Spam Onigirazu Recipe

Spam Onigirazu is a fun twist on the classic Japanese Onigiri rice ball. It’s made with a slice of fried Spam and steamed rice, all wrapped up neatly in a sheet of roasted Nori seaweed. Unlike traditional Onigiri, you don’t have to shape the rice by hand—just wrap and go! It’s super easy to make, and you can get creative with the fillings. The salty Spam and crisp veggies make a perfect balance of flavor and texture, turning it into a satisfying meal you can hold in your hand. Spam Onigiri is a great dish for a quick lunch to pack in your bento for school or work.

What’s Spam Onigirazu?

As the name suggests, Onigirazu is a type of rice ball made without shaping it by hand. Simply put, it’s like a sandwich made with rice instead of bread. You can fill it with anything you like, and that’s what makes it so fun and easy to customize.

Interestingly, Onigirazu actually came from a Japanese Manga comic book! It first appeared in the popular comic series Cooking Papa back in the 1990s. In one of the stories, a character makes a rice ball without shaping it by hand and calls it “Onigirazu,” which literally means “not gripped.” The idea quickly caught on because it was simple, neat to eat, and allowed for plenty of fillings. Decades later, it made a big comeback on social media—everyone loved the colorful layers and endless ways to make it their own.

Spam is one of our favorite ingredients for Onigirazu. It might not be the healthiest choice, but it’s salty, hearty, and so satisfying—perfect for a quick, comforting lunch. Plus, it’s super easy to prepare, especially on busy mornings. I like to add a cooked egg for extra flavor and texture, but you can skip it if you’re short on time. For veggies, lettuce keeps it light and fresh, but sliced cucumber or shredded cabbage work great too. The best part is how flexible this dish is—you can mix and match ingredients to suit your taste or whatever you have in the fridge!

Tips and substitutions for Spam Onigirazu

• The ingredients around the Spam are very flexible, so feel free to choose your favorite vegetables. As mentioned above, sliced cucumber and shredded cabbage add a nice fresh crunch, while sautéed spinach or julienned carrots bring great flavor and color. Basically, think about what you enjoy eating with Spam and rice, and build from there!
• You can simply wrap everything in Nori, but we highly recommend using plastic wrap to help hold it together—especially before cutting. Since Onigirazu isn’t tightly shaped or packed like a regular rice ball, it can easily fall apart. Wrapping it in plastic wrap keeps everything compact and makes it much easier to eat.
• If you’d like a little extra flavor, season the steamed rice lightly with salt. Be careful not to add too much, since the Spam itself is already salty, but a pinch of salt can really bring the whole dish together.

More recipes like Spam Onigirazu

• Onigirazu
• Folding Onigiri
• Soy Tuna-Mayo Onigiri
• Onigiri Bento Lunch