Aloha! Sweet & Sour Burgers Recipe

Name: Aloha! Sweet & Sour Burgers
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: BURGERS; 1 lb 75% lean ground beef; 12 ounces Spam, grated; 6 tablespoons cold water; 1/4 cup grated sweet yellow onion; 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch; fine sea salt; fresh ground white pepper; SAUCE; 1/2 cup pineapple juice; 3 tablespoons dry sake; 3 tablespoons teriyaki sauce; 2 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar; 2 1/2 tablespoons ketchup; 4 teaspoons cornstarch; 2 teaspoons lemon juice; 1 teaspoon sriracha sauce; 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger; 1/8 teaspoon minced onion flakes; FIXINGS; 6 slices havarti cheese; 6 slices cooked crisp bacon (optional); 6 slices fresh pineapple, cored, trimmed, and sliced 1/2-inch thick; 6 slices sweet red onions, sliced 1/4-inch thick; 6 leaves fresh green leaf lettuce; 1 (4 ounce) can diced green chilies, drained; BUNS; 6 king's original sweet hawaiian rolls; salted butter (lightly spread over bun halves)

Try this homemade Aloha! Sweet & Sour Burgers recipe the whole family will love. Made with BURGERS, ground beef, cold water and grated sweet yellow onio…

This Aloha! Sweet & Sour Burgers relies on simple, everyday ingredients such as burgers, 75% lean ground beef, spam, grated and cold water. It comes together quickly and makes 4 servings, at about 883 kcal each. The step-by-step instructions below are written to be easy to follow, even on a busy day.

It's versatile enough for an easy weeknight dinner yet satisfying enough for guests at the weekend. Serve it with your favorite sides, and keep any leftovers for a quick meal the next day.

Updated Jun 30, 2026

Serves 4 Meat & Poultry

Servings: persons

BURGERS
1 lb 75% lean ground beef
12 ounces Spam, grated
6 tablespoons cold water
1/4 cup grated sweet yellow onion
1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
fine sea salt
fresh ground white pepper
SAUCE
1/2 cup pineapple juice
3 tablespoons dry sake
3 tablespoons teriyaki sauce
2 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 1/2 tablespoons ketchup
4 teaspoons cornstarch
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon sriracha sauce
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon minced onion flakes
FIXINGS
6 slices havarti cheese
6 slices cooked crisp bacon (optional)
6 slices fresh pineapple, cored, trimmed, and sliced 1/2-inch thick
6 slices sweet red onions, sliced 1/4-inch thick
6 leaves fresh green leaf lettuce
1 (4 ounce) can diced green chilies, drained
BUNS
6 king's original sweet hawaiian rolls
salted butter (lightly spread over bun halves)

1
NOTES: IF YOU CANNOT FIND DRY SAKE, SUBSTITUTE IT WITH DRY SHERRY. YOU CAN SUBSTITUTE FRESH GARLIC AND GINGER WITH 1/8 TEASPOON EACH GARLIC POWDER AND GROUND GINGER. FOR A MILDER SAUCE, REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF SRIRACHA. DICED ROASTED RED PEPPER MAY BE USED IN PLACE OF DICED ROASTED GREEN CHILES. HAVARTI CHEESE MAY BE REPLACED WITH MONTEREY JACK OR PEPPER JACK CHEESE. USE ONLY KING'S HAWAIIAN BRAND ORIGINAL SWEET HAMBURGER BUNS.
2
PREPARE MEAT: Place 1 lb ground beef into a medium mixing bowl. Grate one loaf of SPAM over the ground beef. Mix 6 tablespoons cold water with 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch then pour over mixture. Grate 1/4 cup sweet onions into bowl. Wearing kitchen gloves, combine the meat mixture, squeezing it through the fingers until well combined.
3
PREPARE PATTIES: Shape meat mixture into 6 equal patties, about 1-inch larger in width than King's Hawaiian Hamburger Buns. Place patties on a platter. Sprinkle each patty on each side with fine sea salt and freshly ground white pepper. Refrigerate patties until ready to grill.
4
PREPARE SAUCE: Whisk all of the sauce ingredients in a small mixing bowl. Transfer sauce mixture into a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly until completely thickened. Reduce heat to lowest setting and cover, stirring occasionally to refresh consistency.
5
PREPARE BUNS: Lightly and evenly butter each separated flat surface of King's Original Hawaiian Sweet Hamburger Buns. Attach buttered cut sides together and return to the original bag until needed, to keep fresh.
6
PREPARE FIXINGS: Cook the bacon if using, until crisp (2 slices per burger). Slice the vegetables and pineapple to specifications. Immerse the onion slices in the sauce. Cover and let heat. Turn once. Remove when onions have softened slightly.
7
PREPARE GRILL: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Arrange patties on one side of the grill. Place pineapple slices on the other side of the grill. Turn each when dark grill-marks appear. Remove patties and pineapple when done to your satisfaction.
8
TOAST BUNS: Place buttered buns sliced-side down on grill, just until medium-toasted.
9
ASSEMBLE BURGERS: Turn the grilled pineapple rings in the heated sauce, until well-coated, then remove. Spoon or brush the prepared sauce evenly across each cut top bun portion. Turn the grilled patties in the sauce pan to coat. Place the cheese slices over patties. Cover saucepan until cheese is melted. Transfer patties onto the bottom bun halves. Stir the drained green chiles well into the sauce mixture. Continue assembling burgers with the bacon (optional), then pineapple, sliced onion, and lettuce. Spoon the sauce over the grilled side of each top bun. Place top buns over each assembled burger.
10
SERVE IMMEDIATELY with Hawaiian potato chips, Maui onion rings or fries, and enjoy!

883

kcal

Calories

Fat

Carbs

Protein

Fat Carbs Protein

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.

Tips for the best results

Read through all the steps once before you start and measure out your ingredients first — it makes everything go more smoothly.
Taste as you go and adjust the seasoning before serving.
Avoid overcrowding the pan — cook in batches if needed for the best texture.
Let the dish rest for a few minutes before serving so the flavors settle.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within a few days.

Variations & substitutions

Use a neutral oil or a plant-based spread in place of butter for a dairy-free version.
Brown sugar instead of white sugar adds a deeper, more caramel-like flavor.

No specific allergen information. Please check the ingredient list for possible allergens.

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Frequently Asked Questions

This recipe makes 4 servings. You can adjust the portion size directly on this page.

You need 30 ingredients. The key ingredients include: BURGERS, 1 lb 75% lean ground beef, 12 ounces Spam, grated, 6 tablespoons cold water, and more.

Yes, Aloha! Sweet & Sour Burgers falls under the Meat & Poultry category and is a great choice for this type of meal.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. Reheat gently before serving.

Quick Info

Servings
4 servings
Calories
883 kcal
Category
Meat & Poultry

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