Hawaiian Haystacks
This post may contain affiliate links.
Hawaiian haystacks are the perfect way to bring a little tropical flair to your dinner table. This colorful, customizable dish is a family favorite that turns dinner into a delicious, tropical adventure. Picture this: a base of fluffy rice topped with a savory chicken sauce, then piled high with a rainbow of toppings like pineapple, cheese, and crunchy chow mein noodles. It’s like a luau on your plate!
This recipe calls for cooked chicken. I recommend my oven roasted chicken breast!
Why You’ll Like This Hawaiian Haystacks Recipe
- Customizable: Each person can tailor their plate to their liking, making it perfect for picky eaters and dietary preferences.
- Family-Friendly: The interactive nature of assembling the haystacks can make mealtime fun for kids and adults alike.
- Quick and Easy: Simple ingredients and straightforward preparation make this a great option for busy weeknights.
Hawaiian haystacks, despite their name, are not actually a traditional Hawaiian dish. Their origins are rooted in the United States. I was first introduced when I met my mother in-law. She taught me how to make this simple dinner and since that day we have slowly adapted it to be the version it is today!
Hawaiian Haystacks start with a base of fluffy rice, topped with a creamy chicken sauce, and then piled high with a variety of toppings. These toppings often include pineapple, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, green onions, bell peppers, chow mein noodles, and sometimes coconut, olives, or almonds. The dish is known for its customizable nature, allowing each person to add their favorite toppings to create a personalized meal.
Ingredients You’ll Need:
This recipe comes down to a few basic ingredients. The full list that I provide in the recipe card should be used as a guide. Be sure to use any of your favorite vegetables.
- Chicken: The best chicken to use for Hawaiian haystacks is cooked, shredded chicken breast. I’ve also used rotisserie chicken with success.
- Rice: Over the dozens of times we’ve made this recipe we have tried all of the different rice options. Jasmine rice is our favorite. It cooks up light and fluffy, providing a perfect base for layering the other ingredients. However, we’ve used minute rice in a pinch and even cauliflower rice with great success.
- Sauce: I like to keep things simple so the sauce for this recipe is an easy three ingredients: Cream of chicken soup, cream cheese, and chicken broth.
- Toppings: The toppings are what make this dish truly special and customizable. Some of the best toppings include juicy pineapple chunks, shredded cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes, chopped green onions, and crispy chow mein noodles for added crunch. For extra flavor and texture, you can also add sliced olives, slivered almonds, and a sprinkle of shredded coconut.
Hawaiian Haystacks Recipe
- Make the Sauce: Take a small pot and put it on the stove over medium heat. Add the can of cream of chicken soup, the cream cheese, and the chicken broth to the pot. Stir the mixture with a spoon until the cream cheese melts and everything is well combined. This should take about 5-10 minutes.
- Add the Chicken: Once the sauce is smooth and heated, add the cooked, shredded chicken to the pot. Stir until the chicken is fully mixed into the sauce and everything is heated through.
- Assemble Your Hawaiian Haystacks: Put a serving of cooked rice on your plate. Spoon the chicken and sauce mixture over the rice. Add your favorite toppings, like pineapple chunks, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, green onions, and crispy chow mein noodles.
- Enjoy: Your Hawaiian haystack is ready to eat. Enjoy your meal!
Helpful Tools
Here are some helpful tools for making Hawaiian haystacks:
- Small Pot or Saucepan: (affiliate) For heating and mixing the cream of chicken soup, cream cheese, and chicken broth.
- Mixing Spoon or Whisk: (affiliate) To stir the sauce and ensure it combines smoothly.
- Shredder or Grater: (affiliate) For shredding cheese if you’re using a block of cheese.
- Large Serving Spoon: (affiliate) For spooning the sauce over the rice.
- Rice Cooker or Pot.: (affiliate) For cooking the rice.
These tools will make the preparation process smoother and ensure your dinner turn out perfectly!
Expert Recipe Tips:
- Cook the Rice Perfectly: Use a rice cooker or follow precise measurements and timings on the stovetop to ensure your rice is fluffy and not mushy.
- Soften the Cream Cheese: Let the cream cheese sit at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes before adding it to the pot. This makes it easier to blend into the sauce.
- Mix Thoroughly: Stir the cream of chicken soup, cream cheese, and chicken broth continuously until the mixture is completely smooth and free of lumps.
- Use Rotisserie Chicken: For convenience and extra flavor, use a store-bought rotisserie chicken. Simply shred the meat and add it to the sauce.
- Season to Taste: Taste the chicken sauce before serving and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.
- Prepare Toppings in Advance: Chop and prepare all your toppings before assembling the dish. This makes the assembly process quick and easy.
- Keep it Warm: If you’re serving a crowd, keep the chicken sauce warm in a slow cooker on the “warm” setting.
Recipe FAQs
If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can add a little more cream cheese or reduce the amount of chicken broth. Alternatively, let the sauce simmer for a few extra minutes to thicken.
Yes, you can prepare the chicken sauce and toppings in advance. Store them separately in the refrigerator and reheat the sauce before serving.
Store leftover chicken sauce and toppings in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat the sauce on the stove or in the microwave before serving.
Yes, you can freeze the chicken sauce in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and reheat on the stove before serving.
Make sure to cook the rice according to the package instructions and avoid overcooking. Fluff the rice with a fork after cooking to keep it from clumping together.
More Chicken Dinner Ideas
Still Hungry? Follow One Sweet Appetite on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook!
Easy Hawaiian Haystacks
Ingredients
Sauce
- 1 can cream of chicken soup
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 2 cups chicken (cooked and shredded)
Haystacks
- 4 cups rice (cooked)
- pineapple chunks
- shredded cheese
- diced tomatoes
- green onion
- crispy chow mein noodles
Instructions
- Take a small pot and put it on the stove over medium heat. Add the can of cream of chicken soup, the cream cheese, and the chicken broth to the pot. Stir the mixture with a spoon until the cream cheese melts and everything is well combined. This should take about 5-10 minutes.
- Once the sauce is smooth and heated, add the cooked, shredded chicken to the pot. Stir until the chicken is fully mixed into the sauce and everything is heated through.
- Put a serving of cooked rice on your plate. Spoon the chicken and sauce mixture over the rice. Add your favorite toppings, like pineapple chunks, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, green onions, and crispy chow mein noodles.
- Your Hawaiian haystack is ready to eat. Enjoy your meal!
The nutrition facts provided are calculated using a third-party tool and are estimates only. Actual nutritional content may vary based on the ingredients and brands you use, as well as portion sizes. For accurate results, please consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.
Related Recipes:
- Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu
- Grilled Chicken Fajitas
- Easy Chicken Stir Fry
- Spicy Coconut Shrimp Tin Foil Dinner
- Southwest Chicken Tin Foil Meal
One of our tried and true family favorites!
can you freeze these and then thaw & cook?
Hi, This sounds delicious. I’m not familiar with tin foil cooking so I have a couple of questions. Is the 1 1/2 lbs. of chicken raw or pre-cooked? When you place the ingredients in the tin foil do you cover the top or cook open? Thanks so much, Abbey
Hi abbey! Yes, the chicken is raw when you stick it into your foil. You also do want to fold the tinfoil into a packet with a closed top.