Easy Spam Fried Rice Recipe

Spam fried rice is an easy hearty recipe made with everyday simple ingredients. It’s a very simple recipe using pantry staples like rice, Spam, potatoes, egg, and aromatics. 

This was the very first fried rice I ever recall eating. Growing up, it was one of those humble meals that my mom would frequently prepare for my family. I vividly remember picking out the Spam pieces because I wanted more potatoes, which was ironically my favorite part of the fried rice at the time.

My recipe is an adaptation to my mother’s with the addition of eggs and scallions, which are both ingredients commonly found in fried rice. You get delicious Spam cubes, fluffy scrambled eggs, veggies, tender potatoes, and flavorful seasoned fried rice in each bite! But what really set it apart was a drizzle of ketchup on top of the fried rice before serving. I don’t know if it’s because it’s nostalgic but I think the sweetness and tanginess of the ketchup complete the dish. If ketchup isn’t your vibe, a spoonful of chili oil will give it a flavor boost and a lil kick in your bootyhole. 😉

Give this a try and let me know what you think! And if you are Spam lover like me, you might want to check out my kimchi egg & spam onigarazu and spam rice balls recipes, too!

Why you’ll love this recipe

This Spam fried rice is incredibly quick and easy to make and also a great way to use up leftover rice. It’s actually one of my go-to homemade comfort foods for both busy and lazy days.

Like most of my fried rice recipes, this one is easily customizable! You can use any variant of Spam that you prefer like tocino, jalapeno, teriyaki, bacon, you name it! Sometimes, I also like to load it up with frozen mixed veggies or the veggies I have in the fridge for added nutrition. Leftovers would work, too!

Spam fried rice can be made ahead of time so you can prepare a big batch for meal prep. Place them in portion bags, and then freeze them for up to 2 weeks. To reheat, simply place them in the microwave on high for 2 minutes or until heated through. 

Spam Fried Rice Ingredients & Substitutions

Cooked cold rice — For fried rice, I prefer using medium-grain or long-grain rice. Ideally, you’ll want to use these two rice varieties since they are not as sticky or starchy as short grain. The best fried rice is made with cold day-old rice because it’s drier than freshly cooked rice. The rice becomes fluffy, and the individual grains separate, ready to soak up all the flavors and seasonings from additional ingredients. A hack to using freshly cooked rice is to scoop it out onto a bowl or tray and stick it uncovered in the fridge for a few hours. This will dry out the rice and it’ll be ready to use! 

Spam — I used Spam Lite, but you can use any variant that you prefer, including the original or the flavored ones I mentioned above. Be mindful of the amount of salt that you put into the rice as some variants are saltier than others. If using regular Spam, reduce the amount of salt added by 1/4 teaspoon.

Potato — Growing up my mom added potatoes and it was my favorite part! It makes the whole dish heartier and also helps balance out the saltiness of the Spam. Any kind of potato will work. 

Scallions — The main aromatic of this dish. I separated the white and green parts and only sauteed the white and garnished with the green. 

Eggs — For added protein. I also like the added soft fluffy texture scrambled eggs bring. But you can also top your fried rice bowls with a fried egg instead. For other protein options, you can substitute the eggs with leftover chicken, pork, and even tofu.

Salt — For seasoning

Ground black pepper — Also for seasoning and a peppery kick

Neutral oil — For sauteeing. I prefer using avocado oil but any neutral-tasting oil would work including corn, canola, vegetable, grapeseed, and sunflower seed. 

Ketchup — This is optional, but I like to add it right before serving for the sweet tangy flavor it gives. I think it’s delicious with the savory Spam. 

Chili oil — Also optional, you can add it for some spice. Can be substituted with sriracha.

How to Prepare Easy Spam Fried Rice

Step 1: Chop the ingredients

Start by prepping the ingredients. Dice the Spam and potatoes into 1/2 inch cubes. Chop the scallions and keep the white and green parts separated.

Step 2: Beat the eggs

In a small bowl, beat 2 eggs with 1/4 teaspoon of salt.

Step 3: Make scrambled eggs

In a wok or pan, heat 1 tablespoon of neutral oil over medium-high heat. Add the beaten eggs and scramble until 90% of the way cooked through. Remove and set aside.

Step 4: Cook the Spam cubes

In the same wok or pan, heat 1 tablespoon of neutral oil over medium-high heat. Toss in the Spam and cook until browned on all sides, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove and set aside.

Step 5: Saute the scallions

Add the remaining tablespoon of neutral oil in the same wok or pan over medium-high heat. Add the white part of the scallions and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.

Step 6: Add potatoes and rice

Toss in the potatoes and cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until cooked all the way through. Add the cold day-old rice and break up the rice using a spatula. Season with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and ground black pepper.

Step 7: Add other ingredients

Add back in the Spam, eggs, and green part of the scallions. Toss to mix well. At this point, taste to see if additional salt and/or pepper is needed.

Step 8: Serve

*Optional* Serve with ketchup and/or chili oil. Enjoy!

Preparation Tips for Easy Spam Fried Rice

Here are the best tips for making the most delicious Spam Fried Rice every time:

• Use cooked rice that is cold and at least one day old. When stored in the fridge, the rice dries out which allows for each individual rice grain to separate when cooking. This will prevent the fried rice from clumping together. Ideally, you’ll want to use medium-grain or long-grain rice since it is not as sticky or starchy as short-grain. 
• If you do not have cold day-old rice prepared, you can use freshly cooked rice. Transfer the rice to a bowl or spread it out onto a tray. Place it in the fridge uncovered for a few hours to dry out. 
• Sauteing the Spam separately before adding it back into the pan with the rice will deepen the flavor. The Spam gets slightly crispy, which will give each bite a nice texture contrast. 
• Feel free to get creative with the ingredients! You can toss in vegetables like diced carrots, peas, corn, and shredded cabbage to make it heartier. You can also add bacon, chicken, or pork, depending on what you prefer and what leftovers you have. Remember, you’re the chef, you can do what you want! Just make sure you’re sautéing the ingredients first to make sure that they are all cooked and a bit dried out of excess moisture.
• If you have a wok, I recommend using it! A wok is the best for making fried rice because it holds and distributes heat evenly, and the large surface area helps ensure that each of the individual grains of rice really gets toasted. But if you don’t have one, I recommend using any wide-mouthed and heavy-bottomed cooking pan. This will also do the job of evenly distributing the heat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is canned Spam already cooked?

Yes, canned Spam is already cooked. You can eat it straight out of the can if you want! Other ways to use Spam without cooking is to add them to sandwiches, sliders, pizza, and even pasta sauce. Now you might be asking, do I need to cook the spam before adding it to the rice? Yes! Spam has some liquid in the can, and sauteing it for a few minutes before adding it to the rice will help dry this excess moisture out, as well as crisp up the Spam! The crispy sauteed Spam is more delicious and the texture complements fried rice, too. 

Does Spam need oil to fry?

Although Spam releases its own fat after a while, I personally use a bit of oil just to help speed up the cooking process. This is all about preference – you can cook the spam without any oil.

Can I make spam fried rice without eggs?

Yes! You can skip the scrambled eggs if you prefer your fried rice with no eggs. You can also substitute it with other sources of protein like chicken, pork, or tofu.

What type of rice should I use to make Spam fried rice?

The best type of rice to use for Spam fried rice, and any fried rice in general, is cold-cooked day-old rice! The longer it sits in the fridge, the better because it dries out the rice. The drier it’ll get, and the easier it’ll be to separate and fluff up into individual grains of rice. Now in terms of the type of rice to use, I recommend medium-grain or long-grain rice because they are not as starchy or sticky. as short-grain rice.

What kind of vegetables can I add to spam fried rice?

You can add different kinds of vegetables to your Spam fried rice. For instance, cubed carrots, corn, peas, snow peas, and even shredded cabbage. A general rule to follow is it should be dry and not too moist like tomatoes. It’s also a good idea to saute the vegetables before mixing them into the rice to help get rid of excess moisture.

Can Spam Fried Rice be made in advance?

Yes, absolutely! You can prepare this ahead of time and then store it in the fridge for up to 2 days. To reheat, simply run it through the microwave for a few minutes or reheat it over the stovetop. 

Looking for more easy and delicious fried rice recipes?

Cup Ramen Noodles Fried Rice — If you love ramen and fried rice, then you’ll definitely love this recipe! We’re marrying the two comfort foods into one. The ramen fried rice is flavorful with a fun contrast of texture from the soft, fluffy rice and the crispy ramen. I added canned corn and eggs for more fiber and protein.

Char Siu Fried Rice — I used my leftover air fryer Char Siu to make this fried rice extra special. It’s made fun and festive with green peppers, eggs, scallions, soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, sesame oil, and dark soy sauce.

Lap Cheong (Chinese Sausage) Fried Rice — Treat yourself to a quick and delicious Cantonese-style fried rice with a classic ingredient – Chinese sausage or ‘lap cheong’. Its sweet and salty taste shines through the soy sauce-seasoned fried rice.

Chinese Shrimp Fried Rice — With the combination of succulent shrimp, lightly seasoned rice, a medley of vegetables, and the signature Chinese flavors of soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, and sesame oil, it’s guaranteed to hit the spot every time! 

Garlic Fried Rice — This garlic fried rice is exploding with savory and garlicky flavor in every bite! It’s made even more delicious with chicken bouillon, scallions, and Shaoxing wine. It’s great with fried egg,