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Experience the deliciousness of loco moco a beloved dish that brings together hearty ingredients for a truly comforting meal. This iconic Hawaiian comfort food features three satisfying layers: fluffy white rice, a juicy hamburger patty, and a perfectly fried egg, all smothered in a rich mushroom loco moco gravy that adds a savory touch. Whether enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, each bite is a delightful combination of flavors and textures. Easy to prepare and incredibly satisfying, this loco moco recipe is a hearty meal the whole family will love. Let this beloved Hawaiian classic bring a taste of paradise to your table!
Cozy up with a plate of Hawaiian loco moco and savor this rich and tasty comfort food from Hawaii. It’s a popular Hawaiian dish that’s easy to make and a treat to eat.
Fans of Hawaiian food might also like to try Spam fried rice, Hawaiian-style ribs, or perhaps Hawaiian macaroni salad.
Why You’ll Love It
Cozy comfort food: Loco moco combines the comfort food elements of juicy hamburger patties, a rich and meaty gravy and fried eggs for a simple homestyle dinner. Enjoy it for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Easy to make: This is a simple dish to prepare. You have to mix the patty ingredients and shape patties, combine the gravy ingredients and cook those, along with frying some eggs to go on top.
Family-friendly: The kids will love this as much as the grownups.
Hawaiian Loco Moco Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Ground beef chuck: I like to use grown chuck for loco moco recipes but you can use any kind of beef you prefer.
Worcestershire sauce: Adds a rich flavor to the patties and the gravy.
Panko breadcrumbs: Helps bind the patties together.
Eggs: One egg goes into the patties to help bind them, while the rest are fried and served on top or alongside.
Soy sauce: Complements the savory flavors.
Mushrooms: Baby bella mushrooms add their mushroomy goodness to the gravy.
Sweet onion: These add a sweet element to the gravy to balance the flavors.
How to Make Loco Moco
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Prepare the hamburger patties: Combine the beef patty ingredients and shape into 4 patties.
Cook the patties: Pan fry them in oil in a skillet until golden brown, then remove and keep warm.
Make the loco moco gravy: Add the beef broth or stock, soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce to the skillet and simmer until gravy-like.
Fry the eggs: Crack eggs into a little oil in a skillet over a medium heat and season to taste.
The finishing touches: Serve the ground beef patties over rice and pour over the brown gravy. Top with a fried egg and some sliced green onions.
Substitutions and Variations
Gluten-free option: If you want a gluten-free version, ensure you’re using gluten-free breadcrumbs, beef stock, a gluten-free flour, and gluten-free soy sauce (most is but some does contain wheat).
Spicy version: Add red pepper flavors to spice your loco moco recipe up.
Brown rice: Swap the white rice for brown rice. Keep in mind it will take longer to cook.
A different meat: Sub ground pork or turkey for the ground beef.
Readymade gravy: You can use jarred beef gravy instead of making the classic loco moco gravy if you’re in a rush or you don’t have all the ingredients to hand.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizers: Start off with shrimp spring rolls, which make a nice contrast.
Side dishes: White rice is a great side dish, or consider Hawaiian rolls. Another tasty dish is Hawaiian chicken and you can serve the whole thing family-style with the loco moco. Pasta salad, caramelized onions and coleslaw or sliced cabbage work too.
Desserts: Why not make one of these simple single-serve dessert recipes?
Drinks: Sip on a refreshing watermelon jalapeno margarita or one of these lemonade recipes.
How to Store Loco Moco
Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 or 4 days. Keep the gravy in a separate container. As for the eggs, they’re best cooked fresh.
Freeze: You can freeze the cooked patties if you want. Eat them within 2 months.
Thaw: Defrost overnight in the refrigerator.
Reheat: You can reheat the patties in a skillet or in the microwave.
Top Tips
Browning the patties: Get a nice char on the patties for the best flavor.
Use the beef drippings: Don’t wipe out the pan after cooking the patties. The pan drippings add flavor to the iconic loco moco gravy.
Perfect eggs: Ensure each egg white is firm and the yolk is still running so it can ooze into the mushroom gravy. Add a little salt and pepper once they’re cooked to your liking.
Hawaiian Loco Moco Recipe FAQs
I like to use short grain rice because it sticks together more when it’s cooked, so you can make tidier looking rice stacks. You can use long grain if you prefer though. And you can cook rice in your choice of a rice cooker or a pan on the stove.
You can take your pick. Beef stock is thicker and richer. If you’re using beef broth, you might want to add an extra tablespoon of cornstarch (1 tablespoon of cornstarch dissolved with some of the cold beef broth to make a cornstarch slurry) to thicken the loco moco gravy.
It’s thought the dish was first created at the Lincoln Grill in Hilo, Hawaii, back in 1949. Some teenagers asked for something simple and affordable, which turned out to be a hamburger patty over rice served with gravy. The egg came later. They called the dish loco moco because one of the teens was loco (crazy, in Spanish) and moco just because it rhymed and sounded catchy.
Well, 5 to 6 minutes per side is average but the cooking time depends on how thick you make each burger patty. Once they’re 160°F in the center, they’re done.
If you’re using a nonstick pan you might not need to. However, I find a little oil crisps up the patties so I usually do use some.
Hawaiian Loco Moco Recipe
Hawaiian Loco Moco
Ingredients
For the Hamburger Patties:
- 2 Pounds beef chuck, ground
- 1/3 Cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 1½ Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Teaspoon salt
- 1 Teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 Teaspoon onion powder
- ½ Teaspoon black pepper
For the Loco Moco Gravy:
- 1 sweet onion, small, diced
- 8 Ounces baby bella mushrooms, sliced
- 3 Cloves garlic, finely minced
- 3 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 Cups beef stock
- 1 Tablespoon soy sauce
- ½ Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
For the Topping:
- 2 Tablespoons avocado oil, for frying eggs
- 4 eggs
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- cooked rice, to serve
- green onions, sliced, for garnish
Instructions
Make the Hamburger Patties:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the hamburger patty ingredients and mix until evenly distributed. Do not overwork the meat.
- Separate into 4 large balls and then flatten each one out to form a hamburger patty. Make sure they are all the same thickness so it cooks evenly, about 1 1/2-inch thick.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the oil. Place the hamburger patties in the skillet and cook each side for 5 to 6 minutes until browned and desired doneness is reached.
- Transfer the cooked patties to a plate and set aside.
Make the Loco Moco Gravy:
- In the same skillet over medium heat, add the onions and mushrooms. Saute for 5 minutes, until the onions have softened and browned.
- Add the minced garlic and sauté for another 1 or 2 minutes until fragrant.
- Sprinkle the cornstarch on top and stir to combine.
- Add the beef stock, soy sauce, and Worcestershire sauce to the skillet and stir to combine. Simmer over medium heat, stirring often, until the gravy reaches the desired thickness. If it becomes too thick, then add a small splash or two of more beef broth.
- Reduce to a low simmer to keep warm while making the eggs.
To Make the Eggs:
- Heat another skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add 1 tablespoon of oil and fry the eggs until it reaches the desired doneness. Loco Moco are typically cooked sunny side up with a runny yolk.
- Remove from the heat and season with salt and pepper if desired.
Assemble the Plates:
- Place some cooked white rice onto a plate and top with a hamburger patty.
- Pour warm gravy on top of the patties and rice.
- Top with a fried egg and then garnish with green onions. Serve right away.
Notes
Use the beef drippings: Don’t wipe out the pan after cooking the patties. The pan drippings add flavor to the gravy.
Perfect eggs: Ensure each egg white is firm and the yolk is still running so it can ooze into the mushroom gravy. Add a little salt and pepper once they’re cooked to your liking.
Nutrition
Hawaiian loco moco is a delicious dish of burger patties served over rice. On top is meaty loco moco gravy and then a sunny side up egg. It’s a flavorful example of Hawaiian comfort food which is quick and easy to prepare and a very affordable dinner option.
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
OMG! I have no words for this dish. Just so amazing!