Hawaiian Haystacks (with and without cream of chicken soup)

This one is super simple, and I’m sure the majority of you have already heard of this classic meal, but I didn’t want to forget to post it. I’ve also posted both versions, with or without cream of chicken soup.

Hawaiian Haystacks

2 cans cream of chicken soup

1 can chicken broth

chicken, cooked and shredded (about 2 cups)

Combine above ingredients and simmer. Pour over rice (4 cups). Add toppings of your choice.

Toppings:

chopped celery

chopped green onions

grated cheddar cheese

diced tomatoes

Chow Mein noodles

Pineapple tidbits

slivered almonds

green peppers

olives

mandarin oranges

water chestnuts

cashews

soy sauce

or anything else that you think would be good

Recipe Credit: Jenna Steed

No Cream of Soup Hawaiian Haystacks

2 cups of cooked  and cubed chicken (or shredded chicken)

3 tablespoons butter

½ onion (about ½ cup), finely chopped

1 1/2 tsp garlic, finely minced

1 teaspoon salt

pepper to taste

¼ cup flour

2 cups milk

1 cup chicken broth

salt and pepper to taste

2 Tbsp flour, optional

2 Tbsp water, optional

1.    In a large sauce pan, saute the onion in the butter until soft and translucent. Add the garlic and cook for about one minute, stirring, until fragrant.

2.    Sprinkle the flour over the onions and stir to combine. Cook over medium heat for one minute.

3.    Slowly whisk in the milk and chicken broth. Cook, stirring constantly with a whisk, and bring the sauce to a simmer over medium. Add the salt and pepper.

4.    Add the chicken and simmering, stirring the sauce frequently, until the sauce has thickened, about 5-8 minutes.

5.    At this point if you want the sauce to thicken more, in a small bowl whisk together the 2 Tbsp flour and 2 Tbsp water until smooth, you don’t want lumps.  It should look like a paste.  Drizzle a little of the flour mixture at a time while whisking into to sauce mixture until desired thickness is reached.  I like it to be like a thick gravy.

6.    Serve the sauce over steamed rice with desired toppings from the list below.  Serves 4-6.

Toppings: (items with a star are our favorites)

shredded cheddar cheese*

pineapple tidbits*

sliced olives*

diced green onion*

chopped celery*

slice almonds*

Chow mein noodles*

diced tomatoes

mandarin oranges

diced green pepper

water chestnuts

cashews

soy sauce

or anything else that you think would be good

Recipe Credit: Real Mom Kitchen