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If you’ve never heard of Hawaiian Haystacks, then allow me to introduce you to a rice and creamy chicken dish with a savory flavor that even picky eaters will enjoy. Whether you’re looking for a quick meal for busy weeknights or a potluck dish to please a crowd, this is a must-try!
Speaking of chicken and potlucks, these Alabama Chicken Sandwiches are another big hit.

What are Hawaiian Haystacks?
Although the Hawaiian haystack recipe didn’t originate in Hawaii, the dish grabbed its name because of the citrus-like ingredients. The recipe highlights the variety of toppings that are “stacked” on a bed of white rice.
While you can certainly choose your own toppings, people’s favorite toppings are mandarin oranges, pineapple tidbits, sliced olives, and chow mein noodles. Keep reading to see just how easy it is to make Hawaiian haystacks.
Recipe Ingredients
- Chicken Breasts: Boneless skinless chicken breasts are slow-cooked in a cream of chicken base until fork tender.
- Cream of Chicken Condensed Soup: Cream of chicken soup to cook chicken in the crock pot helps create a creamy chicken gravy.
- Chicken Broth: Adds to the cream of chicken to make a creamy gravy and enhanced chicken flavor.
- Seasonings: Salt, pepper, garlic, onion powder, and garlic powder add the perfect flavor to the chicken gravy.
- Haystack Toppings: Mandarin oranges, crunchy chow mein noodles, diced Roma tomatoes, sliced green onion, and sliced olives are some of the most ideal toppings to serve for the Hawaiian haystacks.
How to Make Hawaiian Haystacks in the Crockpot
Step One – Place the chicken breasts into the slow cooker and lightly season with salt and pepper.
Step Two – Whisk together the chicken broth, cream of chicken, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
Step Three – Pour the creamy sauce over the uncooked fresh chicken. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or on HIGH for 4 hours.
Step Four – Shred the chicken with two forks in the slow cooker. Serve over hot rice and desired toppings.
Toppings Hawaiian Haystacks
Here are our favorite ways to serve these bowls:
- Classic Toppings: oranges, olives, diced tomatoes, chow mein noodles, and diced green onion.
- Other topping ideas: pineapple tidbits, sliced almonds, shredded coconut, green peas, shredded cheddar cheese, diced bell peppers, shredded cheese, and sunflower seeds.
- Note: You can use cauliflower rice, brown rice, or basmati rice to replace white rice.
Slow Cooker Hawaiian Haystacks
How to Video
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts
- ½ cup chicken broth, or water
- 10.5 oz. can cream of chicken
- 1 tsp. onion powder
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. black pepper
For serving:
- cooked white rice
- crunchy chow mein noodles
- Roma tomatoes, diced
- mandarin oranges
- sliced black olives
- green onions , sliced
Instructions
- Place the chicken in the crockpot.
- In a small bowl, mix the chicken broth, cream of chicken, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
- Pour the cream of chicken mixture on top of the chicken breast.
- Cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours.
- Remove the chicken from the crockpot and with 2 forks shred the chicken.
- Return the shredded chicken to the slow and mix with the sauce, until the chicken is well coated.
- Serve on top of rice and garnish with Chow Mein noodles, tomatoes, mandarin, black olive, and green onion.
Sarah’s Notes
- Other than cream of chicken soup, you can use cream of mushroom soup. It won’t change the taste too much.
- Start cooking your rice towards the end of the cooking time.
- To store, place each item – from the creamy chicken to the individual toppings – in its own airtight container. Reheat the rice and chicken over medium heat on the stove top. Or you heat individual servings in the microwave.
- You can use brown rice, basmati or cauliflower rice.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
More Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes
Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy is a comforting, no-fuss meal with tender chicken simmered in rich, savory gravy—perfect over mashed potatoes.
For a takeout-style dinner made easy, Slow Cooker Chicken Chow Mein mixes chicken, veggies, and noodles in a flavorful sauce.
Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole has all the classic flavors—chicken, ham, and Swiss cheese—baked together in a creamy, comforting dish.
Slow Cooker Chicken and Stuffing is an all-in-one meal that’s hearty, savory, and perfect for busy nights.
Hawaiian Chicken brings sweet and tangy flavors together with pineapple and sauce for a tropical twist your whole family will love.
Can you tell me how many does this recipe feed?? I looked for that information. Thankyou, sounds so yummy.
It serves about 6.