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–+ servings
a delicious-looking Amish haystack dinner on a plate topped with cheese sauce.

Amish Haystacks Recipe (Easy Haystack Dinner)

Amish Haystacks are basically a taco that is piled onto your plate. This recipe also includes rice and is topped off with a delicious cheese sauce. Easy meal for a crowd.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Amish
Servings 8 people
Calories 559 kcal

Ingredients
  

Taco Meat

  • 1 lb. hamburger
  • 1 clove minced garlic optional
  • 3 Tbs. taco seasoning (1 packet)
  • 3/4 - 1 c. tomato juice or water

Rice

  • 1 c. uncooked rice
  • 2 c. water
  • 3/4 tsp. salt

Beans

  • 1 can red beans
  • 1 Tbs. taco seasoning

Cheese sauce

  • 1/2 c. milk
  • 1 Tbsp. butter
  • 10 oz. velveeta cheese, cut into slices (about 2" - 3" chunk from a 2 lb. block)

Guacamole

  • 2 ripe avocados, mashed
  • 1 Tbs. lime juice
  • 1/4 tsp. salt

Remaining Ingredients

  • 1 qt. shredded lettuce
  • 1 large tomato, diced
  • 3 stems green onions, chopped
  • 1/2 bag Doritos or tortilla chips slightly crushed
  • sour cream
  • salsa
  • hot sauce
  • cilantro

Instructions
 

  • Crumble and brown the hamburger, drain the fat. Add 1 clove of minced garlic, taco seasoning, and tomato juice. Cook for at least another minute.
    1 lb. hamburger, 1 clove minced garlic, 3 Tbs. taco seasoning, 3/4 - 1 c. tomato juice or water
  • Add the rice kernels, salt, and water to a saucepan and bring it to a rolling boil. Reduce heat to low temperature. Cover and set your timer for twenty minutes. Do not open the lid until your timer goes off.
    1 c. uncooked rice, 2 c. water, 3/4 tsp. salt
  • Warm a can of beans and add 1 Tbs. taco seasoning.
    1 can red beans, 1 Tbs. taco seasoning
  • You can buy a can of cheese sauce and warm it, or make your own. In a microwave-safe dish, add milk and cheese slices. Warm at 30-second to one-minute intervals, stirring in-between, until it is melted and smooth.
    1/2 c. milk, 1 Tbsp. butter, 10 oz. velveeta cheese, cut into slices
  • You can buy ready-made guacamole, or make your own. By simply mashing the avocados with a fork, add salt and lime juice.
    2 ripe avocados, mashed, 1 Tbs. lime juice, 1/4 tsp. salt
  • Arrange all your ingredients in the order you want to stack them, and let everyone pile their plates full. Usually, the cheese sauce gets drizzled over the top of the stack.

Notes

You can add or subtract any ingredients you want. Guacamole is my addition, our Amish haystacks didn't have this item. My husband likes jalapenos on his yet too.
A lot of people use regular onions instead of green, but I like the milder taste of green onions.
Sometimes I don't have everything on hand and that's ok, as long as I have all the main ingredients. Some people use crushed crackers instead of chips. Some even substitute the cheese sauce for shredded cheese and drizzle Ranch or Thousand Island dressing on top.
It is a very versatile recipe, so have fun with it.
*Nutrition is approximate.
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 559kcalCarbohydrates: 62gProtein: 28gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 57mgSodium: 1288mgPotassium: 1117mgFiber: 10gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 1593IUVitamin C: 19mgCalcium: 314mgIron: 4mg
Keyword Amish haystacks, Haystack dinner recipe, Haystacks recipe taco
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