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Easy Hawaiian Haystacks

March 1, 2018 by Emily Hill 11 Comments

 

These easy Hawaiian haystacks are a favorite family meal! A creamy chicken mixture is layered over rice and then topped with a variety of ingredients, from cheese and chopped celery to bell peppers and pineapple.

Easy Hawaiian Haystacks -- These easy Hawaiian haystacks area a favorite family meal! A creamy chicken mixture is layered over rice and then topped with a variety of ingredients, from cheese and chopped celery to bell peppers and pineapple. | halfscratched.com

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I don’t remember when I first had Hawaiian haystacks but I remember loving the buffet-style dish with its hot rice, creamy chicken mixture, and layers upon layers of yummy toppings like sliced almonds, pineapple, and coconut. It was a party of flavors for my mouth!

Easy Hawaiian Haystacks -- These easy Hawaiian haystacks area a favorite family meal! A creamy chicken mixture is layered over rice and then topped with a variety of ingredients, from cheese and chopped celery to bell peppers and pineapple. | halfscratched.com

When I introduced these easy Hawaiian haystacks to my family, they were a total hit. I don’t know if it was because it’s such a non-fancy dish or because they love any meal where they get to choose the toppings. (Sundae bars are their favorite but you can’t have ice cream for every meal.)

Easy Hawaiian Haystacks -- These easy Hawaiian haystacks area a favorite family meal! A creamy chicken mixture is layered over rice and then topped with a variety of ingredients, from cheese and chopped celery to bell peppers and pineapple. | halfscratched.com

I’ve made Hawaiian haystacks where the creamy chicken mixture was totally from scratch, roux and everything, and while it was good, it was a bit too much work for me, especially when my kids can rarely tell the difference (and prefer boxed mac & cheese to homemade). I’m all about canned cream of chicken soup when I’m looking for an easy weeknight meal! Using a rice cooker, especially a programmable rice cooker like mine, makes it all the easier to have this ready the moment everyone is finally in the same room at the same time.

I love how quickly the sauce comes together; plus, you can easily add a little of this or that to spice it up a bit—maybe some Italian seasoning, cayenne pepper, white pepper (my favorite for adding a bit of kick!).

Easy Hawaiian Haystacks -- These easy Hawaiian haystacks area a favorite family meal! A creamy chicken mixture is layered over rice and then topped with a variety of ingredients, from cheese and chopped celery to bell peppers and pineapple. | halfscratched.com

The list of toppings for these easy Hawaiian haystacks is not set in stone. Feel free to tweak it so you’re Hawaiian haystacks buffet has ingredients your family loves. Of course, you can include things they don’t love but you love because you’re the boss!

Don’t forget to throw in a set of chopsticks when you serve your Hawaiian haystacks. It makes eating them a lot more fun!

4.5 from 6 votes
Easy Hawaiian Haystacks -- These easy Hawaiian haystacks area a favorite family meal! A creamy chicken mixture is layered over rice and then topped with a variety of ingredients, from cheese and chopped celery to bell peppers and pineapple. | halfscratched.com
Print
Easy Hawaiian Haystacks
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
15 mins
 

These easy Hawaiian haystacks area a favorite family meal! A creamy chicken mixture is layered over rice and then topped with a variety of ingredients, from cheese and chopped celery to bell peppers and pineapple. NOTE: Calories are without toppings.

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 310 kcal
Author: Emily Hill
Ingredients
  • 2 cans cream of chicken soup (10-oz.)
  • 4 cups cooked, diced chicken
  • 1/2 cup skim milk
  • 1/2 cup light sour cream
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 5 cups cooked rice, warm
  • Toppings (see below)
Instructions
  1. Combine cream of chicken soup, milk, and sour cream in a medium saucepan. Add chicken, pepper, garlic powder, and bay leaf. Simmer 8 to 10 minutes or until sauce is heated through.

  2. Prepare toppings and place in individual bowls or serving dishes. Serve buffet style; have guests layer plates starting with rice, chow mein noodles, chicken sauce, and other toppings.

  3. Topping ideas: La Choy rice noodles, pineapple tidbits, sliced green onions, chopped bell peppers, chopped celery, grated cheese, sliced almonds, diced tomatoes, shredded coconut.

Recipe Notes

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Filed Under: food & recipes, main dishes Tagged With: casserole, chicken, dinner, easy recipe, family friends, hawaiian haystacks, savory

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Amy | The Cook Report

    March 1, 2018 at 4:14 pm

    Love all the different options on how to serve this!

    Reply
    • Emily Hill

      March 5, 2018 at 4:58 pm

      The options are the best part!

      Reply
  2. Avita

    March 1, 2018 at 4:20 pm

    Chicken and Rice always welcome in my home.For sure trying this recipe. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Emily Hill

      March 5, 2018 at 4:58 pm

      I hope you like it!

      Reply
  3. Danielle

    March 1, 2018 at 5:45 pm

    I have never heard of Hawaiian haystacks, but it certainly sounds like my kind of dish. I love it!

    Reply
    • Emily Hill

      March 5, 2018 at 4:58 pm

      I bet you’d really like it!

      Reply
  4. Lisa Huff

    March 1, 2018 at 6:08 pm

    This is totally my kind of comfort food. Perfect!

    Reply
    • Emily Hill

      March 5, 2018 at 4:58 pm

      It really is a great comfort food recipe!

      Reply
  5. Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts

    March 1, 2018 at 6:48 pm

    I love the name of this dish!!! I am sure telling the kids we are having haystacks for tea will mean they wolf their dinner down.

    AND it is so bright and colourful. YUM!

    Reply
    • Emily Hill

      March 5, 2018 at 4:59 pm

      Ha! Very clever! I bet they’d love this dish!

      Reply
  6. Renee Hardy

    December 8, 2019 at 6:43 pm

    I just tried this recipe for the cream of chicken and there’s something untraditional about it. Sorry, I wasn’t impressed.

    Reply

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