Spam Loco Moco

Name: Spam Loco Moco
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: ½ (12-oz can) less sodium Spam (cut into 4 slices); 2 eggs; 2 cups cooked white rice; Green onion (thinly sliced; for garnish); 1 tbsp unsalted butter; ¼ onion (thinly sliced); 2-3 cloves garlic (minced); 1 cup low sodium beef broth; 2 tbsp low sodium soy sauce; 1 tsp ketchup; 1 tbsp corn starch; Salt and pepper (to taste)

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Spam Loco Moco is a simple and budget-friendly variation of traditional Hawaiian Loco Moco. This tasty one-pan dish consists of golden-fried Spam instead of hamburger meat, and is served with white rice, sunny side up eggs, and a delicious brown gravy. It’s the ultimate breakfast or late-night meal that's full of flavor and quick to make!

Two bowls bowl of rice, Spam, fried egg, and gravy with a fork and knife to the side.

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🌺 What Is Loco Moco?
🧂 Ingredients
👩🏻‍🍳 How To Make Spam Loco Moco
💭 Top Tips
🥡 Storing & Freezing
📖 Recipe FAQs
🍽 Looking For More Hawaiian Recipes?
📋 Recipe

🌺 What Is Loco Moco?

A visit to the Hawaiian islands is never complete until you try their famous Spam Musubi, Hawaiian Mac Salad, and Loco Moco! Traditionally, Loco Moco (or Loko Moko) consists of perfectly steamed white rice topped with a beefy hamburger patty and fried eggs. It's then smothered in a sweet and savory brown gravy sauce. Needless to say, Loco Moco is wonderfully rich, indulgent, and comforting!

The origins of Hawaiian Loco Moco can be traced back to the 1940s. No one knows the exact origins for sure, but the small town of Hilo on the Big Island usually gets the credit. Loco Moco is reported to have been born out of requests from diners and surfers looking for a budget-friendly yet satisfying meal. Jokingly, the dish was called loco for "crazy". Moco happens to rhyme - plus it's fun to say - and so the name stuck!

Loko Moko is designed to be comfort food and not meant to be fancy at all. However, there are many variations in Hawaiian homes and restaurants across the island. Some chefs go so far as to include truffle gravy and wagyu meat for an extravagant dish! On the opposite end of the spectrum is this delicious Spam Loco Moco. It's a simple twist yet just as tasty and comforting as the original!

Why You'll Love It

Budget-friendly: Keeping in line with Hawaiian Loco Mo’s humble origins, this Spam Loco Moco replaces pricey hamburger meat with Spam for a super affordable dish. Plus, the remaining ingredients are all fridge and pantry staples!
Quick and easy: From start to finish, this authentic, one-pan Spam and eggs recipe is ready in just 20 minutes. Plus it only requires 11 ingredients! It's perfect for a spontaneous snack or late night dish.
Perfect for any meal: Spam Loco Moco is originally a breakfast recipe, but it can truly be enjoyed any time of day! Serve it with Bang Bang Brussels Sprouts or Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Glaze for a well-balanced lunch or dinner.

🧂 Ingredients

Spam: A canned meat product that tastes like a combination of pork and ham. I always get the 25% less sodium version.
Eggs: I prefer sunny side up eggs, but cook them to your desired doneness. For more egg recipes, try Vietnamese Egg Omelet (Trung Chien), Turkey and Egg Sandwich, or Kimchi Deviled Eggs
White rice: Authentic Spam Loco Moco is made with short-grain white rice, also called sushi rice. It contains more starch, making it a little stickier and chewier than long grain rice. Feel free to use any type of grain you'd like.
Aromatics: Green onion, yellow onion, and garlic add a lot of flavor to an otherwise simple Spam Loco Moco.
Butter: A modest amount of butter adds richness and flavor to the dish. I recommend using unsalted butter for better control of the sodium.
Beef broth: To form the base of the brown gravy. I cook exclusively with bone broth for its many health benefits. You can find it in the refrigerated or frozen section. If using regular beef broth, I recommend low-sodium.
Soy sauce: Adds a savory, umami taste to the sauce.
Ketchup: Ketchup is a source of sweetness and flavor. If using unsweetened or paleo ketchup, add ½ teaspoon of sweetener of choice and adjust as needed. I recommend coconut sugar or something mild in flavor (as opposed to honey or maple syrup).
Corn starch: Used to thicken the gravy.

Substitutions & Variations

Replace the Spam with any other protein such as wagyu beef, ground beef, turkey, Hawaiian shrimp, sausage, bacon, tofu, teriyaki beef or chicken, and more.
Instead of white rice, use any type of grain. Brown rice, quinoa, or farro would taste great.
Add ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce to the gravy for more umami taste.
Spice it up with a sprinkle of red pepper flakes or a drizzle of sriracha, hot sauce, or chili oil.
To make this gluten-free, replace the soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos.
To make this dairy-free, replace butter with oil.

👩🏻‍🍳 How To Make Spam Loco Moco

⬇️ Please scroll down to the recipe card to see full ingredient amounts and instructions.

STEP ONE: First, heat a dry non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add sliced Spam in a single layer. Let cook for 2-3 minutes without moving so it can crisp up and caramelize. Then flip and repeat. After both sides are golden, transfer to a plate and set aside.

STEP TWO: Take the skillet off the heat to cool for 2-3 minutes. Then return to medium heat. There should be enough fat from the Spam but if your pan isn't very non-stick, you may need a little oil or butter.

Then crack 2 eggs in and cook to desired doneness. I prefer sunny side up eggs, which only requires 2-4 minutes until whites are set. Transfer to another plate and set aside.

STEP THREE: In a small bowl, whisk together beef broth, soy sauce, ketchup, corn starch, salt, and pepper. Whisk until homogenous in color. Then set aside.

Cooking onion, garlic, and sauce for gravy and assembly line for components.

STEP FOUR: Heat the same pan over medium heat again and melt the butter. Add onion and a pinch of salt, cooking for 2-3 minutes until edges start to get translucent. Then stir in garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant.

Stir the beef broth mixture thoroughly to get all the corn starch from the bottom, then pour into the pan. Simmer for 4-5 minutes, stirring often, until thickened and dark brown. Season to taste.

STEP FIVE: Get ready to assemble! Divide rice between two bowls. Top with Spam, a generous amount of brown gravy, and an egg. Season with salt and pepper, then finish with more gravy and green onion. Feel free to top with furikake, sesame seeds, chili oil, or more.

Two bowls of Spam Loco Moco, gravy, and green onion with a fork, knife, and linen to the side.

💭 Top Tips

Cook the eggs however you’d like. Sunny side up eggs is the traditional way to serve Loco Moco Spam, but it tastes great no matter what! Fried eggs, over easy, or even scrambled would be delicious!
Create the perfect sunny side up egg by frying it in the skillet with Spam grease or a small pat butter just until the whites set. Do not flip it over! You want the yolk to be runny to enrichen the gravy even more.
If you'd like a fried egg with your Spam Loco Moco, follow the same cooking method used for a sunny side up egg, but cook it over medium heat with more oil or butter. Fry until the edges are lightly browned and use a spoon to baste some oil or butter over the egg whites. Just make sure to not overcook the yolk!
When assembling your Spam Loco Moco, don’t forget to sprinkle a pinch of salt and pepper on the egg.
Spam is a salt bomb, even with low-sodium varieties. As a result, make sure your gravy isn’t too salty, or your dish will be overpowered.
Make the brown gravy using a cold cornstarch slurry. To do so, mix the ingredients in a separate bowl and whisk thoroughly to make sure the starch is completely dissolved first. Do not directly add the starch into the pan or else you'll end up with a lumpy gravy.

🥡 Storing & Freezing

Storing: Spam Loco Moco is best served fresh. However, you can still store cooled leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Freezing: Separate the ingredients into separate freezer-safe containers, and keep the rice and gravy in the freezer for up to 3 months. Spam freezes well for up to 6 months.

Reheating: I recommend reheating Spam Loco Moco in the microwave or on the stove until your desired temperature is reached. Again, I recommend making the eggs fresh.
If reheating from frozen, let your ingredients thaw in the fridge overnight first.

Make Ahead: Loco Moco Spam is best served immediately while it’s still warm. If you make it ahead of time, I recommend only cooking the rice, Spam, and sauce 1-2 days in advance. Cook the eggs right before serving.

A burst fried egg on top of Spam, rice, and gravy for Spam Loco Moco.

📖 Recipe FAQs

Is Spam popular in Hawaii?

Yes, the consumption of Spam is deeply engrained in Hawaiian culture. There’s even an annual Spam festival! Not only is Spam affordable and versatile, but the canned product is also shelf-stable which makes it an easy grab for islanders.

What does loco moco mean in Hawaii? Why is it called loco moco?

The dish is said to have received its name when a teenage diner referred to the combination as “loco” or crazy. Moco was just a fun addition, and so "loco moco" was born!

What is Hawaiian Spam called?

Spam is so popular in Hawaii that it is often referred to as “the Hawaiian steak.”

Can you eat Spam raw?

Due to the fact that Spam is already cooked, it can be eaten cold straight from the can. However, most people find it much more appetizing when warmed up. And when pan fried, it develops a delicious caramelized sear.