Loco Moco Barbecue Recipe

By
Derrick Riches
Derrick Riches
Derrick Riches
Derrick Riches is a grilling and barbecue expert. He has written two cookbooks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 01/3/23
Hawaiian Loco Moco Barbecue Recipe

The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

Prep: 25 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Total: 55 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
708 Calories
32g Fat
49g Carbs
52g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 708
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 32g 41%
Saturated Fat 12g 58%
Cholesterol 320mg 107%
Sodium 718mg 31%
Total Carbohydrate 49g 18%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 52g
Vitamin C 0mg 1%
Calcium 95mg 7%
Iron 7mg 40%
Potassium 764mg 16%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This mainstay might just be the ultimate comfort food. Loco moco is a grilled burger patty topped with rich gravy and served on rice with a fried egg on top. It is also considered the perfect hangover cure.

The dish was developed by the Lincoln Grill in Hilo, Hawaii, in the late 1940s. Teenage customers gave the dish its name (one of them was taking a Spanish class in high school). It certainly packs the caloric content needed to satisfy active and growing youth. This recipe keeps it as simple as it was back in those times, but feel free to experiment a bit yourself—go a little loco with loco moco.

1:50

Click Play to See This Loco Moco Burger Recipe Come Together

Ingredients

For the Gravy:

  • 2 cups beef broth

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons soy sauce

  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

  • 1 teaspoon honey

  • 1 teaspoon ketchup

  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 pinch salt

  • 2 tablespoons lukewarm water

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch

For the Loco Moco:

  • 2 pounds ground beef, 85% lean

  • Salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • 6 large eggs

  • 6 cups cooked white rice, sticky

Steps to Make It

Make the Gravy

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for gravy

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  2. Simmer the broth, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, honey, ketchup, onion powder, black pepper, and salt in a medium saucepan for 5 to 6 minutes on medium heat.

    gravy broth in a saucepan

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  3. Then increase the heat to medium-high.

    gravy broth in a saucepan

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  4. In a separate bowl, mix together water with cornstarch until well combined.

    cornstarch mixture in a bowl

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  5. Slowly whisk this into the gravy, stirring until mixture has thickened. 

    gravy in a saucepan

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  6. Remove the gravy from the heat and it let cool until you are ready to use it. Rewarm the gravy right before serving the loco moco.

    gravy chilling in a saucepan

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

Make the Loco Moco

  1. Gather the ingredients. Preheat grill for medium-high heat.

    Ingredients for Loco moco burger

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  2. Form 6 large patties out of ground beef. Salt and pepper them to your liking.

    patties on a platter

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  3. Place the patties onto a grill and cook for 5 to 6 minutes per side, or until they reach an internal temperature of 165 F (75 C).

    patties cooking on the grill

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  4. Remove from the patties from the heat and tent them with aluminum foil to keep them warm.

    grilled patties on a plate covered with aluminum foil

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  5. Fry the eggs to your liking. Sunny-side up is preferred so the warm yolk can be broken and mixed with the rest of the dish.

    eggs frying in a skillet

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  6. To assemble, place 1/2 to 1 cup of warmed sticky rice onto a plate. Top with a burger patty, gravy and then a fried egg.

    Hawaiian Loco Moco Barbecue served on rice with an egg and gravy

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

Raw Egg Warning

Consuming raw and lightly cooked eggs poses a risk of foodborne illness.

Tip

  • Loco moco is meant to be a huge plate, but you can certainly cut down the size of the patties if you are feeding less voracious eaters.

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