Hawaiian Fried Rice

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, this delicious Cashew Chicken, or these Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao).

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

4 pictures showing how to mix the ingredients in a skillet and combine them together.

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!

The top view of Hawaiian fried rice cooked in a skillet with a wooden spoon.

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!