Hawaiian Haystacks start with a bed of rice that’s been topped with creamy chicken and gravy. The chicken is loaded with fun salad bar toppings like pineapple, chow mein noodles, olives, tomatoes, and cilantro.
What are Hawaiian Haystacks?
Hawaiian Haystacks contain shredded chicken that has been coated in a creamy gravy and served on top of rice. The rice is loaded with salad bar toppings (pretty much anything you’d find in a salad bar buffet, fresh-cut veggies, herbs, mandarin oranges, pineapple, etc.).
Typically the toppings are served potluck style and everyone chooses whatever they’d like to pile on top of the creamy chicken.
Hawaiian Haystacks are wildly popular where I live and they show up at potlucks, neighborhood parties, and church events. They’re simple to make, incredibly tasty, and totally fun; who doesn’t like adding ridiculous amounts of toppings to a dinner?!
Quick Tip
Healthier Option: For a healthier twist, include a variety of fresh vegetables like bell peppers, cucumbers, and cherry tomatoes. You can also provide brown rice or quinoa as a base to cater to health-conscious guests.
Ingredients In Hawaiian Haystacks
- Rice: It’s the main part of the meal that everything else goes on top of.
- Butter & Flour: Mixed together to thicken the sauce.
- Seasonings (Italian Seasoning, Pepper, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder): They give the sauce its flavor.
- Chicken Bouillon Powder: Adds more chicken flavor to the sauce.
- Milk & Chicken Broth: Turn the thick paste into a creamy sauce.
- Sour Cream: Makes the sauce a bit tangy and even creamier.
- Cheddar Cheese: Makes the sauce cheesy and thick.
- Rotisserie Chicken: Adds protein to the dish and makes it filling.
- Toppings: Let you customize the dish with different flavors and textures.
How To Make Hawaiian Haystacks
- Make a roux. Melt butter and whisk in flour. Whisk until smooth and the raw flour taste has cooked off, about 1-2 minutes.
- Add seasonings. Add seasonings — garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, chicken bouillon, salt and pepper. Stir until smooth.
- Alternate adding milk and chicken broth. Stir slowly and gradually add in both liquids until sauce is smooth and thickened.
- Add freshly grated cheese and sour cream. Whisk until smooth.
- Stir in the prepared rotisserie chicken. Stir to coat and the chicken gravy is ready!
- While preparing the chicken gravy, prepare the rice and set out Hawaiian Haystack toppings. (More on toppings below).
Toppings
The best part of Hawaiian Haystacks is the toppings. I like to pick up to six of the ones listed below and add them to individual bowls. Everyone can then pick what they like best and pile it on top of the rice and chicken gravy.
The two toppings I’d say are must-haves with Hawaiian Haystacks are pineapple and crispy chow mein noodles. In fact, we typically layer rice, chicken, and crushed or diced pineapple right on top before adding other toppings.
- Additional grated cheese, Chopped sweet bell peppers, Chopped green bell peppers, Dried chow mein noodles, Slivered almonds, Drained mandarin oranges, Crushed pineapple or freshly chopped pineapple, Thinly sliced green onions, Golden raisins, Shredded coconut, Chopped spinach, Sliced olives, Grape tomatoes, Chopped broccoli, Sliced celery, Sliced or diced avocado, Fresh cilantro, Diced ham, Diced bacon, Crushed cashews, orBean sprouts.
I’d love to know how you top your Hawaiian Haystacks. Leave a comment below in the comment section.
Make These Hawaiian Haystacks For A Crowd
Hawaiian Haystacks are a favorite for an effortless weeknight dinner, and they’re also excellent for serving a large crowd. Simply prepare double or triple the amount of chicken gravy and rice, and place an abundant selection of toppings in large bowls.
When serving Hawaiian Haystacks to a group, present the toppings in separate bowls, keep the rice in warmers, and maintain the chicken gravy in a slow cooker set to the warm setting. Store any leftover chicken gravy in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Quick Tip
Potluck dinners are great for customizable dishes like this, allowing guests to select toppings that suit their dietary needs and preferences.
More Easy Dinner Recipes
- Turkey Tacos 20-minute ground turkey tacos
- Easy, skillet Chicken Ramen
- Pesto Chicken Salad served on croissants or in lettuce wraps
- Chicken Vegetable Soup with roasted vegetables
- Chicken Gnocchi Soup Olive Garden copycat
Hawaiian Haystacks
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup uncooked rice white or brown
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon powder
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup chicken broth or stock
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 cup extra sharp Cheddar cheese freshly shredded
- 4 cups cooked chicken prepared rotissarie, shredded/chopped, see note 1
- Toppings as desired see note 2
Instructions
- Cook the rice with water, according to package instructions.
- Meanwhile, in a pan, over medium heat, melt the butter. Slowly whisk in the flour until completely combined with no chunks (a thick dough will form). Stir over medium heat for 1 minute. Add in Italian seasoning, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and bouillon powder.
- Gradually (while whisking constantly) add chicken stock and then milk. Bring to a boil, then immediately reduce heat to low. Stir over low heat until nicely thickened. Remove from heat and stir in the sour cream and Cheddar cheese. Mix until melted and smooth, then stir in the shredded chicken (see note 1). Taste sauce and adjust seasonings. Add salt if needed (see note 3); flavors should sing!
- Pick as many toppings as you’d like (I think canned crushed pineapple or freshly diced pineapple and chow mein noodles are must-haves!) and separate toppings into bowls.
- Add rice to plates and top with chicken gravy. Let everyone pick their toppings and add them right on top. Enjoy immediately.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Easy and delicious, everyone loved it! Altough I will say it’s a generous 4 servings. I doubled it for 10 people and we had LOTS of leftovers!
So thrilled everyone enjoyed this! Thanks for the tip on doubling! 🙂
Cashews, grated cheese, sliced radishes, bean sprouts, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, baby corn, diced ham, pickled beets chopped, Mandarin oranges, golden raisins, chopped califlower, chopped broccoli, chopped celery, coconut, slivered almonds, cashews, sliced carrots, chopped tomatoes, chopped sweet bell peppers, frozen peas, chopped green onion, bacon bits, chopped hard boiled eggs, sliced olives, Chinese noodles, pineapple tidbits, bamboo shoots, Palm hearts
Wow! Thanks for sharing Laura!
We add mushrooms to the gravy and then have cut fresh ones as a topping as well. We also use asparagus, zucchini and cucumber.
Love hearing the different topping ideas 🙂
Do you need to use whole milk in this recipe? What would 1% do?
1% will work it will just be less creamy 🙂
What a great idea! Forrest loves Hawaiian Haystacks…and this likes an easier way to make it 🙂
We love Hawaiian Haystacks too! 🙂
This is such an adorable idea!!!!! I LOVE the crunchy topping!! I’ve never had an hawaiian haystack but now I want to!!
Add me to the list – I’ve never heard of Haiwaiian haystacks. So glad I just did though because they look delicious! I’m with ya on the olives (nooo thank you), but everything else is a ‘yes please’!