Spam fried rice made with spam, eggs, and vegetables and tossed with an addicting savory sauce is a quick and easy recipe that can be served within 15 minutes.
This spam fried rice recipe yields the most delicious and satisfying meal that can be made with pantry staple ingredients and one pan in under 15 minutes. Say less. Spam fried rice is a savory and comforting easy weeknight meal that features diced spam, which is pan-fried until crispy and golden, scrambled eggs, colorful vegetables, and fluffy white jasmine rice.
You can serve this fried rice with spam on its own or with a side of garlic bok choy or garlic green beans for a more nutritious and healthy meal. Or you can easily customize your fried rice by adding more vegetables, protein, hot sauce, chili oil, etc.
Spam fried rice is a popular comfort food dish in Hawaii made with white rice, vegetables, eggs, spam, and stir-fried to create a savory and satisfying meal. The origins of Spam fried rice is unknown but it is a dish that incorporates Japanese cuisine with spam. It is an easy under 15-minute dish that is made with humble ingredients and one pan. For more Hawaiian-inspired recipes, check out our Hawaiian garlic shrimp, Hawaiian poke bowl, Hawaiian spam musubi, and caramelized spam and eggs.
Ingredients
You can find all the ingredients for this spam fried rice recipe at your local grocery store. I’ve linked everything that I used below.
Eggs: scrambled eggs add additional protein to this fried spam and rice dish.
Spam: dice the spam into small bite-sized cubes. You can use any flavored spam you prefer.
Garlic: Garlic is the main aromatic. Make sure to mince fresh garlic for the best flavor.
Green Onion: green onion adds another layer of aromatic flavor.
Frozen peas, carrots, corn: frozen peas, carrots, and corn are the easiest way to add vegetables and nutrients with minimal prep.
Day-Old White Rice: Day-old jasmine white rice is ideal for this spam fried rice recipe. This will ensure the best texture.
Soy Sauce:soy sauce adds a salty umami flavor to the fried rice.
Fish Sauce:fish sauce adds a funky umami flavor that is irresistible.
White Pepper:white pepper adds a bright earthy, mild pepper flavor.
Sesame Oil:sesame oil adds a nutty umami finish to the fried rice.
Substitutions and Additions
Substitutions
Spam: instead of regular spam, you can substitute it with any flavored or low-sodium spam.
Seasoning: you can substitute or add additional sauces to mix up the flavor profile by experimenting with dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, etc.
Additions
Vegetables: you can add more vegetables such as green beans, bell peppers, mushrooms, broccoli, cabbage etc.
Aromatics: for more aromatic flavor add diced onions, or shallots.
Hawaiian style: for Hawaiian spam fried rice you can add small chopped pieces of pineapple and a teriyaki sauce to season the rice instead.
Fried egg: for added protein, add a fried egg on top!
Spice: For some heat, add a drizzle of chili oil or sriracha over your finished rice.
How to Make Spam Fried Rice
Here are the step-by-step instructions on how to make spam fried rice.
Mix the seasoning. In a small mixing bowl, mix the soy sauce, fish sauce, chicken bouillon powder, white pepper, and sesame oil. Set aside.
Cook the eggs. Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the eggs and lightly scramble until cooked through and then remove and set aside.
Cook the spam. Then in the same wok or skillet over medium-high heat, add the spam and cook until all the edges are golden brown about 3-5 minutes. Remove and set aside.
Cook the aromatics and vegetables. In the same wok, add 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil and heat over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and white part of green onions and saute for 1 minute until fragrant. Then add the frozen vegetables and toss for 1-2 minutes.
Combine. Next add the rice, eggs, and Spam and toss until combined. Then add the soy sauce, fish sauce, sugar, chicken bouillon powder, sesame oil, and white pepper. Toss until the rice is evenly coated and everything is thoroughly mixed.
Garnish. Garnish with the green parts of the green onions and enjoy!
Expert Tips
Use day-old rice. To prevent your spam fried rice from becoming mushy, use day-old rice that is cold and slightly drier for the best texture.
Have all the ingredients prepped. When you begin, the cooking process is fast, and having all your ingredients measured, prepped, and ready to go will ensure success.
Use a wok or large skillet. Using a wok is ideal because the high walls conduct heat evenly and prevent the rice from falling out when you toss everything together.
Make sure that your pan is hot before cooking. Before you begin cooking the spam, make sure your wok or skillet is hot to add a nice sear to your spam and to prevent your rice from becoming mushy.
Storage Instructions
You can store this Hawaiian fried rice with spam in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Reheat: to reheat the fried spam and rice, you can cook it on the wok until warm or microwave covered until warm.
Freeze: You can also freeze this spam fried rice recipe in a freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Frequently Asked Q’s and A’s
Can I use fresh rice for fried rice?
Yes, you can use fresh rice for this spam fried rice recipe but I recommend using less water to cook your rice and to spread it onto a large baking sheet in the freezer for about an hour to slightly dry it out before cooking it.
Can I use a large pan to make fried rice?
Yes! You can use a large pan to make Hawaiian spam fried rice if you do not have a wok.
Can I use other meat besides spam?
Yes! You can use other meat such as diced ham, chicken, shrimp, beef, pork, or tofu for a vegetarian version.
How do I prevent fried rice from sticking?
The most foolproof way to prevent your rice from sticking is by using day-old rice, cooking with a hot wok or skillet, and using enough oil to prevent the rice from sticking and clumping up.
Spam fried rice made with spam, eggs, vegetables and tossed with an addicting savory sauce is a quick and easy recipe that can be served within 15 minutes.
Mix the seasoning. In a small mixing bowl, mix the soy sauce, fish sauce, chicken bouillon powder, white pepper, and sesame oil. Set aside.
Cook the eggs. Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the eggs and lightly scramble until cooked through and then remove and set aside.
Cook the spam. Then in the same wok or skillet over medium-high heat, add the spam and cook until all the edges are golden brown about 3-5 minutes. Remove and set aside.
Cook the aromatics and vegetables. In the wok skillet, add 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil and heat over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and white part of green onions and saute for 1 minute until fragrant. Then add the frozen vegetables and toss for 1-2 minutes.
Combine. Next add the rice, eggs, and Spam and toss until combined. Then add the soy sauce, fish sauce, sugar, chicken bouillon powder, sesame oil, and white pepper. Toss until the rice is evenly coated and everything is thoroughly mixed.
Garnish. Garnish with the green parts of the green onions and enjoy!
Notes
Use day-old rice. To prevent your rice from becoming mushy, use day-old rice that is cold and slightly drier for the best texture.
Have all the ingredients prepped. When you begin, the cooking process is quick, and having all your ingredients measured, prepped, and ready to go will ensure success.
Use a wok or large skillet. Using a wok is ideal because the high walls conduct heat evenly and prevent the rice from falling out when tossed together.
Make sure that your pan is hot before cooking. Before you begin cooking the spam, make sure your wok or skillet is hot to add a nice sear to your spam and to prevent your rice from becoming mushy.
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