Best Homemade Chicken Haystacks Recipe

This homemade Chicken Haystacks recipe is a flavorful and delicious stove top dinner. The from-scratch sauce takes a few extra minutes, but it is so worth it!

Whether you are feeding a crowd, or just have picky eaters at your house, you can’t beat creamy chicken gravy over a bed of rice covered with delicious toppings!

HOMEMADE IS BEST!

If you’ve tried a Hawaiian haystacks recipe that starts with canned cream of chicken soup, this is similar.

But because you make it yourself, you control the ingredients. Not only does that make it healthier, but the added garlic and onions add so much flavor to the creamy sauce.

This chicken haystacks recipe has been a family favorite at my house for decades. It’s quick enough for busy weeknights, but we often have it for Sunday dinner when everyone comes over.

Need to feed a large crowd?

This is one of my go-to recipes when I need to serve a lot of people because it can easily be doubled or tripled.

I’ve made it for family reunions, girl’s camps, and church dinners. Because everyone assembles their own dish, you end up with a crowd of smiling faces.

You can make up both the sauce and the rice ahead of time and freeze them in ziplock freezer bags. Reheat the sauce in a large saucepan or pot. For the rice, I either heat it in the microwave, or defrost it and then heat it in a large skillet with a bit of water.

How to make creamy chicken sauce:

1. PREP – Cook your rice. (I use a rice cooker.) Chop or shred your cooked chicken. Dice the onion and mince the garlic.
2. SAUTE – In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onions and saute for 4-5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for another minute.
3. THICKEN – Stir in the flour, then add the milk, chicken broth, salt, and pepper. Whisk and cook over medium heat for about 15 minutes, or until thick and bubbly.
4. ADD CHICKEN – Stir in the shredded chicken and heat through.
   
5. SERVE – Ladle the homemade chicken gravy over a scoop of white rice, then let everyone add their own toppings.

FAVORITE TOPPINGS:

• shredded cheddar cheese
• diced tomatoes
• green onions
• mandarin oranges
• pineapple tidbits
• sliced black olives
• diced red, yellow, or green bell peppers
• sliced celery
• crunchy chow mein noodles
• corn chips or Bugles (Bugles are a family favorite!)
• pineapple chunks or tidbits
• coconut (I like it toasted.)
• sliced almonds

Store any leftover Hawaiian haystacks in an airtight container for 3-4 days. I store the rice, sauce, and toppings all in individual containers.

Other easy recipes with chicken:

• Chicken ala King
• Chicken Flautas
• Instant Pot Butter Chicken
• Lemon Chicken Pasta
• Monterey Chicken
• Baked Sweet & Sour Chicken
• Chicken Broccoli Bake

Homemade Chicken Haystacks

Kara

A creamy sauce with chunks of chicken, served over rice and your choice of toppings. Great for feeding a crowd!

4.84 from 6 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Main Dish: Chicken

Cuisine American

Servings 8 servings

Calories 337 kcal

Equipment

• Farberware Stainless Steel 6-Quart Covered Stockpot
• Garlic Press
• Linden Sweden Flat Nylon Whisk, 10 ¼”

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

Sauce:

• 3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken
• 3 Tbsp butter
• ½ onion diced
• 3 garlic cloves minced
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp pepper
• ¼ cup flour
• 2 cups milk
• 1 cup chicken broth

For Serving:

• 6 cups fluffy rice
• Toppings: grated cheese diced tomatoes, sliced green onions, sliced black olives, Bugles, crunchy chow mein noodles, sliced celery, toasted sliced almonds, pineapple chunks, toasted coconut, mandarin oranges

Instructions

 

• Melt the butter in a large pan. Saute the onions till tender, then add the garlic for the last minute or two.
• Whisk in the salt, pepper, and flour. Slowly whisk in the milk and chicken broth. Cook and stir over medium heat till bubbly. Boil for at least one minute, stirring constantly.
• Add the shredded chicken and heat through.
• Serve over hot white or brown rice with your choice of toppings.

Notes

• If you don’t have cooked chicken on hand, you can cook 1 1/2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breast.
• The sauce is also tasty with 1/2-1 cup of sour cream stirred in with the chicken.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 337kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 19gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 59mgSodium: 352mgPotassium: 279mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 253IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 100mgIron: 1mg

Keyword chicken haystacks

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The whole family will go crazy for this Hawaiian haystack recipe because there are so many different ways to top it. Get creative!