Classic Amish Haystacks

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Ah, if you are like me and you like "plate piler" meals, you'd feel right at home among the Amish.  Haystacks are quite popular among the Amish because large gatherings are common and this kind of meal is a great way to feed a crowd.

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• 🍲 Classic Amish Haystacks
• 📋 Haystack Instructions
• 🍲 More Amish Haystack Recipes
• 🖨️ Full Recipe

  It seems like most Amish-themed fiction novels incorporate haystacks into the storyline in some ways just to add a veneer of authenticity to the story.

Classic Amish Haystack proportions can be increased or downsized according to how many people you are expecting.  Haystacks for a long time were a common supper dish, but as time has gone by "breakfast variations" have evolved and even dessert versions. Nothing like piling a bunch of s'more-type ingredients on a plate, dousing them with chocolate and caramel syrup, and diving in!

Here is what Amish Cook columnist Gloria Yoder says about Classic Amish Haystacks:

"It’s the type of thing I prefer for guests rather than having so many different items. Also add or omit anything to suit your taste buds. For example you may want to add cheese to your scrambled eggs rather than having a separate cheese sauce.  The peppers and onions may be fried with the eggs if desired.  Ingredient amounts are not given so that you can adjust according to how many you are trying to feed."

Haystacks really are part art, part meal. I mean, you can use your imagination on the variations. But crackers - or something with crunch - should always be a part of it. There's just something about "crunch" in a dish like a haystack that makes it stand out.

The most "difficult" part of a haystack is preparing the veggies, but you can cheat and use pre-cut store-bought if you want. And use paper bowls or plates to serve from if you don't want to have 20 dishes left to clean after this is done.

Fry the ground beef,but if you want to try something other than classic hamburger, feel free to use ground turkey or, well, I've never done a haystack with chicken, but why not?

Then pile it all on your plate and enjoy! The name "haystack" by the way, probably comes from what it looks like if you pile shredded cheese over it. If you do that, yeah, it looks like a giant haystack!

🍲 Classic Amish Haystacks

• 1 ¾ cups soda crackers, crushed
• 3 pounds hamburger, browned, and 3 tablespoons taco seasoning added
• 4 cups lettuce, shredded
• 3 medium tomatoes, chopped
• 2 cups green peppers, chopped
• 1 large onion, chopped
• Spaghetti, rice, or both — cooked until soft — enough to suit.

📋 Haystack Instructions

1. Put some of each item on your plate, one layer at a time.
2. Top with shredded cheese or a homemade cheese sauce.
3. Also, salsa or ranch dressing is a good addition.
4. This will serve a family of six, but amounts can be adjusted.

🍲 More Amish Haystack Recipes

Breakfast Haystacks

Mennonite Haystack

Haystack Salad

🖨️ Full Recipe