Crispy SPAM Fries
French fries are hard to beat, but every once in a while it’s worth swapping the potato for something a little more ridiculous.
These SPAM fries are sliced into thick fry-shaped pieces, coated in flour, egg, and crispy panko, then fried until golden brown. As soon as they come out of the oil, they get hit with Rub Yer Meat BBQ Rub while they’re still piping hot so the seasoning sticks to that crunchy exterior.
Serve them with Sriracha mayo or your favorite BBQ sauce and you’ve got a salty, crispy appetizer that disappears fast.
Why SPAM Fries?
SPAM already brings plenty of salty, savory flavor to the party. Frying it gives you a crispy exterior while keeping the inside tender.
The panko coating adds even more crunch, and seasoning the fries immediately after frying is the key finishing move. The residual oil helps the Rub Yer Meat BBQ Rub grab onto the breading instead of falling straight onto the plate.
Think chicken strips, french fries, and SPAM somehow got tangled together in the best possible way.
Ingredients
- Cooking oil of choice
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 3 eggs
- 1 (12-ounce) can SPAM
- Rub Yer Meat BBQ Rub, for seasoning
How to Make SPAM Fries
1. Heat the Oil
Add enough cooking oil to a skillet to completely cover the bottom of the pan. Heat over medium-high heat until the oil reaches 350°F.
While the oil heats, prepare the SPAM and breading station.
2. Cut the SPAM
Remove the SPAM from the can and slice it into thick, fry-shaped strips.
Try to keep the pieces relatively uniform so they cook at the same rate.
3. Set Up the Breading Station
Set out three shallow dishes.
Add the flour to the first, beaten eggs to the second, and panko breadcrumbs to the third.
4. Bread the SPAM
Working one piece at a time, coat the SPAM completely in flour.
Next, dip it into the beaten egg, making sure every side is covered.
Finish by pressing the SPAM into the panko until it has an even coating on all sides.
5. Fry Until Golden
Carefully place the breaded SPAM fries into the hot oil.
Fry for 3–5 minutes per side, or until the breading is crisp and golden brown.
Work in batches if necessary rather than overcrowding the pan.
6. Season While They're Hot
Transfer the fries to a paper towel-lined plate to drain off the excess oil.
While they're still hot, immediately season them with Rub Yer Meat BBQ Rub.
Don’t wait on this step. Seasoning them straight out of the fryer helps the rub stick to the crispy coating.
7. Serve
Serve the SPAM fries hot with Sriracha mayo or your favorite BBQ sauce for dipping.
The creamy heat from Sriracha mayo works especially well with the salty SPAM and seasoned panko crust. If you want to lean further into the barbecue side of things, grab your favorite BBQ sauce instead.
Either way, these are best served hot and crispy.
Dipping Sauce Options
Sriracha Mayo
Sriracha mayo is about as complicated as it sounds.
Mix mayonnaise with Sriracha until you get the amount of heat you like. Start with a little and work your way up.
The creamy sauce helps balance the salty SPAM while the Sriracha adds just enough heat to keep you reaching for another fry.
Your Favorite BBQ Sauce
No need to overthink this one.
Use your favorite BBQ sauce straight from the bottle. Sweet, smoky, spicy, or tangy all work here, especially alongside the Rub Yer Meat BBQ Rub on the outside of the fries.
Tips for Better SPAM Fries
Keep your oil around 350°F. If the oil is too cool, the breading can soak up excess oil instead of getting crispy.
Don’t crowd the pan. Frying too many pieces at once drops the oil temperature and makes it harder to get that golden crust.
Season immediately. Rub Yer Meat BBQ Rub sticks best while the fries are fresh from the oil and still have a little surface moisture and fat.
Serve them hot. Like any fried food, these are at their best right out of the fryer while the panko is still crunchy.
Crispy SPAM Fries Recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients
- Cooking oil of choice
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 3 eggs
- 1 (12-ounce) can SPAM
- Rub Yer Meat BBQ Rub, to taste
- Sriracha mayo, for serving
- Your favorite BBQ sauce, for serving
Instructions
- Add enough cooking oil to cover the bottom of a skillet and heat over medium-high heat to 350°F.
- Slice the SPAM into thick, fry-shaped strips.
- Prepare three shallow dishes with flour, beaten eggs, and panko breadcrumbs.
- Coat each piece of SPAM in flour, followed by egg, and finally panko.
- Carefully place the breaded SPAM into the hot oil and fry for 3–5 minutes per side, or until golden brown and crispy.
- Transfer the fries to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
- Immediately season the SPAM fries while they're still hot with Rub Yer Meat BBQ Rub.
- Serve hot with Sriracha mayo or your favorite BBQ sauce for dipping.
