This Mexican Haystack recipe is an easy meal that everyone loves! A delicious taco meat sauce is placed over a bed of rice, along with your favorite taco ingredients.
I love a great customizable dinner recipe. For years, Hawaiian Haystacks have been one of my favorite meals to feed a crowd. This delicious twist on Tex-Mex cuisine is now a favorite!
I found this recipe at Mill’s Kitchen and modified it to suit my family’s tastes. It was an instant hit! Since everyone chooses their own toppings, everyone at the table is happy!
How to Make Mexican Haystacks
Rice – Before you start making the sauce, start cooking the rice so it cooks for about the same amount of time. I use my rice cooker, but you can use your favorite method. Hamburgers – Cook the ground beef over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Drain the fat. 
Seasonings – Add salt, pepper, paprika, chili powder, cumin, chopped onion, thyme, garlic and flour. 
Simmer – Add the beef broth, tomato sauce, chopped tomatoes and beans. Reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the mixture is thick to your liking. 
Toppings – While the sauce is cooking, prepare the toppings. Wash and chop the vegetables and grate the cheese.
If you have leftovers, store the rice and sauce in separate containers. They can be stored in the refrigerator in airtight containers for 4-5 days.
You can also freeze the sauce for 3-4 months. Refrigerate, then transfer to a heavy-duty plastic bag or airtight container.
What’s on the haystack?
The dish starts with a layer of rice and a delicious taco-flavored meat sauce. You can add whatever toppings you fancy! Here are some of our favorites:
Shredded cheese – we like cheddar, but you can use pepper jack or Mexican cheese. Fresh diced tomatoes, salsa, or pico de gallo. Cooked corn (fresh, frozen, or canned). Diced avocado or guacamole. Shredded lettuce. Sliced black olives. Sour cream or Café Rio’s Cilantro Lime Salsa. Chopped cilantro. Tortilla strips, Fritos, or other chips. Green onions. Diced bell peppers or chili peppers.
Different recipes for Mexican haystack:
Instead of white rice, you can use brown rice, cilantro-lime rice, or even quinoa. Ground turkey or chicken can be used instead of ground beef. For extra heat, you can use a can of Rotel instead of diced tomatoes, or add a can of green chiles. Refried beans, chili beans, or any other type of bean can be substituted for the black beans.
More Mexican Recipes
Yield: 6 servings
Mexican Haystack Recipe
A delicious mix of taco meat on a bed of rice, topped with all your favorite taco ingredients. An easy weeknight dinner recipe that even the pickiest eater will love!
Preparation time
5 minutes
Cooking time
25 minutes
Total time
30 minutes
ingredients
1 pound lean ground beef 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika 2 teaspoons chili powder 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin 1 tablespoon dried minced onion 1/2 teaspoon thyme 1/2 teaspoon dried minced garlic 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 cup beef broth 1 can tomato sauce (8 ounces) 1 can diced tomatoes (I like small dice) 1 can black beans (15 ounces), drained 3 cups cooked white rice Toppings: shredded cheese, corn, diced avocado, black olives, pico or salsa, diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, cilantro, sour cream, Fritos or tortilla chips
directions
Before you start preparing the meat and bean mixture, start cooking the rice so it’s ready at about the same time. In a large 12-inch skillet, cook the ground beef over medium-high heat until browned and broken up into small pieces. Drain off any fat. Add the salt, pepper, paprika, chili powder, cumin, chopped onion, thyme, garlic, and flour. Stir until the meat is evenly coated. Add the broth, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and black beans. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium or medium-low. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until thickened. Serve the meat mixture over a hot bed of rice. Garnish with your favorite toppings.
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Nutrition information:
fruit:
6
Serving size:
1
Amount per service:
Calories: 377Total fat: 10 gramsSaturated fat: 4GUnsaturated fats: 0 gramsUnsaturated fats: 5 gramsCholesterol: 67 mgsodium: 1048 mgCarbohydrates: 41 gramsFiber: 8 gramssugar: 3Gprotein: 30 grams
The food is based on rice and sauce only. This dish does not include any add-ons.
The whole family will love this Mexican Haystack recipe! It’s the perfect dinner recipe for busy nights, and can be made ahead or frozen.
