Spam really is a wonder. Originally designed to help get meat to our troops unspoiled, it’s spread out from there as a convenient, tasty, and versatile option for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, one enjoyed around the world.

But Spam has something of an unsavory reputation in some circles. Seen as a mystery non-meat, food for poor people, or something you eat when you have absolutely no other choice, it has been unfairly denigrated even though in reality it is just seven simple ingredients.

It’s a great option for preppers thanks to its long shelf life, no doubt, but eating nothing but plain Spam over and over again can drive anyone crazy. If you’re stuck eating a huge stockpile of the stuff, you’ll need some hard-times recipes to help you change things up.

Fried Spam Recipes

Air Fryer Spam Fries

Air fryers are all the rage these days, and if you’re lucky enough to own one of these countertop contraptions, you can use it to make delicious Spam fries.

They are a great low-carb option for a side dish, and a wonderful snack if you’ve got a craving for something salty and savory. These are perfect when accompanied by a variety of dipping sauces.

Island Style Fried Rice

If there is one state in the Union that has gone truly crazy for Spam, it’s Hawaii. Hard to believe, but it’s true! They put it in and on everything, and have developed countless dishes that have Spam as the central ingredient.

This island-style fried rice is one of the very best and is served almost everywhere. It’s savory, filling, and very easy to make and it’s one that I make at least a couple of times a month.

Spam Fried Potatoes

Nothing beats a fried potato, except a Spam fried potato. Frying up the potatoes directly with the Spam imparts to them a salty, crispy texture that is just heavenly. Maybe not the best Spam dish if you are on a diet or watching your sodium intake, but it’s a mighty good one nonetheless!

Spam Filled Fried Doughnuts

I’m sure a few people out in the audience have probably dropped their phones screaming as soon as they read the title, but if you’re like me and you absolutely crave sweet, savory, and salty things, you owe it to yourself to try these Spam-filled fried donuts.

Whether you are a donut fan or a Spam fan, this is a delicacy unlike any other. Don’t be scared, give it a whirl!

Classic Spam Fritters

Spam is really good by itself fried up in its own juices in a cast iron skillet, but you can take it to the next level by gently battering it, and then properly frying it up in a little bit of oil. These fritters are a craving crusher in a way that only fried food is!

Sauerkraut Balls

Spam and sauerkraut might seem like a peculiar combination, but you’ll forget all about that once you actually try them.

The mix of sauerkraut with a little bit of Spam and a few other ingredients makes for a warm, flaky, and slightly crumbly ball that’s a little bit like a hushpuppy. This is a great side dish or finger food to serve at your next gathering.

Easy Spam Recipes

Candied Spam and Bacon

Another sweet and salty delight, this recipe for candied Spam and bacon takes arguably Spam’s best attribute, that savory saltiness, and it cranks it up to 11. But, somehow, it isn’t repulsive. It’s rich, and this isn’t something you want to fill up on, but it’s really quite amazing.

This goes to show how far you can take Spam if you know what you’re doing!

Spam Tacos

Spam makes for a perfect Taco protein in my book. Pork is a great choice generally, and fried-up strips of Spam provide an awesome flavor and also a texture that just works inside the warm embrace of a tortilla with a few choice veggies.

This is one of the very best quick meal options on our list here, and one that I am sure you’ll always turn to.

Spam Burnt Ends

Are you familiar with burnt ends? Those are the little caramelized, charred bits of meat you get whenever you’re properly barbecuing brisket, pork, and more. As it turns out, you can do the same thing with Spam using a little bit of seasoning and a smoker.

Folks, believe me when I say this is a drop-dead delicious Spam recipe that all real fans have to try. And if you aren’t a fan, it’ll make a believer out of you.

Spam and Eggs

You can’t go wrong with the classics. Spam and eggs go together like peanut butter and jelly. Both complement and enhance the other, and this is a protein-packed and nutritious meal that is ready to go in mere minutes.

Spam Maple Grain Bowl

Need something a little bit lighter and fresher to offset the heaviness of Spam? How about a bowl full of fresh, clean veggies and nutritious grains?

You’ll still get plenty of flavor from that delightfully sweetened maple variety Spam. It’s a great way to watch what you eat while still enjoying your favorite lunchtime meat.

Spam Cordon Bleu Kabobs

Delicious, impressive, and ready in minutes, these Cordon Bleu Spam kabobs give you the classic flavor profile of a cordon bleu, only made with economical and widely available Spam. They look a lot more expensive than they really are once they’re coming off the grill!

10 Minute Spam Ramen

Everybody’s been forced to put up with instant ramen noodles before. But the real thing? Real ramen? I don’t know that there’s any food on earth that is more comforting.

Make a fully featured and fairly authentic bowl of ramen with the salty goodness of Spam thanks to this recipe.

Glazed, Baked Spam

Sometimes, it’s hard to improve on perfection and I think the flavor of Spam is pretty well perfect all by itself. But by glazing it with a sticky, savory sauce and then baking it until it turns into a shellac-like crust, you can make it even better.

Spamsilog

A simple Filipino lunch or breakfast plate, this dish combines a fried egg, fried Spam, and fried rice. Honest and tasty, it has everything you need and nothing you don’t.

Hawaiian Spam Pizza

If there’s anything bound to start a riot in the comment section, it’s Hawaiian pizza. Pineapples or no pineapples? Is ham even an authentic pizza topping in the first place? Cats and dogs living together, mass hysteria!

Let’s set the pizza pundits off even harder with Hawaiian Spam pizza. Spoiler alert: it’s super delicious and I regret nothing.

Baked Sweet Potatoes with Spam and Apple

A wonderfully clever dish that combines the fluffy goodness of sweet potatoes with the saltiness of Spam and the crisp sweetness of apples.

I don’t know what it is, but this dish just tastes like fall to me, and is now a tradition in my household. I had some doubters in my family too, right up to the point that they tried it and now they all love it. I’m sure that you and yours will too…

Spam Salad with Garlic Croutons and Gruyere Cheese

The tendency with Spam recipes is to take something that’s already salty and extremely rich and go even saltier. Throttle back a little bit with this refined but still delicious salad that features garlic croutons, gruyere cheese, and of course, a little Spam.

Candied Spam

Yes, there was another candied Spam recipe up above, but this one is an entirely different beast.

This Spam is cooked down to the point where it basically crystallizes into tiny little chunks that are almost like bacon bits, but they have a flavor that’s far more complex and intense. Not for the faint of heart, but totally worth a try!

Kimchi Spam Pizza

You either love kimchi or you hate it, and regardless of where you fall, you probably never thought to put it on pizza. But call me surprised, combined with a little Spam it is truly something unique and absolutely delicious! It’s an American-Asian-Italian crossover that is simply amazing…

Spam Dinner Recipes

Spam Dinner Casserole

Spam has always been an All-Star for rescuing dinner when your first choice didn’t pan out or you are just pressed for time. This classic Spam dinner casserole has been around for a while in various guises, and is still a quick and easy crowd-pleaser.

Spam Red Flannel Hash

Hash is a great one-skillet meal, and this red flannel Spam hash is one of the best there is. Diced Spam, beets, and potatoes combine into a wonderful medley that will satisfy and nourish in equal measure. It’s great for dinner or breakfast, so make a little extra and enjoy those leftovers.

Spam Mac and Cheese

Everyone likes mac and cheese. This is a true statement and anyone that says otherwise is lying. But you can take mac and cheese into new, tasty territory with some choice inclusions.

Ham is popular around the country, so why not try Spam? It just works, and you won’t have to shell out for expensive ham steaks or deli cold cuts to get that flavor you crave.

Spam Carbonara

I don’t want to make any Italian grandmas cry, that’s really not my intention, but I dare say that Spam is the first meat that I’ve ever tried with carbonara that makes it taste truly complete to me.

That saltiness and fattiness of the Spam work wonderfully with those velvety noodles and the brightness of the sauce to make something really special. It’s also a really cheap way to put a pasta dinner together!

Spam Enchiladas

Another legendary Mexican classic that is made even better by the inclusion of Spam. That tanginess of the sauce cuts down the saltiness of the Spam that can sometimes be a little too much. It’s also a textural contrast that works amazingly well with those soft and chewy tortillas.

Spam and Noodle Casserole

Another Spam casserole, this time with noodles in the bargain. If you did nothing but prepare different Spam casseroles once a week for any given dinner, it would be years before you ran out of different variations, but this is one that you don’t want to skip.

Crispy Spam Steak

Nothing wrong with using Spam on its own as your main course. Crisp, thick slices of Spam are as satisfying as any pork chop or country-fried steak. Add your favorite side dishes and you’ve got a meal that anyone will enjoy.

Keto Spam Recipes

Spam Western Omelet

A powerful source of protein, this Spam omelet will keep you running for the better part of a day, and the clean, bright flavors of peppers, onions, and more help to balance out that intense richness of the Spam and heaviness of the egg.

This was my go-to breakfast I used to eat every single day some years back. Every single day and literally for months on end.

Spam and Pinto Beans

Some salty Spam chunks and the heartiness of pinto beans is a meal that any prepper would love to have in a time of crisis. It’s simple, beyond simple, but it will hit the spot and stick to your ribs when you’re working hard and taking care of business.

Keto Hawaiian Pizza Spam Meatballs

Lots of keto-friendly recipes get a bit out there when trying to hit a flavor profile that might not be achievable without the usual, carb-laden ingredients. I’m pleased to report that this isn’t one of them, and really will remind you of a tasty Hawaiian pizza.

Simple Spambled Eggs

Did you see what we did there? Spambled, like scrambled? Because it’s talking about scrambled eggs?

You know what, never mind. It’s Spam and eggs, scrambled eggs at that, and a great keto-friendly recipe.

Bacon Wrapped Spam Bites

If you love Spam but it’s not porky enough, salty enough, or rich enough, there’s only one thing to do: wrap it in bacon. It might be a high-water mark when it comes to culinary excess, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t delicious and utterly satisfying. It is!

Keto Fried Rice

Keto fried rice? Rice and keto typically don’t belong in the same sentence, but this recipe makes it work. If you want to eat lean and clean while still on a keto diet and relying on Spam as your primary protein, look no further.

Spam Sandwich Recipes

Spam Cubano

A good Cuban sandwich is truly a thing of beauty. Crispy, tangy, savory, fatty; it has it all. You don’t need to go out of your way for Cuban pork if you have a can of Spam handy. You might wind up liking this better than the original, dare I say it.

Hot Spam Burgers

I told you Hawaii eats more Spam than any other state in the union, and this is yet another recipe that the state has made famous. Spicy, Sriracha-laced hamburgers are something you didn’t know you needed, but if you are a hot foods lover like I am, you’ll find out soon enough.

Katsu Spam Do

This ever-popular Japanese sandwich has a Spam-inspired keto-friendly riff thanks to low-carb bread. If you want to cut even that out, you can just use lettuce to hold the whole thing together. All the flavors are still there.

Spam Onigirazu

Fried eggs, Spam, rice all bundled up in a seaweed wrapper might not sound too appealing to Western pallets, but anyone who’s ever visited Japan knows just how wrong that notion is.

This little bundle of joy is easy to eat on the go and super satisfying without weighing you down. If you’re trying to flex your muscles with Asian cooking, this is a great place to start.

Simple Spam Sandwich

So much of the time, a sandwich, made in a timely fashion, can indeed avert a crisis when stomachs are rumbling. Nothing fancy, just Spam on bread. But it does the trick.

Grilled Spam Steak Sandwich

A good steak sandwich, though, is pretty hard to beat in the pantheon of sandwiches. Skip the expensive steak or wasting a primo cut on a mere sandwich and use Spam instead with lots of the same toppings you’d normally see. It’s a nice combo!

Spam Recipes with Rice

Spam Musubi

Yet another recipe brought to us by Hawaii, may they forever have our thanks, this teriyaki glazed delicacy is almost elemental: Spam, rice, nori wrapper. You sushi and sashimi fans out there owe it to yourself to try this one.

Traditional Spam Fried Rice

Spam is a wonderful protein for making delicious and traditional fried rice. Part of what makes fried rice so good in the first place is that almost undefinable umami flavor, and adding Spam to it just takes it to entirely new heights of addictiveness.

Spam Tocino

A sweet and tangy Americanized version of the Filipino dish, this is a great option for just trying something new or if you want to taste a popular street food from that faraway country.

You’ll need to spend a little bit of time marinating the Spam, but other than that this recipe requires no real effort.

Spam Musubi Rice Dog

The flavors of Spam musubi in a breaded, corn dog-like package! Topped with a little bit of yummy sauce and minced greens as garnish, this is a killer and stylish appetizer or finger food for your next bash with friends. Make extra, because they go quickly! Take it from me.

Spam and Egg Deopbap

Intensely garlicky, a little tangy, and with a punch of welcome sweetness thanks to the maple-flavored Spam, this inspired take on the Korean comfort food favorite is perfect for curling up with on a chilly day.

Breakfast Recipes

Spam Mini Quiches

These mini quiche bites are quick and easy to make, crispy, filling, and poppable. They’re great for enjoying around the table or as a quick and easy breakfast on the go.

Spam Maple Waffle Breakfast Sandwich

A devilishly good breakfast sandwich, slapping some Spam between Belgian waffles as a bun of sorts gives you a sturdy vessel that is primed for loading down with your other favorite toppings.

Breakfast Spam Quesadillas

Hardly anything beats the pleasure of a melty, salty quesadilla with that crisp outer skin followed up immediately by the chewiness of the tortillas.

The addition of Spam makes these downright heavenly. Perfect for quick and easy weekend breakfasts when you’re looking forward to a lazy day.

Spam and Green Onion Casserole

Breakfast casseroles don’t get enough time in the rotation anymore here in the US, and I think that is a real pity.

The sharp, clear bite of green onions brings much-needed balance to the salty Spam in this recipe, and even a modestly sized casserole dish can feed several hungry men.

Caramelized Spam Benedict

Among the egg-based breakfast dishes, eggs benedict is the once and future champ. It’s already decadent enough thanks to that hollandaise sauce, but it’s always possible to “gild the lily”, with the gilding made possible by Spam.

At its core, it’s just a really fancy ham and eggs, but it’s probably the most delicious version of ham and eggs there is!

Spam and Gravy Biscuits

There is no breakfast dish that cannot be made better by the addition of gravy. Yes, it’s going to add tons of salt.

Yes, it is a caloric disaster. But when it comes right down to it, darn it, it’s just that good and totally worth it. If you’ve never had Spam slathered with gravy, it’s time to fix that with this recipe.