A pile of fluffy rice stacked with chicken, gravy, and all your favorite toppings! Totally customizable, and great for feeding a crowd!
This is the ultimate weeknight dinner go-to. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s customizable! Plus, you can’t go wrong with chicken and rice meals. We also love Cheesy Chicken and Rice, or Chicken and Rice Soup for a satisfying weeknight meal.
Not actually hawaiian…
Funny enough, this recipe didn’t actually originate from Hawaii. But it adopted the name since it has a few “Hawaiian” inspired ingredients like coconut and pineapple.
The “haystack” part of the name is because you pile all those toppings onto the chicken and rice, and it kind of looks like a haystack.
This dinner recipe has come in hand, especially when I’m in a weeknight pinch and need something quick, easy, and that will satisfy even my picky eaters! I’m sure we could all use another easy dinner recipe to add to the meal rotation and these haystacks are perfect.
I love that Hawaiian Haystacks can be made to serve mass quantities for parties or church functions! Rice isn’t hard to make a lot of, the chicken and gravy is simple, and the toppings are easy as well!
Plus people get to pick and choose what toppings they want on it, so it’s basically impossible for them not to like it. 😉
How to Make Hawaiian Haystacks
The part of this recipe that takes the most effort is making the gravy, and let me tell you now… It’s not even hard. You can easily make it in the crockpot, or a saucepan. Even in the crockpot, it doesn’t take long.
Crock Pot. Combine broth, soup and sour cream into your crock pot and stir to combine. Add chicken chunks (I use this baked chicken or leftover rotisserie), salt and pepper, and stir. Cover and cook on high for 1-2 hours or on low for 3-4 hours.
Saucepan. In a large saucepan, combine the soup and broth. Add sour cream, chicken, salt and pepper, and heat over medium heat stirring occasionally. Once it’s heated through (10 minutes or so), it’s ready to be served over the rice!
Other topping ideas
In addition to the classic chicken and gravy, pineapple, tomatoes, olives, green onions, and cheese, you could also try:
- Crunchy chinese noodles
- Fried wontons
- Celery
- Lettuce
- Seasoning salt
- Salsa
- Sour cream
For more great chicken recipes, check out:
Hawaiian Haystacks Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can chicken broth
- 1 (10.5-ounce) can cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2-3 chicken breasts cooked and cubed
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 3-4 cups steamed white rice or minute rice made according to the package instructions
Garnishes
- slivered almonds, shredded cheese, green onions, pineapple tidbits, chow mein noodles, chopped celery, Homemade Wonton Strips
Instructions
- Combine broth, soup, and sour cream in a slow cooker and stir to mix.
- Add chicken cubes, salt, and pepper and stir. Cover and cook on high for 1-2 hours or on low for 3-4 hours.
- Serve chicken and gravy over rice. Top with slivered almonds, shredded cheese, green onions, pineapple, fried wonton strips, and any other garnishes desired.
Tasty and simple. Making this for dinner! Pinned!
I am so glad you posted this! I’ve been wanting to make Hawaiin Haystacks for days and just haven’t looked up the recipe, so it was a great surprise to find the blog post in my e-mail inbox! Thanks!
Oh yay!! You’ll have to let me know how it is. I hope you guys love it! 🙂
This may sound like a dumb question, but what is that garnish you have used in this picture??
Not dumb at all – it’s homemade fried wontons (buy wonton wrappers, cut in strips and fry – DELISH) and green onions. 😉
Well it looks absolutely delicious! I will be making this very soon! Thanks much for the reply, and sharing the recipe!!!
I have never had this dish before but it looks very delicious and easy to make. I will have to give this a try. 🙂
Let me know if you do end up giving it a try. It’s easy and delicious!
Looks very tasty…but I’m extremely curious as to why it’s called “hawaiian” haystacks? Do you know?
Actually, I have no idea!! :/
So good, I never realized how easy this was!
Hawaiian Haystacks are one of our favorite meals to make when we are feeding a crowd. Everyone loves it & they can add their favorite toppings.
What a crowd pleasing meal! It is tasty & the easiest thing to make!
When we are feeding a large crowd, this is our go-to recipe! So many topping to choose from and full of many flavors!
Such a simple meal that can feed many. I love the variety of ingredients you can put on the top!
I usually eat my haystacks fairly plain, but The chicken gravy for this was really good. DEFINITELY a keeper.
Takes me back to my childhood! Delicious!
This is so tasty and really easy to make! Thanks a lot for sharing this hawaiian haystacks recipe! I highly recommend this! Will have this again!
I love making Hawaiian haystacks when feeding a crowd. You can make a ton & everyone can put what they want on them. They are always so good!
We make this meal often! It is so simple to make and you can add so many different toppings!
The husband and kids love this. I love how easy it is. Winner everytime.