Hawaiian Loco Moco Recipe
Hawaiian loco moco delivers big comfort with savory beef patties, warm rice, and a silky gravy topped with a sunny side egg. It’s an easy, hearty meal with an island flare that hits the spot any night of the week.
Hawaiian loco moco is the kind of quick comfort food that turns an ordinary weeknight into something a little more fun.
This classic dish layers warm rice, a juicy beef patty, rich gravy, and a perfectly cooked egg for a meal that hits every craving.
It comes together fast with simple ingredients you probably already have on hand.
The flavors are cozy and satisfying in that stick-to-your-ribs way without needing a lot of effort.
Serve it anytime you want a hearty, tasty dinner that brings a little island-inspired comfort to your kitchen.
What is Hawaiian Loco Moco?
Hawaiian loco moco is a dish that popped up in the late 1940s in Hilo, Hawaii.
Legend has it a group of local teens asked a small café for an inexpensive, filling meal.
The cafe owner served up rice and a hamburger patty topped with gravy to keep it hearty and flavorful.
The dish caught on and soon the owner started adding a fried egg.
Over the years it spread across the islands and eventually beyond Hawaii, gaining popularity as a comforting lunch.
Ingredients
To make this you’ll need:
- Ground beef– Leaner ground beef won’t be as greasy.
- Onion– Half a small onion, finely chopped
- Eggs– 1 egg to bind the patties together and 4 eggs to top the patties.
- Oil– For frying
- Rice– Cooked white rice. To save time you can use the microwavable rice.
And for the gravy you’ll need:
- Butter and flour- To make a roux
- Mushrooms– Sliced
- Onion– A half a small sliced onion
- Beef broth
- Soy sauce
- Salt and pepper– To taste
How to Make
Making Hawaiian loco moco is pretty easy!
Combine the ground beef, chopped onion, one egg, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
Make it into into 4 equal patties.
Then heat a skillet over medium heat.
When the skillet is hot, cook the patties 4 to 5 minutes per side or until they are fully cooked through.
Once the patties are done, take them out of the skillet and set them aside.
In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat.
Cook the mushrooms and sliced onions in the melted butter until the onions soften.
Stir the flour into the veggies and cook for 1 minute to cook off any flour taste.
Slowly whisk in the beef broth and soy sauce.
Let the gravy simmer until it thickens or about 5–7 minutes.
Season the gravy with salt and pepper.
In a separate pan, heat the oil over medium heat.
Fry the eggs sunny-side up or to your preference in the oil.
Scoop 1/2 cup rice onto each plate.
Top the rice with a hamburger patty and then spoon gravy over the patty.
Finish each with a fried egg on top.
Enjoy!
Storing Leftovers
This is one of those dishes that is best when it’s made.
If you have leftover beef patties, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Store any leftover gravy in a separate container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Tips and Tricks
- You could add a little garlic powder to the patties for some extra flavor.
- The gravy will thicken in the fridge. When you reheat it, reheat it on the stove and thin it with extra beef broth until it reaches your desired consistency.
-
Cook the egg so the yolk stays runny because it blends with the gravy and adds extra richness to the dish.
Other Hawaiian Recipes
Hawaiian loco moco is an easy, retro way to bring a taste of paradise to your kitchen.
Make it and enjoy!
Looking for other Hawaiian recipes?
Try these:
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Hawaiian Loco Moco Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 small onion finely chopped
- 1 egg for binding the patties
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 cups cooked white rice
- 4 large eggs for topping
- 2 tablespoons oil for frying
For The Gravy
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup sliced mushrooms
- ½ small onion sliced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine ground beef, chopped onion, one egg, salt, and pepper. Form into 4 patties.1 lb ground beef, 1/2 small onion, 1 egg, Salt and black pepper
- Heat a skillet over medium heat. Cook patties 4–5 minutes per side or until fully cooked. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt butter. Add the mushrooms and sliced onions, cooking until softened.2 tablespoons butter, 1 cup sliced mushrooms, ½ small onion
- Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables. Stir and cook for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in beef broth and soy sauce. Simmer until thickened, about 5–7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 2 cups beef broth, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, Salt and pepper
- In a separate pan, heat oil over medium heat. Fry eggs sunny-side up or to your preference.2 tablespoons oil, 4 large eggs
- Scoop 1/2 cup rice onto each plate. Top with a hamburger patty, spoon over gravy, and finish with a fried egg on top.2 cups cooked white rice
Notes
- You could add a little garlic powder to the patties for some extra flavor.
- The gravy will thicken in the fridge. When you reheat it, reheat it on the stove and thin it with extra beef broth until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Cook the egg so the yolk stays runny because it blends with the gravy and adds extra richness to the dish.
Nutrition
