Easy Hawaiian Haystacks Recipe – Aloha on a Plate

Aloha, friends! Today, I’m excited to share with you one of our family’s favorite recipes: Hawaiian Haystacks. This dish is not only delicious (even picky eaters will love this) but also incredibly versatile, making it perfect for busy weeknights or large gatherings. Don’t forget to print your Recipe Card below!

As a mom, I love how this recipe allows for customization, so each member of our family can enjoy a meal that fits their unique preferences and dietary needs… The whole family can have it their way! This recipe serves about 6 people, double it if you have a bigger family!

Easy Dinner or Make Ahead

One of the reasons why Hawaiian Haystacks have become so popular in households across the United States is because they are incredibly easy to make. The dish typically consists of a base of rice and chicken in a creamy sauce, which can be made in advance and reheated when ready to serve.

The toppings can be prepared ahead of time as well, with fresh vegetables and fruits chopped and arranged in separate bowls. This makes it easy for each person to customize their own Hawaiian Haystack according to their preferences.

Additionally, the versatility of the dish allows for substitutions and variations, so you can use ingredients that you already have on hand or cater to specific dietary needs. Whether you’re looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal or a dish to feed a crowd, Hawaiian Haystacks are a reliable and fuss-free option.

Base Hawaiian Haystack Recipe Ingredients

Let’s start by gathering our ingredients. To make the chicken and rice base, we’ll need:

• 3 cups of cooked and shredded chicken breasts (the slow cooker is perfect for cooking chicken breasts if you have time, if you don’t have time… Rotisserie chicken is great!)
• 3 cups of cooked rice (brown rice is also a good option here.)
• 1 can of cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup of chicken broth
• Salt and pepper to taste
• *optional 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder and 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

Toppings

For the toppings, the possibilities are endless, use a small bowl for each topping. Here are some of our favorites:

• Shredded cheese, I like to use cheddar cheese.
• Diced tomatoes
• Chopped pineapple or pineapple tidbits
• Peas
• Sliced black olives
• Diced bell peppers
• Chopped green onions
• Chopped spinach or lettuce
• Crushed and toasted nuts (such as almonds or cashews)
• Coconut flakes
• Soy sauce
• Sriracha or hot sauce
• Sour cream
• Fried Chinese Noodles
• Mandarin Oranges

How to Make Hawaiian Haystacks Recipe

Now that we have our ingredients, let’s get started!

1. In a large skillet over medium heat, combine the cream of chicken soup and chicken broth. Stir until well combined to make creamy chicken gravy.
2. Add the cooked chicken to the skillet and mix it with the creamy chicken sauce. Cook for 5-7 minutes or until heated through.
3. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. To assemble the Hawaiian Haystacks, start with a bed of rice in the center of your plate.
5. Add a generous spoonful of the chicken mixture on top of the rice.
6. Then, add any toppings you like. We love to mix and match different flavors and textures to create a unique combination every time.
7. Repeat until everyone has their desired amount of food on their plates.

Tools You Will Need

Large Saucepan – for chicken breast pieces and cream of chicken soup topping.

How to Serve Hawaiian Haystacks Recipe

When it comes to serving the Hawaiian Haystacks, we like to set up a “buffet” of toppings so everyone can choose their own. This makes the meal feel like a fun and interactive experience, perfect for family dinners or potlucks.

After dinner, don’t forget to store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. When reheating, I like to add a little bit of extra chicken broth to the chicken mixture to keep it moist.

And don’t forget the dessert! I like to make coconut date snow ball cookies while I’ve got the coconut out for Haystacks!

Bringing the Family Together

Hawaiian Haystacks are not only a delicious meal but also a great way to bring people together. As a mom, I love how this recipe allows us to celebrate our diversity and individuality while still enjoying a meal together as a family. So why not give it a try and let us know your favorite toppings in the comments below? Mahalo and God bless!

Printable Recipe Card

Where Did Hawaiian Haystacks Start

The history of Hawaiian Haystacks is not well documented, and the origins of the dish are subject to debate… But here goes:

The history of Hawaiian Haystacks recipe is not crystal clear, and there are many stories about how this dish came to be. One theory suggests that it was created by a group of women from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints who lived in Hawaii in the 1950s.

They were searching for a recipe that could feed a crowd and was easy to prepare, and thus the Hawaiian Haystacks were born. The dish soon became popular among church groups and quickly spread to the mainland United States.

Another theory suggests that the Hawaiian Haystacks recipe originated on the mainland in the 1960s or 1970s as a spin on the Chinese-American dish chop suey. As the story goes, someone had a hankering for chop suey but didn’t have all the necessary ingredients, so they improvised with what they had on hand, and Hawaiian Haystacks were born.

Whatever the true origins of this dish may be, there’s no denying that it has become a beloved meal in many households, particularly in the Western United States. Its customizable nature makes it perfect for family dinners, potlucks, and other occasions where everyone can build their own unique creation.

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