Ditch the soup cans and Chinese noodles, this is ultimate Hawaiian haystacks recipe and you’re going to go crazy for them!
Alright, alright! I am clearly not in Washington anymore, Toto! I’ve lived in Utah for 10 years now. 10 YEARS! You guys, am I old enough to even say that? Slowly but surely I’m learning that Utah has a great love of food and family and it’s best to get on board or else you’re totally a loser. These ultimate Hawaiian haystacks actually come from a place of great fear. Fear of being an outcast…
What Are Hawaiian Haystacks?
A Hawaiian haystack (also known as a “chicken sundae”) is a type of haystack.
It is a convenience cuisine dish composed of a rice base and several toppings.
It is prepared by topping rice with toppings such as chicken, chicken gravy, diced pineapple, diced tomatoes, Chinese noodles, cheese, and celery.
You see, when we first moved to Utah we learned of this thing called, Funeral Potatoes. Basically a cheesy potato casserole with a horrible name. Then there’s the whole Swig cookie thing that I hold strong on not enjoying a cold cookie which is why you don’t see a copycat recipe here. Oh and of course the Navajo Taco and Cafe Rio Sweet Pork, Cafe Rio Chicken, Cafe Rio Cilantro Lime Rice. I mean, you’re totally an outcast if you don’t have those recipes in your recipe box in this state. Don’t even start me on the Magleby’s Buttermilk syrup (it’s liquid gold but that one I did actually grow up on) and Waffle Love Copycat.
The list goes on forever. Utah loves to be social and eat. I was at a relief society meeting the other day and mentioned I’ve never done the whole Hawaiian Haystacks thing and I am pretty sure real live fiery darts shot out of eyeballs aimed straight for my head.
“Mucho take it easy…” folks! (Yes, Nacho Libre is another Utah obsession. No joke. It’s an acquired taste, but I have to admit it has grown on me.) So I researched. And researched. And researched some more. And then I cried a little because much like the other Utah favorite of crockpot chicken and rice (or potatoes or pasta if your family does it different) it’s just this whole cream of chicken soup thing. Nothing wrong with that of course, but I had to shut the door when every recipe called for Chinese noodles.
Nooooooooo. I don’t want Chinese noodles! So I closed up pinterest and set out to make an ultimate version. From scratch. One that actually sounded like it could be Hawaiian. It uses coconut milk, fresh not canned pineapple and crispy little won ton strips instead of those overcooked noodle thingys. You guys, it turned out good. It turned out real good and Hawaiian Haystacks are officially in our recipe book to be eaten often! boom.
What Kind of Rice is Healthiest?
The common variety of white rice is processed to remove the bran and germ, which also removes fiber and B vitamins.
The rice is then polished to improve appearance.
For better nutrition, choose brown, red, black or wild rice.
Ultimate Hawaiian Haystacks
Ultimate Hawaiian Haystacks
Description
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Rotisserie Chicken, cubed
- 1/2 Cup Heavy Cream or Whole Milk
- 1 Cup Coconut Milk, divided
- 2 Tablespoons Butter
- 2 Tablespoons Flour
- 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
- Fresh Black Pepper
- 1/2 Teaspoon Garlic, minced
- 1/2 Teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1 Cup Sour Cream
- 1 Teaspoon Lemon Juice
Toppings
- Wonton Strips
- Olives
- Raisins or Craisins
- Tomatoes, chopped
- Shredded Cheese
- Pineapple, chopped
- Mandarin Oranges, drained
- Green Onions, chopped
- 4 Cups Cooked Rice
Instructions
- In saucepan over medium heat, add the butter and melt.
- Add the garlic, whisking quickly and then flour and continue to whisk for one minute to remove the flour flavor.
- Add the remaining seasoning, cream and half the coconut milk.
- Whisk and then bring to a simmer.
- Allow to cook for 2 minutes or until thick.
- Whisk in remaining coconut milk and sour cream.
- Add the chicken and season to taste.
- To serve, place rice on bottom, chicken gravy on top and any toppings you desire.
- Store leftovers in separate containers in the fridge.
Notes
Nutrition
Recommended Products
Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole
Cheesy Ground Beef and Rice Casserole
Molly M
Sorry. I did not enjoy this recipe.
Making a soup base from scratch for the gravy is a great start for this “timeless” Mormon classic. However, I would prefer to add coconut flakes as a topping because using that much coconut milk really muddles the gravy’s flavor.
The addition of sliced celery and diced onion to the gravy could liven it up.
Sweet Basil
Hi Molly! You could definitely make plain rice and then add coconut flakes as a topping. We do that sometimes here. Any additional toppings are totally up to you too! Celery and onions would add great flavor and crunch!
Loraine
If I don’t have a Rotisserie chicken on hand, you have a recommendation for how to use raw chicken breast? Thanks!
Sweet Basil
Hi Loraine! You can just cook your chicken breasts however you want to…pan fry them, bake them, throw them in a crockpot with some chicken broth, Instant Pot them…whatever you prefer! Just salt and pepper them or sprinkle some chicken seasoning.
Jennefer Dorrance
My daughter now has to go gluten free and we have always loved Hawaiian Haystacks. Can you give me quick instructions on how I can use cornstarch to thicken instead of flour in your recipe?
Sweet Basil
After step 6 when you add the coconut milk and sour cream, I would add a cornstarch and water mixture (1 tsp cornstarch to 1 Tbsp water). Whisk that in until it gets thick. It will have to be quite high heat to thicken but as soon as it thickens, turn the heat down and simmer with the chicken.
Betty Ford
You really have it goin’ on girl! Help me out with this-we have guests coming that can’t eat chicken or the rich gravy because of gout. But she can eat salmon. So we are maki lng haystacks with salmon but what sauce or topping would be good? Yikes. Betty email me quick if you can as they are coming tonight. Fellow Utahn.
Sweet Basil
Hmmmmmmm….great question! Maybe the lemon cream sauce from this recipe: https://ohsweetbasil.com/panko-crusted-chicken-with-lemon-sauce/
If that is too rich still, I might just try it will just lemon juice squeezed on top.
Katherine
Ummmmm…. fantastic! Thank you for this version sans cream o’mush soup. Family loved them, I will be making this many more times. I don’t understand how these ingredients work but they somehow do!
Sweet Basil
Right?! That’s what is so great about Hawaiian haystacks…on paper it sounds like craziness, but it works! And it works amazingly! Thanks for the kind comment!!
Annie Garcia
My sister sent me this post saying it was delicious and I just had to try. I tried it today and oh my, what a tasty and flavorful recipe! Love it! =D
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much!
hawkfangor
This looks like a fun enough recipe, but it doesn’t really feel all that “Hawaiian” to me. Having grown up in Hawaii, I’d like to offer a few alternative suggestions:
Instead of rotisserie chicken, try huli huli chicken or kalua pork. The pork I definitely think would work well with this recipe and feel more hawaiian.
For toppings, the pineapple and wonton strips are okay, but none of others are really hawaiian at all. Try some mango or papaya instead of the oranges, and if you want tomatoes, prepare them lomi lomi salmon style (marinated in sesame oil, sea salt, and soy sauce along with the chopped onion).
I can’t really think of good direct substitutes for the olives, raisins, or cheese, but most people in Hawaii will put grilled spam cubes or portuguese sausage on anything.
If using pork in the gravy, you can also top it with some boiled cabbage, or use the cabbage in place of the rice for a lighter option.
Instead of any other toppings, you could also just go rice, pork-gravy, and top it with a fried egg for a “loco moco” haystack.
Sweet Basil
Hi, thank you so much for your thoughts. This is an old recipe that’s a tradition all over the United States, but especially Utah. We agree, it’s not very Hawaiian, but that is the name it has always had. 🙂
Niki
You should try shredded coconut and peas on them (sounds weird I know, but the sweet/salty combo is SO good!!!)!
Sweet Basil
Oh that actually sounds awesome! I love sweet/salty combos!
George
I cringe whenever I see someone mistake “Cream of [something]” soup as meaning “Canned crap.” Yes, generally, y’all are screwing up and obtaining your “Cream of [whatever]” from the red can of doom, but if you make your own, it is SO GOOD. I personally LOVE Hawaiian Haystacks with homemade Cream of Chicken, cheese, tomatoes, and pineapple.
Micky
Thank you thank you! I cringe every time I see ‘cream of anything’ soup as an ingredient in a recipe. How hard is it to reduce some milk or cream (or cheat by opening a tin of evaporated milk) and add some fresh ingredients?
Sweet Basil
It’s definitely much easier than many people think. 🙂
2pots2cook
Another beauty of yours’ 🙂 Thank you for being so refreshing and bright and creative. I am hooked to come over and over again…..
Sweet Basil
Thank you!