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This Hawaiian fried rice is loaded with sweet pineapple, ham, and veggies and is so much better than takeout! Everyone goes crazy over this meal, and it’s definitely a family favorite!
Is there anything better than food that tastes like its restaurant quality, but you can make it (and have as much as you want!) at home? Try out these other delicious better than takeout recipes and make this a meal that you can’t resist! I love this Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef, sticky Asian glazed chicken, Cashew Chicken, or these Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao).
A Reader’s Review
“This is the absolute best fried rice I have ever made. My husband wants it every week and I am happy to oblige. Thank you for this deliciousness!”
Better Than Takeout Hawaiian Fried Rice
We made the mistake of actually ordering takeout last week. I was just too tired to make anything, but… it was a huge mistake. Every time I give in to ordering takeout, I wish I would have made my ‘better than takeout‘ recipes at home. I promise that this Hawaiian Fried Rice is better than any restaurant! It started with this sweet and sour chicken recipe on the blog. I didn’t believe it was possible to make something at home that was better than takeout. But it is. And that recipe is my favorite recipe on the site!
It is possible to make better than takeout at home! And if you’re going to make homemade takeout chicken, then you MUST have rice to go with it! This Hawaiian fried rice is so delicious, and that secret ingredient (pineapple!) really takes it over the top and adds a deliciously refreshing taste.
Ingredients in Hawaiian Fried Rice
This combination of ingredients is SO delicious and really takes fried rice to a whole new level. I can’t get over the blends of flavors! Check out the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact measurements.
- Ham: Sometimes, to save on time, I buy the ham at the store that is already cubed and ready to go!
- White Onion: Make sure that you are cutting up your vegetables to be similar in size so that they all cook at the same rate.
- Red Bell Pepper: Seed and chop this up to mix into the rice.
- Vegetable Oil: You can also use olive oil if you prefer.
- Eggs: I like to use large eggs whenever I am cooking in the kitchen.
- Rice: Cook your rice beforehand. Actually, day-old rice mixes in the best for this recipe! I like to use jasmine rice.
- Pineapple Tidbits: You can use fresh pineapple, or you can use a can of them to make things easier.
- Sesame Oil: This adds THE best flavor to the rice.
- Soy Sauce: You can use more or less depending on the flavor that you are trying to achieve.
- Green Onions: These are an optional garnish that I like to put on top, but I wouldn’t skip them! They add in a lot of color and flavor.
How to Make Hawaiian Fried Rice
This is loaded with so many amazing things. The Hawaiian Ham and Pineapple combination is awesome! I love how the pineapple adds a sweet taste with every bite. It balances out all of the flavors. Plus, this is so easy to make!
- Cook Veggies: Preheat a large skillet or wok to medium heat. Pour vegetable oil in the bottom. Add chopped ham, white onion, and red bell pepper and fry until tender.
- Cook the Eggs: Slide the ham, onion, and red bell pepper to the side, and pour the beaten eggs onto the other side. Using a spatula, scramble the eggs. Once cooked, mix the eggs with the vegetable mix.
- Combine and Add Sauce: Add the rice and pineapple to the veggie, ham and egg mixture. Pour the soy sauce and sesame oil on top. Stir and fry the rice mixture and veggie mixture until heated through and combined. Add chopped green onions if desired
Use Day Old Cooked Rice
A trick that will really make this rice turn out like takeout is if you cook your rice the day before and store it in your fridge overnight! Using fresh rice can sometimes make this turn out mushy, but if you use leftover rice, it has the PERFECT texture for this Hawaiian fried rice!
How to Store Leftovers
If you love Hawaiian fried rice as much as I do, then you know that it’s always better the next day!! The flavors have a chance to blend together, and the texture is just about perfect.
- In the Refrigerator: Once your rice has cooled, then you can store it in your fridge in an airtight container. It will last about 3-4 days. You can reheat it in your microwave until it’s warmed through!
More Fried Rice Recipes to Try
I love making ithis Hawaiian fried rice because I am reminded how incredible it is! Ditch the takeout tonight and make this for your family! They will love it. Or, try out these other varitaions that are just as delicious!
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Hawaiian Fried Rice
Ingredients
- 1½-2 cups ham chopped
- 1 small white onion chopped
- 1 red bell pepper seeded and chopped
- 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs lightly beaten
- 3 cups rice cooked
- 1 cup pineapple tidbits
- 1 Tbs sesame oil
- 2-3 Tablespoons soy sauce (more or less to taste)
- 2 Tbsp chopped green onions (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat a large skillet or wok to medium heat. Pour vegetable oil into the bottom. Add chopped ham, white onion, and red bell pepper and fry until tender.
- Slide the ham, onion, and red bell pepper to the side, and pour the beaten eggs onto the other side. Using a spatula, scramble the eggs. Once cooked, mix the eggs with the vegetable mix.
- Add the rice and pineapple to the veggie, ham, and egg mixture. Pour the soy sauce and sesame oil on top. Stir and fry the rice and veggie mixture until heated through and combined. Add chopped green onions if desired.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This was just okay… it was quite bland. With just the pineapple tidbits and not the juice, it lacked flavor. I ended up adding the entire 20oz can of pineapple AND the juice, significantly more soy sauce, black pepper, a healthy pinch of crushed red pepper and garlic powder which helped a lot. But its still missing something.
I’m adding some ginger and more soy to mine as well as a little brown sugar and MSG. The sweet/savory combination comes out more prounounced that way. But like all matters of taste, it’s subjective. I thought this was a great base recipe to tweak into your own personal dish.
This is the absolute best fried rice I have ever made. My husband wants it every week and I am happy to oblige. Thank you for this deliciousness ?
Peggy, thank you so much for your comment and review!
Was excited to try this variation. I tweaked it and used leftover brown rice, added corn and peas, deli off cuts instead of ham. Loved the flavour! Will cook this regularly from now on. Thank you
Sesame overpowered the dish as there was no real seasonings in the dish. Felt kind of bland
Sesame oil was overpowering. Would maybe try again but omit.
Do you drain the pineapple?
Yes!
It was really good, I had leftover coconut rice that worked really well with the pineapple and vegan ham. I also added peas and garlic!
That sounds delicious! I’m glad to hear that you liked it!!
Hmm, I would have to sub cauliflower for the rice, diabetic.
My local grocery stores in southern Maryland now have cauliflower rice. I’m also a diabetic for 21 years.
Great recipe! Just off ther card, this recipe is wonderful. I was wondering how to use the rest of our Christmas ham and came across this recipe. I would make this again.
The whole family loved it. I cut fresh pineapple to use in it. Next time, I will add some garlic and maybe shine crushed red pepper flakes. Delish!
Has anyone tried this with chicken? Instead of ham?
Found this recipe around Christmas last year.
My son & I devoured it.
Shared it with some relatives who also loved it and now make it regularly.
It has also been a huge hit at picnics and pot luck dinners.
Delicious and so simple to make. Thank you.
Easy and quick to make with lots of nutrients.
Boogily boo
This was delicious. It’s going into regular rotation. Thanks for posting.