This Mexican Haystacks recipe is the perfect easy, cheap, and customizable supper! I even make this vegetarian so it’s the perfect meal for meatless Monday. But if you want to add meat, you can easily do so!
My kids already love tacos, taco salad, and quesadillas so this is sure to be a kid friendly meal idea. They will love being able to build their own haystack with their favorite toppings! Build it yourself suppers are always the most fun for kiddos.
If you’ve never had these before, you simply start with a bed of rice, add some ranch style beans, and then finish with crushed chips and whatever toppings you’d like.
Here are some ideas for your Mexican Haystacks:
- cooked rice (brown or white)
- ranch style beans
- chips
- shredded lettuce
- salsa
- sour cream
- avocado
- cheese
- olives
- cilantro
- tomatoes
If your family needs meat to make it a meal, brown up some ground beef and add it to the beans. You could also shred or dice some chicken cooked with taco seasoning or salsa. Like I said, this recipe is so easy to make fit the needs of your crew.
You can purchase a can of ranch style beans or you can do what I did and make your own! I’ll share how I made them in a post soon. Very easy and flavorful and you get to control the ingredients.
If you want to use salsa, be sure to check out this super easy and delicious recipe! It takes seconds to come together.
Tortilla chips are my go to, but you could also use a Frito like chips. To make it healthier you could take corn tortillas and brush them with some oil, cut them into wedges, and bake until crispy. Whatever you prefer.
One more tip, I love using my rice cooker to make rice. It makes it easy and hands off. While the rice is cooking you will be able to get all your other ingredients ready. This is a 30 minute meal, so perfect for even busy weeknights.
Another great thing about this Mexican Haystacks recipe is that the leftovers are great. In fact, I always cook enough rice and beans and chop enough toppings that so that we can have it again the next night. Just store everything in separate small containers.
Now, on to the “recipe”!
Yummy Mexican Haystacks Recipe
- 4.5-6 cups cooked rice (approx 1.5-2 cup dry)
- 3 cups ranch style beans (1 large can or use homemade)
- Chips
- Lettuce, shredded
- Tomatoes, diced
- Cheese, shredded
- Olives, sliced
- Salsa
- Cilantro
- Onions, diced
- Avocado, diced
- Warm the beans and make sure the rice is cooking.
- Chop the toppings you want to use and put in individual dishes.
- Put rice on plate. Scoop beans over rice and finishing with desired toppings.
- Enjoy!
What other easy Tex Mex recipes does your family enjoy? Any toppings you love to put on your Mexican Haystacks that I need to know about?
