no longer opaque, about 1 minute (don't overcook the shrimp.)Add cooked cold rice, breaking up clumps if needed, and stirring to incorporate. Add your Sauce Mixture and stir to combine well. Use spatula to push fried rice to the edges of pan, making a well in the center of pan. Crack eggs into the well and scramble them, trying not to disturb the fried rice. Once eggs are cooked, stir it into the fried rice. Add Thai basil and scallions, stirring just to incorporate don't fully cook the herbs. Add kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Garnish as desired. Video Notes Tamari Soy Sauce is often found in Asian aisles of grocery stores, and is typically GF. Look for the GF labeling. If you haven’t tried Asian Fish Sauce, we promise it doesn’t make the dish taste fishy at all. It imparts a wonderful “umami” flavor that adds to the authentic taste of this dish. Try not to omit. Palm sugar has subtle caramel tones to it, and has a deeper richer flavor than granulated sugar. However, you can use granulated sugar if you can’t find palm sugar. Shredded cooked chicken can be used instead of shrimp. Omit meat if making it vegetarian. This recipe is part of our Thai Recipes Collection. We like serving Thai Fried Rice alongside stir-fried favorites like Thai Basil Chicken with Peppers or Easy Teriyaki Chicken     If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating. We hearing from you!  Join our Free Recipe Club and get our newest, best recipes each week! NutritionCalories: 450kcal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 153mg | Sodium: 2031mg | Potassium: 715mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 5149IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 121mg | Iron: 18mg Frequently Asked Questions What kind of rice is best for Thai Fried Rice? Cold, day-old jasmine rice is ideal. It’s dry enough to absorb the sauce and stir-fry evenly without turning mushy. Freshly cooked rice is too soft and can get clumpy. What does fish sauce do, and can I leave it out? Fish sauce adds that essential salty umami depth that gives this dish its signature flavor. It doesn’t make the dish taste fishy at all. If possible, try not to skip it. How spicy is this dish? The recipe isn’t spicy as written, but you can always add fresh chili, chili oil, or serve with Sriracha on the side if you like extra heat. How should I store leftovers, and how long will it keep? Leftover Thai fried rice should be cooled completely, then stored in an airtight container in the fridge. It will stay fresh for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a skillet or microwave before serving. More to Cook And Eat Easy Pad Thai Recipe – This Easy Pad Thai Recipe is loaded with flavor and ready in just over 30 minutes, it’s a healthy, protein-packed, homemade version of everyone’s favorite restaurant dish! Mongolian Beef Recipe – I make this Mongolian beef recipe whenever I’m craving takeout without the wait. It’s rich, saucy, and comes together in 30 minutes. Korean Beef Bowl Recipe – This Korean Beef Bowl Recipe is what I make on on busy weeknights, between shuttling the boys to soccer and hockey and swim.  Mochiko Chicken Recipe – This Mochiko Chicken Recipe is Hawaii’s fried chicken at its best! This succulent chicken recipe is huge on flavor, super tender, and an instant family favorite dinner! The post Thai Fried Rice appeared first on Chew Out Loud.