These homemade Hawaiian haystacks with scratch-made chicken gravy are one of my favorite easy weeknight meals. It may look like a pile of mismatched ingredients, but the combination is delicious and simple to assemble.
Homemade Hawaiian Haystacks
Have you tried Hawaiian haystacks? They were a regular at my family’s table growing up and remain a favorite. The mix of toppings and creamy chicken gravy is oddly satisfying — a fun, customizable meal that everyone can tailor to their taste.
Many recipes rely on condensed cream-of-chicken soup for the gravy, but I prefer making a simple homemade sauce. Below I share a straightforward gravy you can make from pantry basics for a fresher flavor.
How to Make Hawaiian Haystack Sauce From Scratch
The gravy uses a few simple ingredients: chicken broth, milk, flour, butter, a little onion, and a touch of sour cream. I sometimes add a pinch of turmeric for color and a subtle warmth — optional, but it enhances the gravy’s appearance and pairs nicely with the toppings. If you have turmeric on hand, use a small amount; there’s no need to buy a whole jar just for this dish.
Hawaiian Haystack Toppings and Base
Serve the gravy over white or brown rice — whichever you prefer or have available. The real fun is the toppings. Popular options include diced bell peppers, black olives, fresh tomatoes, diced celery, toasted cashews, shredded coconut, pineapple tidbits and crunchy Chinese noodles. Cheese and sliced green onions also work well. The pineapple and crunchy noodles bring a delightful sweet-and-salty contrast that many people love.
Looking for more easy chicken dinner ideas? Try variations like creamy chicken noodle soup, Hawaiian shoyu chicken, or chicken fettuccini Alfredo for other weeknight favorites.
Tools and pantry items that make this recipe convenient:
- Concentrated broth base (optional): a small jar of concentrated bouillon or base is handy when you want fresh-tasting broth without cartons or cans.
- Handheld slicer or mandoline (optional): useful for quickly slicing vegetables like carrots or celery without a cutting board, saving time on prep.
📖 Recipe
Hawaiian Haystacks
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Ingredients
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ cup chopped onion
- 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3½ cups chicken broth
- 1 cup milk
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon turmeric (optional)
- 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded or cubed
- ½ cup sour cream
Toppings:
- Black olives
- Pineapple tidbits
- Diced celery
- Diced tomatoes
- Grated cheese
- Cashews
- Shredded coconut
- Green onions
- Crunchy Chinese noodles
- Diced bell pepper
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until translucent. Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute to remove the raw flour taste.
- Slowly whisk in the chicken broth and milk, pouring gradually while whisking to prevent lumps. Continue whisking until the sauce is smooth, thickened and just begins to boil. Remove from heat.
- Season with black pepper, salt and turmeric (if using). Stir in the cooked chicken and then the sour cream until combined. Serve the gravy over rice and let everyone add their favorite toppings.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition and Food Safety Disclosure
