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Hawaiian Rice with diced ham, pineapple, veggies and eggs creates the perfect balance of salty, sweet, savory flavors. Serve it alongside your main dish for an amazing side!
Looking for the ultimate side dish that brings the lūʻau straight to your table? This ultra satisfying Hawaiian rice is here for the job!
Loaded with savory ham, sweet pineapple, savory eggs, and fresh vegetables, it is everything I look for in a fun and festive side dish.
Plus, it is a great way to use up leftover rice and leftover ham!
If you’re in for a Hawaiian theme, make my Huli Huli Chicken and my Hawaiian Macaroni Salad to complete the meal!
The way I see it, this easy Hawaiian rice is perfect for entertaining guests or meal prep alike. If you enjoy having a carb side dish to go with your meals, it provides all the flavors you could possibly need. Plus, it can double as a main dish when you’re feeling frisky.
Ingredients for Hawaiian Rice:
Long-Grain White Rice: Hawaiian rice and fried rice recipes are made using leftover white rice. If you don’t have a lot of leftover white rice, no sweat. You can easily cook it the day before in your rice cooker or on the stove top and wait until the next day to use it.
Stick with a long grain white rice, like jasmine rice.
Ham: A little infusion of protein and salty savory flavor! Pick up a ham steak or a small roast and chop it into bite-sized pieces for this Hawaiian style fried rice. Leftover ham works great too!
Other great meat options are hot dogs, Portuguese sausage, Hawaiian chicken, or shredded pork.
Red Bell Pepper: Red pepper adds a sweet flavor and the slightest hint of smoke.
Fresh Garlic: Contributes to the savory flavor.
Green Onions: Subtle onion flavor comes from chopped green onion.
Liquid Aminos or Light Soy Sauce: Deep in umami flavor, liquid aminos or soy sauce gives Hawaiian rice a classic fried rice flavor.
Eggs: Just like a classic fried rice recipe, Hawaiian rice includes a couple of scrambled eggs. This adds some soft texture, extra protein, and some flavor.
Fresh or Canned Pineapple: A burst of sweet juiciness comes from pineapple. This all-star ingredient is what makes this Hawaiian fried rice recipe something special.
Avocado Oil: Used to stir fry the veggies and fry the rice in a frying pan, we need a quality cooking oil. I like using avocado oil because it has a high smoke point and contains a decent source of omega-3 fatty acids. You can also toss in some toasted sesame oil if you love the flavor.
Recipe Customizations
- If you love yellow onions, toss them in with the bell pepper to soften at the beginning of cooking.
- Sprinkle the finished fried rice with 1/2 cup of chopped macadamia nuts for a nutty flavor and crunch.
- Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of oyster sauce for even more sweet and savory flavor.
- For some extra sweetness, drizzle some pineapple juice into the skillet during the cooking process.
- Add extra vegetables like green beans, broccoli, carrots, bok choy, etc.
How to Make Hawaiian Rice:
Cook the white rice a day ahead of time (or use leftover rice) and store in the refrigerator.
Heat the avocado oil in a large pot or skillet (I use a Dutch oven) over medium heat. Add the chopped bell pepper, garlic, and ham and sauté until the bell pepper has softened and the ham has a slight golden brown crust, about 3-5 minutes.
Stir in the cooked rice, green onions, pineapple, and liquid aminos and mix well.
In a separate skillet, scramble the eggs until cooked through, then transfer them to the pot with the Hawaiian fried rice.
Serve with your main entree, and enjoy!
Store leftover rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
That’s it! The next time you’re craving a tropical experience, or you simply long for a delicious fried rice, whip up this easy recipe.
If you love making homemade fried rice recipes, also try out some of my other personal favorites.
More Fried Rice Recipes:
- Kimchi Fried Rice
- Red Curry Fried Rice
- Pineapple Fried Rice
- Turmeric Chicken Fried Rice
- Basil Fried Rice
Hawaiian Rice
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups white rice, 5 cups cooked
- 2 Tbsp avocado oil
- 1 cup red bell pepper, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups cubed ham*
- 4 green onions, chopped
- 1 cup fresh or canned pineapple, chopped
- 4 Tbsp liquid aminos , or low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 large eggs
Instructions
- Cook the white rice a day ahead of time (or use leftover rice) and store in the refrigerator.
- Heat the avocado oil in a large pot or skillet (I use a Dutch oven) over medium heat. Add the chopped bell pepper, garlic, and ham and sauté until the bell pepper has softened and the ham has a slight golden brown crust, about 3-5 minutes.
- Stir in the cooked rice, green onions, pineapple, and liquid aminos and mix well. In a separate skillet, scramble the eggs until cooked through, then transfer them to the pot with the Hawaiian fried rice.
- Serve with your main entree, and enjoy!
- Store leftover rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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