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Growing up, Spam Fried Rice was one of my favorite meals – and as an adult, I love it even more because it is a weeknight dinner MVP. It uses leftover rice, is versatile (can use different proteins OR make it vegetarian) and is PACKED with flavor!! I call Spam Fried Rice my fridge clean out meal because you can throw in any vegetables that you need to use up and it’ll still taste great!
Watch the Spam Fried Rice Recipe Video Below!
Table of Contents
Ingredients for Spam Fried Rice
- 2 cups white rice:
- I prefer long grain white rice for Spam Fried Rice due to the lower moisture content but you can substitute with another white rice, if needed.
- Fresh rice will not work, as it will be too moist and your fried rice will be soggy. You have two options:
- You can use leftover old rice (rice that was cooked previously and refrigerated for at least one day).
- You can cook rice in preparation for Spam Fried Rice and lay it out on a baking sheet uncovered, in the refrigerator overnight. This will help dry out the rice.
- 1 can Spam 12 oz – I like to cut the spam into small cubes.
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup frozen veggies – I use frozen veggies for Spam Fried Rice for convenience; however, you can use fresh veggies of your choice if you prefer! My only recommendation would be to cut the vegetables into similar shaped sizes so they cook evenly.
- 4 scallions greens and whites separated
- 1/2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp white pepper – I love white pepper and it’s used very commonly in Chinese cooking (another “secret ingredient” for cooking restaurant quality Chinese food at home). It has an earthier flavor than black pepper. I recommend having some in your pantry but if you can’t find it, you can always substitute with black pepper.
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp msg – I like to use MSG in my cooking but this is always optional.
- 3 tbsp low sodium light soy sauce – I recommend low sodium soy sauce (“light” or “all-purpose”) as the Spam has enough salt for this dish; therefore, some people may find regular soy sauce makes the Spam Fried Rice too salty.
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- sesame seeds garnish
- 2 tbsp neutral oil: My favorite neutral oil is avocado oil, but you can also use canola or vegetable oil! I don’t use olive oil when cooking food for two reasons: 1. It has a low burning point and 2. I find that the flavor profile does not usually go with the dish.
Optional Garnishes
- roasted sesame seeds
- fried egg, sunny side up
Recipe Instructions: Spam Fried Rice
1. Dice and Cook Spam
Dice spam into bite size pieces. In a wok or large pan, cook for over medium high heat in 1 tbsp neutral oil until crispy and the fat has rendered, about 2-3 minutes. Remove and set aside.
2. Sauté Aromatics and Vegetables
In the same oil, add garlic and scallion whites for 15 seconds, followed by frozen veggies for 1-2 minutes. The rendered fat from the spam will give the aromatics and vegetables tons of flavor!
3. Cook Eggs
Push the vegetables to the side and add 1 tbsp of neutral oil to the empty part of the pan. Add beaten egg until 80% cooked through and mix into the vegetables.
4. Add Rice and Seasonings
Add the rice and cook until dry over high heat. Season with soy sauce, salt, white pepper, sugar, msg. Be sure to add the soy sauce around the edge of the hot pan. This will sear the soy sauce and give a better flavor than just adding it to the rice. Add back cooked spam and toss until thoroughly mixed.
5. Garnish and Serve!
Finish your Spam Fried Rice with a drizzle of sesame oil and sesame seeds and enjoy!
PRO TIPS
Expert Tips for the BEST Spam Fried Rice
Success is in the Prep
For a recipe that comes together extremely quickly, the key to pulling Spam Fried Rice off successfully is having your ingredients prepped and in bowls right next to your wok or pan! Have your rice, shrimp, seasonings, and aromatics ready and easily accessible during the cooking process.
Customize to Your Liking:
- Protein: While Spam Fried Rice only includes Spam, you can also do this with sliced chicken, shrimp or steak!
- If you want a full recipe for a different protein, here are some suggestions:
- Feeling like chicken? Check out my Chicken Fried Rice.
- For a recipe with shrimp, check out my Shrimp Fried Rice.
- Want a vegetarian option? If you can include eggs, try Egg Fried Rice. If you love mushrooms, you’re going to love my Mushroom Fried Rice!
- If you like spicy or the flavors of kimchi, try my Kimchi Fried Rice.
- If you want a full recipe for a different protein, here are some suggestions:
- Vegetables: You can use any vegetable you like – just make sure to chop them to similar sizes to ensure they cook evenly. Here are some vegetables you can use:
- corn
- carrots
- peas
- mushrooms
- broccoli
- asparagus
- zucchini
- cabbage
Do not use freshly steamed rice!
Freshly steamed rice has too much moisture, which will make your fried rice soggy and mushy. If you need to dry out your rice quickly, I like to lay the rice in a thin layer on a baking sheet and place in the refrigerator uncovered (at least overnight is best)
Storage and Reheating
You can store this in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
I like to reheat Spam Fried Rice in a hot wok or pan; it only takes a few minutes and I like that not only does it get each rice grain warmed but it also helps the texture of the refrigerated fried rice. You can also microwave it.
What to Serve with Spam Fried Rice
I would eat Spam Fried Rice with some simple sides for a quick and easy weeknight dinner – Korean side dishes are the best for this, as they’re usually light in flavor so they can be eaten with anything! Try my super quick Korean Cucumber Salad, refreshing Korean Bean Sprouts, or crunchy Korean Broccoli Salad. If you want some more protein, Korean Egg Roll would be perfect with Spam Fried Rice.
Cooking With a Wok (Alternatives)
By now, you know that I LOVE cooking with my wok! It is my #1 most recommended kitchen tool, as I believe it is perfect for high-heat cooking and results in restaurant quality Chinese food!
If it is your first time cooking with a wok, make sure to read my “How To Season a Wok” post. There is a video included that shows exactly how to season your brand new wok and how to maintain it so it lasts for years.
If you cannot or do not want to use a wok, you can use a large pan, cast iron, or even a dutch oven.
My KEY TIP would be to avoid crowding your pan – crowding can lead to your Spam Fried Rice not cooking thoroughly and becoming mushy. If you think your dish will be crowded, use a larger pan, cast iron, or dutch oven, OR cook in batches.
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Spam Fried Rice
Ingredients
- 2 cups white rice, cooked, and dried out overnight in the refrigerator
- 1 can Spam, 12 oz
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup frozen veggies
- 4 scallions, greens and whites separated
- 1/2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp white pepper
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp msg
- 3 tbsp low sodium light soy sauce
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- sesame seeds, garnish
- 2 tbsp neutral oil
Instructions
- Dice spam into bite size pieces. In a wok or large pan, cook for over medium high heat in 1 tbsp neutral oil until crispy and the fat has rendered, about 2-3 minutes. Remove and set aside.
- In the same oil, add garlic and scallion whites for 15 seconds, followed by frozen veggies for 1-2 minutes
- Push the vegetables to the side and add 1 tbsp of neutral oil to the empty part of the pan. Add beaten egg until 80% cooked through and mix into the vegetables.
- Add the rice and cook until dry over high heat. Season with soy sauce, salt, white pepper, sugar, msg. Add back cooked spam and toss until thoroughly mixed.
- Finish with a drizzle of sesame oil and sesame seeds and enjoy!
Notes
-
- Protein: While this dish only includes Spam, you can also do this with sliced chicken, shrimp or steak!
-
- Vegetables: You can use any vegetable you like – just make sure to chop them to similar sizes to ensure they cook evenly such as corn, carrots, peas, mushrooms, broccoli, asparagus, zucchini, or cabbage!
STORAGE & REHEATING
You can store this in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days. I like to reheat Spam Fried Rice in a hot wok or pan; it only takes a few minutes and I like that not only does it get each rice grain warmed but it also helps the texture of the refrigerated fried rice. You can also microwave it with a damp towel over the rice to create steam.Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
A staple in my house! What’s not to love about spam and rice?! Yummy!
Once you have all your ingredients ready, this dish comes together so quickly! Tasty and filling, you’re going to want to make this one!
i love spam fried rice! this recipe was so easy and quick! thank you!
The best fried rice for spam lovers!
A crowd-pleaser!
Gotta love spam and rice!