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Hawaiian Haystacks were always a favorite dinner when we were growing up! We love how you can build your own dish just the way you like it!
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Hawaiian in Spirit
Aloha! I have to be honest—Hawaiian Haystacks aren’t exactly Hawaiian. They’re about as Hawaiian as Hawaiian pizza (you know, the ham and pineapple combo). In all my time in Hawaii, I never once saw this dish on a menu. The closest thing? A scoop of white rice on a plate lunch, maybe with a couple of slices of Spam and some macaroni salad. But despite the name, Hawaiian Haystacks are a delicious, easy, and family-friendly meal that has earned a permanent spot in my dinner rotation. It was a favorite that our mom made it for us growing up. Now my kids absolutely love them, and any meal that gets their stamp of approval is a win in my book!
What Are Hawaiian Haystacks?
Hawaiian Haystacks start with a base of fluffy rice, topped with creamy chicken gravy, and then piled high with all sorts of toppings. It’s a meal that can be customized to every preference—whether you love all the toppings (like me!) or prefer to keep it simple. The best part? It’s easy to make and perfect for busy weeknights or feeding a crowd.
Main Ingredients You’ll Need
- Chicken breasts – About three large chicken breasts, cooked and cut into small chunks. Rotisserie chicken or canned chicken works great too!
- Cream of chicken soup – One 10.5-ounce can. Cream of mushroom also works if you’re in a pinch.
- Chicken broth – Use low-sodium broth to control the salt level. You can also substitute milk for a more creamy sauce.
- Sour cream – Half a cup, or swap it for plain Greek yogurt for a lighter option.
- Salt & pepper – Season to taste.
- Garlic powder or onion powder – Optional, but adds extra flavor to the gravy.
- Steamed rice – About three cups of white, brown, or even cauliflower rice.
Topping Ideas for Hawaiian Haystacks
Here’s where you can get creative! Picky eaters love this meal because they can customize it to their liking. Even if you have a fridge full of random leftovers, chances are they’ll work as toppings for this dish. Some of my favorites include:
- Crunchy chow mein noodles
- Diced fresh tomato
- Sliced olives
- Chopped celery
- Green onions
- Bell peppers
- Pineapple tidbits
- Mandarin oranges
- Grated cheese
- Shredded carrots
- Slivered almonds
- Shredded coconut
- Soy sauce drizzle
- Sliced mushrooms
How to Make Hawaiian Haystacks
- Make the gravy – Heat the cream of chicken soup and chicken broth in a saucepan over medium heat until smooth.
- Add the chicken – Stir in the cooked chicken and let it simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Stir in sour cream – Remove from heat and mix in the sour cream.
- Assemble – Spoon rice onto each plate, top with chicken gravy, then add cheese, chow mein noodles, and any toppings you like.
- Enjoy! – Finish with a drizzle of soy sauce if desired.
How to Thicken the Sauce
If you like a thicker gravy, make a simple roux! Melt two tablespoons of butter in a saucepan, whisk in two tablespoons of flour, and cook for about a minute. Slowly whisk in half a cup of milk, then combine with the cream of chicken soup mixture. If the sauce becomes too thick, just add a little extra milk until you reach the right consistency.
Can Hawaiian Haystacks Be Made Vegetarian?
Absolutely! Just skip the chicken and load up on extra veggies like mushrooms, avocado, bell peppers, and broccoli. For a vegetarian sauce, make the roux mentioned above and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
Perfect for Feeding a Crowd
Hawaiian Haystacks aren’t just great for family dinners—they’re also perfect for feeding a crowd. Everything can be prepped in large batches, and since everyone can build their own plate, it’s an easy way to accommodate different tastes. Need to make a big batch of rice? Try baking it in a large pan—you can cook enough rice for 50 people that way!
Questions About Hawaiian Haystacks
Not Hawaii! This dish actually originated in the 1950s as a popular potluck meal. It’s been a staple at church gatherings and family dinners for years.
Some people call them “Chicken Sundae” or “Snow on the Mountain.”
Yes! Simply add the chicken, cream of chicken soup, and broth to a slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours. Shred the chicken, stir in sour cream, and serve over rice with your favorite toppings.
White rice is the most traditional, but brown rice, jasmine rice, or even cauliflower rice work well if you’re looking for a healthier option.
Yes! Use a gluten-free cream of chicken soup and thicken your sauce with cornstarch instead of a flour-based roux.
Storing Leftover Haystacks
Store leftover chicken gravy in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Store the toppings in separate containers. Reheat gravy on the stove or in the microwave, adding a splash of broth or milk to thin it out if needed. Pour over rice and add desired toppings.
Authentic Hawaiian Recipes
If you’re looking for truly authentic Hawaiian flavors, check out these traditional recipes that capture the spirit of the islands:
- Loco Moco – A comforting dish of rice, a juicy hamburger patty, a fried egg, and rich brown gravy.
- Huli Huli Chicken – Grilled chicken marinated in a sweet and savory sauce with a hint of pineapple.
- Spam Musubi – A popular Hawaiian snack made with sushi rice, seaweed, and fried Spam.
- Kalua Pork – Tender, smoky shredded pork traditionally cooked in an underground imu pit.
- Haupia – A creamy coconut pudding that’s a staple at Hawaiian luaus.
Hawaiian Haystacks
Ingredients
- 3 chicken breasts cooked and cut into small chunks (canned chicken can also be used)
- 10.5 ounces cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup chicken broth (or milk if you prefer a more creamy sauce)
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- pepper to taste
- 3 cups steamed rice any kind you like
Garnishes: Use any or all
- chow mein noodles
- diced fresh tomato
- olives sliced
- celery chopped
- 3 green onions chopped
- 1 green pepper chopped
- 1 can pineapple tidbits drained
- 1 can mandarin oranges drained
- 1 cup grated cheese
- 1/2 cup slivered almonds
- 1/2 cup coconut
- soy sauce
Instructions
- Heat soup and chicken broth to make a gravy. Add the chicken chunks and simmer 10 minutes.
- Stir in sour cream.
- To serve, put the rice on each individual serving plate. Top with the chicken gravy, then cheese, chow mein noodles, and any of the garnishes you like. Sprinkle soy sauce on top.
Video
Notes
- Use this recipe to make rice in a baking pan It’ll serve up to 50 people.
- Bake a pan of chicken all at once and dice into chunks or use cans of chicken.
- All of the ingredients can easily be found or made in bulk, including the rice (especially the rice).
Nutrition Information
Hawaiian or not, this dish is an easy, fun, and customizable meal that never fails to please. Give it a try and let me know how you like it in the comments below—what are your favorite toppings? Mahalo! 🌺 🍍 🥥 🏄♂️ 🌴 🐠
Can anyone help me estimate how much of each topping I would need to serve 50 people? I see you suggested 5 lbs of rice would serve 50. I’m trying to do the math for serving 350 to 400 women. Thanks.
We have not served this recipe at that scale before, so I am not sure how much of the toppings you would need. That is a big crowd!
I haven’t made this yet, so the stars don’t mean anything. I’m confused. Your video shows to add 1 c. of milk to the soup, but your recipe says 1 c. chicken broth. Which is correct?
You can do either! The point is just to add liquid to the condensed soup so that it makes a gravy.
I love Hawaiian Haystacks. This recipe is perfect for when you are trying something new. The way the rice and gravy, and the garnishes all compliment each other are completely amazing.
My aunt used to make this all the time for big family gatherings so there was always something for everyone to eat. Now that I have kids (picky eaters) I’m always trying to find something they’ll eat. Now that I found this again I’ll have to try it on them. (Fingers crossed.) I always loved mine with bean sprouts!
You will have to come back and let me know how it goes! I know how it goes with picky eaters. It’s so hard trying to please everyone! Best of luck! Hopefully it will be a new hit with them!
so easy to make! everyone loves it!
Agreed, this recipe has been a staple in the family forever!
That’s why we call it “Haole Haystacks” at our house 😉 Thanks for sharing!
haha love it!
😆 thats what we call it in our house because my husband is hawaiian
About how many does this recipe serve?
This will serve 4-6 people. You can always stretch it by cooking more rice. Thank you for visiting our site!
Making these tonight! Looks yummy!
This is one of my favorites! I also use raisins with this recipe. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Yum, I’ll have to try that!
Your photos always turn out so wonderful. They make every thing seem so tasty & yummy-looking. I haven't made this in a long time. I've never tried it with milk, so maybe now I will try.
Flashback! My mom made these for my sister's wedding reception back in 1989! I need to introduce these to my kids.
My 12-year old daughter was just introduced to hawaiian haystacks a couple weeks ago at an event, and loved them. Seeing your recipe reminded me that I wanted to try them at home. Thanks!