I Tried Spam's New "Breakfast" Flavor And I Didn't Hate It

Check your skepticism at the door.

There’s a new flavor of Spam in town and it pairs perfectly with everything from waffles to Brussels sprouts. Spam Maple Flavored is rolling out on grocery store shelves now, bringing the brand’s total varieties to 11. While many Spam flavors, like the original, Spam Hot and Spicy, or Jalapeño, are on the savory side, the brand has released sweet flavors in the past. Allrecipes editors tried the pumpkin spice variety with mixed reviews, so we were skeptical about this new Maple Spam.

“This is by far my favorite-to-date product that we have launched,” says Jennessa Kinscher, a senior brand manager at Spam. “It’s because it just makes sense. When you think about Spam, one of the natural usages that you think about is during breakfast.”

“We know breakfast is a huge usage of Spam, we know maple is a flavor that’s really popular and familiar, and consumers have been writing to us for years asking when we are launching maple-flavored Spam,” she adds.

With that rave review, I knew I had to try it for myself.

How To Serve Maple-Flavored Spam

Kinscher also told me maple-flavored Spam isn’t just for breakfast. She gave me her three go-to ways to enjoy it.

1. With Waffles

“You 100% need to [serve] it with waffles,” she says. “Either dice it up and sizzle it up and put it over a waffle with extra syrup on top."

2. With Eggs

"A very simple fast way we’ve done in my own home is just slicing it up, sizzling it up, and getting that nice crispy exterior and tender inside and serving it alongside eggs,” she says.

3. With Brussels Sprouts

“My favorite non-breakfast way to use it is with Brussels sprouts,” says Kinscher. “Quarter Brussels sprouts and roast those [with diced Spam Maple Flavored]. Then toss those together with a balsamic glaze. It’s a game-changer. In the past we’ve made that with pancetta but since we’ve launched maple-flavored Spam, it has been a replacement.”

What Does Maple-Flavored Spam Taste Like?

I decided to follow Kinscher’s advice, preparing Spam and waffles alongside Spam Maple Flavored roasted Brussels sprouts for dinner. When I removed the Spam Maple Flavored from its can, it looked like other Spam products I’ve cooked with in the past, but smelled sweet like maple syrup and had a slightly syrupy, but not sticky, coating.

I diced up the entire 12-ounce can of Spam Maple Flavored, since I’d be using it in diced form for both dishes. Like all Spam, it was easy to cut through and slice into the perfect diced shapes. I roasted half the can with Brussels sprouts in my air fryer, then topped them with a balsamic glaze. The rest of the Spam went into a pan with olive oil, where I sautéed the diced meat until it was brown on the outside, then served it over waffles with syrup on top.

The verdict? Spam Maple Flavored may be my favorite Spam variety yet. Like all Spam, it crisps up with a salty finish on the outside but the inside of each bite provided a sweet, tender, maple-y burst of flavor. In the future, I’d love to use the product sliced and fried on a breakfast sandwich or diced and sautéed with breakfast potatoes. The possibilities seem endless!