Hawaiian Haystacks
Get ready for the ultimate dinner assembly line!
Hawaiian Haystacks are the crowd-pleasing meal that lets everyone customize their own delicious creation.
Think creamy chicken gravy cascading over fluffy rice, topped with whatever colorful goodies your heart desires.
It’s the perfect solution for picky eaters, party crowds, or just a fun family dinner that breaks the routine.
The magic of Hawaiian Haystacks lies in that irresistible combination of warm, creamy sauce against cool, crisp toppings.
The sauce itself is velvety smooth with chunks of tender chicken, while toppings like mandarin oranges bring unexpected sweetness, cheese adds richness, and chow mein noodles deliver that satisfying crunch.
It’s a textural paradise that somehow manages to be comforting and exciting at the same time.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup finely chopped onion
- 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ⅓ cup flour
- 1 cup chicken broth (I use low sodium)
- 2 cups milk
- 3 to 4 cups cooked, cubed chicken
For serving:
- Cooked white or brown rice
- Toppings: shredded cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes, sliced olives, chopped green onions, mandarin orange segments, chow mein noodles
Steps
- In a large skillet or saucepan, melt the butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until translucent, 3-4 minutes. Look for the onions to become soft and slightly transparent but not browned – browning will change the sauce color.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for about one minute, stirring constantly, until fragrant. Be careful not to let the garlic brown or burn, which would make the sauce bitter.
- Combine the flour, broth, and milk in a blender (or use a handheld whisk and a bowl or liquid measuring cup) and blend until completely smooth with no lumps. This pre-mixing technique prevents flour lumps from forming in your sauce.
- Pour the liquid mixture into the pan and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture simmers and thickens, 2-3 minutes. The sauce should coat the back of a spoon – if you run your finger through it, the line should hold.
- Stir in the cooked chicken, salt and pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring often to prevent sticking. The sauce will continue to thicken slightly during this time.
- Season to taste with additional salt and pepper, if needed. The sauce should be savory but not overly salty, as the toppings will add more flavor.
- Serve over hot rice with toppings arranged in separate bowls, allowing everyone to build their own Hawaiian Haystack. For the traditional experience, start with rice, add the chicken sauce, then pile on toppings like olives, tomatoes, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, green onions, mandarin oranges and chow mein noodles.
Smart Swaps
- Use coconut milk instead of regular milk (1:1 ratio) for a tropical twist
- Substitute rotisserie chicken for quick preparation without sacrificing flavor
- Try quinoa instead of rice for added protein and nutrients
- Use gluten-free flour (1:1 ratio) and gluten-free chow mein noodles for a celiac-friendly version
Make It Diabetes-Friendly
- Replace white rice with cauliflower rice (reduces carbs by approximately 30g per serving)
- Use unsweetened almond milk instead of regular milk (reduces carbs by about 12g per cup)
- Increase the ratio of non-starchy vegetable toppings like bell peppers and olives
- Choose fresh pineapple chunks instead of mandarin oranges (lower glycemic impact)
- Limit higher-carb toppings to 2 tablespoons each and focus on protein and healthy fat toppings
- Serve with a side salad dressed with olive oil to slow carbohydrate absorption
Pro Tips
- Make the chicken sauce a day ahead – it actually improves with time in the refrigerator
- For extra flavor, add ½ teaspoon of poultry seasoning to the sauce
- Keep toppings in separate containers so leftovers stay fresh longer
- For a thicker sauce, reduce milk to 1½ cups
- Warm your serving plates for a restaurant-quality presentation that keeps everything hot longer