Hawaiian Haystacks

Q: Can I make the chicken sauce from scratch?

Yes. Instead of canned cream of chicken soup, use homemade cream of chicken sauce.

Hawaiian Haystacks are an easy build-your-own chicken and rice dinner where everyone gets to choose their own toppings. Start with warm rice and a creamy chicken sauce, then pile on cheese, vegetables, fruit, crunchy toppings, or whatever your family likes.

This is an especially useful meal when you have leftover cooked chicken to use. Set everything out in separate bowls and let kids assemble their own haystacks at the table.

Hawaiian Haystacks chicken and rice dinner with toppings

How to Make Hawaiian Haystacks

Start with rice: Spoon warm cooked rice into each bowl or onto each plate.
Add creamy chicken: Spoon the warm chicken sauce over the rice.
Add cheese and vegetables: Try shredded cheese, tomatoes, celery, peppers, onions, or mushrooms.
Add fruit: Pineapple and mandarin oranges are especially good choices.
Finish with something crunchy: Chow mein noodles, almonds, or other favorite toppings add texture.
Let kids build their own: Everyone can choose the toppings they enjoy and try something new if they want.

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Easy Hawaiian Haystacks

Warm rice and creamy chicken make the base of these Hawaiian Haystacks. Set out a variety of toppings and let each person create their own combination.

Hawaiian Haystacks chicken and rice dinner

Chicken Sauce

1 can cream of chicken soup or homemade cream of chicken sauce
Up to 1/4 cup water, chicken broth, or milk
Cooked chicken pieces or shredded chicken, as desired

For the Haystacks

Cooked rice
Prepared creamy chicken sauce
Shredded cheddar cheese
Your choice of vegetables, fruit, and crunchy toppings

Directions

Add the cream of chicken soup or homemade sauce to a saucepan.
Stir in the cooked chicken.
Add water, chicken broth, or milk a little at a time until the sauce reaches the consistency you prefer. Use less liquid for a thicker sauce and more for a thinner sauce.
Warm the chicken sauce over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until hot throughout.
Meanwhile, prepare the cooked rice and place your chosen toppings in individual bowls.
To assemble, spoon warm rice into a bowl or onto a plate.
Add shredded cheese and spoon the warm chicken sauce over the rice.
Finish with your choice of vegetables, fruit, and crunchy toppings.

Kid Cooking Tip: Kids can help prepare the topping bowls, shred cheese with age-appropriate supervision, measure ingredients, and assemble their own haystacks. An adult should handle the hot saucepan and chicken sauce as needed.

Hawaiian Haystack Topping Ideas

One of the best parts of Hawaiian Haystacks is that there isn't one required combination of toppings. Use the ingredients your family likes or ingredients you already have in the refrigerator and pantry.

Vegetables

Chopped tomatoes
Diced celery
Green peppers
Chopped onions or green onions
Sliced mushrooms
Shredded carrots
Cooked peas
Cooked corn

Fruit

Chopped pineapple
Mandarin oranges
Sliced bananas
Diced mango

Cheese & Crunchy Toppings

Shredded cheddar cheese
Chow mein noodles
Slivered almonds
Shredded coconut
Chopped cashews
Sunflower seeds

Easy Extras

Extra shredded chicken
Diced avocado
Chopped fresh herbs
Cooked broccoli
Extra chicken sauce

You Don't Need Every Topping

Hawaiian Haystacks are meant to be flexible. Choose a few toppings from different groups rather than buying every ingredient on the list. This is a good meal for using small amounts of vegetables, fruit, cheese, and other ingredients already in your kitchen.

Make Hawaiian Haystacks with Leftover Chicken

Hawaiian Haystacks are an easy way to turn cooked chicken into a completely different dinner. Use chopped or shredded leftover chicken, or use cooked chicken you prepared ahead for another meal.

If you're planning meals for the week, cook extra chicken the first night and refrigerate the leftovers promptly. Then use the cooked chicken for Hawaiian Haystacks or another easy chicken dinner.

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Turn Dinner into a Build-Your-Own Meal

Serving the ingredients separately gives kids a chance to make choices and participate in preparing dinner. Instead of assembling everyone's meal in the kitchen, place the rice, chicken sauce, and toppings on the table and let each person build their own haystack.

Kids Can Help

Choose which toppings to serve.
Wash fruits and vegetables.
Place prepared toppings into small bowls.
Measure ingredients for the sauce.
Set the topping bowls on the table.
Build their own haystack.

Try Something New

Kids don't have to put every topping on their haystack. Encourage them to choose familiar favorites and, if they're willing, add a small amount of a new fruit or vegetable. It can even go on the side instead of directly on the haystack.

Keep cooking with chicken with these easy family dinner ideas and recipes that help kids practice different kitchen skills.

Chicken Pot Pie
Combine cooked chicken, vegetables, creamy sauce, and a golden crust for a comforting family dinner.

Chicken Enchiladas
Roll shredded chicken and cheese inside tortillas and try creamy, red, or green enchilada variations.

Chicken Lasagna
Layer cooked chicken with pasta, sauce, and cheese for another filling chicken dinner.

Chicken Braid
Wrap chicken filling inside dough and bake it into an easy family meal.

Chicken Casseroles
Use chicken with rice, noodles, vegetables, cheese, and sauces for easy baked dinners.

Chicken Crepes
Fill homemade crepes with cooked chicken for a different way to turn leftovers into dinner.

More Dinner Recipes for Kids

Keep building meal-planning and cooking skills with more family-friendly dinner recipes kids can help prepare.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hawaiian Haystacks

What are Hawaiian Haystacks?

Hawaiian Haystacks are a build-your-own meal made with cooked rice, creamy chicken sauce, and a variety of toppings. Each person piles the ingredients onto the rice to create their own haystack.

Why are they called Hawaiian Haystacks?

The ingredients are piled onto rice like a haystack, and pineapple and other fruit are commonly included among the toppings. Despite the name, Hawaiian Haystacks are not a traditional Hawaiian dish.

Can I use leftover chicken for Hawaiian Haystacks?

Yes. Cooked leftover chicken works very well. Chop or shred the chicken and warm it in the creamy sauce before serving.

What toppings go on Hawaiian Haystacks?

Popular choices include shredded cheese, pineapple, mandarin oranges, tomatoes, celery, peppers, onions, mushrooms, chow mein noodles, almonds, and shredded coconut. You can choose only the toppings your family enjoys.

What kind of rice should I use?

Use a cooked rice your family enjoys. White or brown rice both work well as the base for Hawaiian Haystacks.

Can I make the chicken sauce from scratch?

Yes. Instead of canned cream of chicken soup, use our homemade cream of chicken sauce.

Are Hawaiian Haystacks good for kids?

They work especially well as a family build-your-own meal because children can choose which toppings to add. Kids can also help prepare and arrange many of the toppings before dinner.

What can I serve with Hawaiian Haystacks?

Hawaiian Haystacks already combine rice, chicken, fruit, vegetables, and toppings, so they can be served as a complete meal. Extra fruit or vegetables can be served on the side if desired.