Best Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole (Easy Recipe) - Miss in the Kitchen (2024)

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Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole is a delicious addition to any meal of the day. Popular for holiday dinners and weekend brunches. This easy recipe is completely from scratch made from fresh potatoes and no canned soup!

Hashbrown casserole is a classic side dish to serve for potlucks and holiday dinners. It’s so simple to make with simple ingredients and is sure to be a family favorite.

The first time I ever tried this easycheesy hashbrown casserolewas in Wyoming when we went to help the neighbors work their sheep. They called this dish branding potatoes because they were what everyone served for lunch when they branded cattle.

This cheesy potato casserole is known by different names such as funeral potatoes, party potatoes or cheesy potatoes. Whatever you call it, just add it to the menu!

Table of Contents

Ingredients for Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole Recipe

  • russet potatoes
  • onion
  • cheddar cheese
  • sour cream
  • heavy cream
  • butter
  • chicken base
  • black pepper
  • kosher salt

Budget Tip

I don’t ever remember to buy frozen hash browns or the refrigerated shredded hashbrowns from the grocery store. There’s no need for expensive pre shredded potatoes to make hashbrown casserole recipe! You can make them with the potatoes that you have in the pantry.

How to Shred Potatoes for Hashbrowns

  1. Wash and dry potatoes. Peel if desired.
  2. Shred on the large side of a box grater or use a food processor.
  3. Place in a colander and rinse thoroughly. Squeeze out excess liquid from the shredded potatoes over the sink or over a bowl to remove the excess liquid. This will keep your hashbrowns from being mushy.
  4. Place shredded potatoes in a large bowl.

This is the best way to make hash brown potatoes. This method works for hashbrown casserole or traditional fried crispy hash browns. Give it a try the next time you are making hashbrowns.

How to Make Hashbrown Casserole

  1. Shred 2 1/2 – 3 pounds russet potatoes. Place in a colander and rinse thoroughly and squeeze out any excess water. Place into a large mixing bowl.
  1. Dice 1 cup onion and add to shredded potatoes.
  1. Shred 8 ounces of cheddar cheese and add 2/3 of it to potato mixture.
  1. In another bowl combine melted butter, heavy cream, sour cream, chicken base, salt and pepper. Whisk together and pour over potato mixture.
  2. Mix potato and cream mixture until well combined.
  3. Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish or 2 1/2 – 3 quart casserole dish with cooking spray.
  1. Pour potato mixture into baking dish and spread evenly. Top with remaining shredded cheese.
  2. Bake 45 minutes to 1 hour or until potatoes are cooked through.Cheese will be melted and golden brown.

Variations for Cheesy Potato Casserole

  • Cream Soup:Use cream of chicken soup or cream of mushroom soup in place of the heavy cream and chicken base.
  • Cream cheesemakes a good substitute for the heavy cream.
  • Different Cheeses:Colby-Jack, Gruyere, Mozzarella cheese or Pepper-Jack are all great options for cheesy hashbrown potato casserole.
  • Make it a Main Dish:Add brownedbreakfast sausage,ground beefor even cooked chicken will turn these cheesy potatoes into a hearty dinner the whole family will love.
  • Crunch Toppings: Crushed corn flakes, crushed ritz crackers, potato chips or panko breadcrumbs can be sprinkled over the top of the casserole before baking.
  • Garnishes: After baking sprinkle the casserole with sliced green onions, candied jalapenos or chopped fresh herbs.

Hashbrown Casserole Notes

  • Make Ahead:Hashbrown casserole is one of those dishes that just gets better the next day. Prepare up to 2 days in advance. Mix it up and cover tightly with plastic wrap, do not bake. Refrigerate until ready to bake. Bake as directed. (If using a glass baking dish, allow to come to room temperature before placing in the oven.)
  • Leftovers:Cover the casserole dish with aluminum foil or plastic wrap in the refrigerator up to 4 days.
  • Reheat:Hashbrown casserole can be reheated in a non-stick pan over medium heat, stirring until heated through or place in a baking pan and bake for 12- 15 minutes until heated through.

We love this easy cheesy hashbrown casserole for any meal of the day. It’s the perfect breakfast casserole for any holiday morning. It’s also the perfect easy side for all holiday meals.

More Potato Recipes to Try

  • Garlic Mashed Potatoesare the perfect side dish for weeknight dinners and delicious enough for any holiday meal. Made so flavorful with homemade garlic butter.
  • Potato Gratinis just loaded with cheesy goodness. One of my favorite for celebrations and holiday dinners.
  • Creamy Dill Potato Saladis always a hit with the crowd. So easy to make and so creamy and delicious.
  • Air Fryer Roasted Potatoesare super easy to make for busy weeknights. Tons of flavor from garlic and rosemary.
  • Grilled Potatoesare simple to make with any dinner on the grill. Loaded with cheese and everything bagel seasoning, these potatoes are sure to be a family favorite.

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Kitchen Tools for Hashbrown Casserole

  • Budget-Friendly Side Dish: Making this recipe using whole potatoes in place of the packaged shredded hash browns is a money saver. This recipe is perfect to feed a crowd.
  • Favorite Side Dish:Everyone loves this potato side dish with lots of cheese. It is the perfect compliment to any meal of the day and it’s so easy to make with just a few minutes of prep.
  • Great for Holiday Dinners:Cheesy hash brown casserole is perfect for Christmas dinner, Thanksgiving dinner, Easter brunch and family gatherings

If you love Cracker Barrel hashbrown casserole, this is sure to be one of your favorite things. It’s just the most comforting side dish that is always a massive hit.

IF YOU LOVE THIS RECIPE AS MUCH AS I DO, PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT AND A FIVE STAR REVIEW, AND BE SURE TO HELP ME SHARE ON PINTEREST!

Yield: 12 Servings

Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole

Best Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole (Easy Recipe) - Miss in the Kitchen (11)

Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole is a delicious addition to any meal of the day. This recipe is completely from scratch made from whole potatoes and no canned soups!

Prep Time10 minutes

Cook Time1 hour

Total Time1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 - 3 pounds russet potatoes
  • 1 cup diced onion
  • 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese, divided use
  • 12 ounces sour cream
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup melted butter
  • 1 teaspoon chicken base
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 °
  2. Scrub potatoes and peel if desired. Shred on large side of box grater.
  3. Shred 2 1/2 - 3 pounds russet potatoes. Place in a colander and rinse thoroughly and squeeze out any excess water. Place potatoes into a large mixing bowl.
  4. Add onions and 2/3 of shredded cheese, set aside.
  5. In another bowl, combine sour cream, heavy cream, melted butter, chicken base, pepper and salt. Whisk until well combined.
  6. Pour over potato mixture, stirring until mixed well.
  7. Pour into a greased 9 x 13 baking pan and top with remaining cheese.
  8. Bake 45 minutes to one hour or until potatoes have cooked through.

Notes

Variations

  • Cream Soup:Use cream of chicken soup orcream of mushroom soupin place of the heavy cream and chicken base.
  • Cream cheesemakes a good substitute for the heavy cream.
  • Different Cheeses:Colby-Jack, Gruyere, Mozzarella cheese or Pepper-Jack are all great options for cheesy hashbrown potato casserole.
  • Make it a Main Dish:Add brownedbreakfast sausage,ground beefor even cooked chicken will turn these cheesy potatoes into a hearty dinner the whole family will love.
  • Crunch Toppings: Crushed corn flakes, crushed ritz crackers, potato chips or panko breadcrumbs can be sprinkled over the top of the casserole before baking.
  • Garnishes: After baking sprinkle the casserole with sliced green onions,candied jalapenosor chopped fresh herbs.
  • Make Ahead:Hashbrown casserole is one of those dishes that just gets better the next day. Prepare up to 2 days in advance. Mix it up and cover tightly with plastic wrap, do not bake. Refrigerate until ready to bake. Bake as directed. (If using a glass baking dish, allow to come to room temperature before placing in the oven.)
  • Leftovers:Cover the casserole dish with aluminum foil or plastic wrap in the refrigerator up to 4 days.
  • Reheat:Hashbrown casserole can be reheated in a non-stick pan over medium heat, stirring until heated through or place in a baking pan and bake for 12- 15 minutes until heated through.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 333Total Fat: 25gSaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 73mgSodium: 297mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 2gSugar: 3gProtein: 8g

Nutritional calculations are estimated and may not be accurate.

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Best Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole (Easy Recipe) - Miss in the Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

Why is my hash brown casserole soggy? ›

Frozen hash browns will leak moisture during cooking, which could leave a soggy, sad mess behind. For the best results, let the frozen hash browns thaw overnight in the fridge, then thoroughly pat them dry to remove as much moisture as possible before cooking them to crispy.

Can I use fresh potatoes instead of frozen hash browns? ›

Substitute fresh potatoes for 30 ounces of frozen hashbrowns. Substitute diced green onions for 3 tablespoons dried chives.

Do I thaw frozen hash browns before cooking? ›

Without thawing them beforehand, that moisture ends up in your dish and your hash browns turn out wet and mushy instead of crispy and crunchy. To prevent this, as Prepare and Nourish advises, you can also drain any excess liquid from the potatoes after they're defrosted.

What ingredients are in hash brown potatoes? ›

Image of What ingredients are in hash brown potatoes?
The potato is a starchy root vegetable native to the Americas that is consumed as a staple food in many parts of the world. Potatoes are tubers of the plant Solanum tuberosum, a perennial in the nightshade family Solanaceae. Wild potato species can be found from the southern United States to southern Chile.
Wikipedia

What is the trick to cooking hash browns? ›

Squeezing the shredded potato in a towel or cheesecloth to remove as much moisture as possible helps it brown more evenly. Cooking the shredded potato briefly in the microwave helps it develop a better crust that remains crispy for longer.

What will prevent the hash browns from becoming crispy? ›

You'll want to remove as much moisture as possible because this will prevent your hash browns from getting as crisp as possible. All the water will just create steam and as any additional starch is released from the potato it's going to get gummy, just not as gummy as before. So get them dry!

How do restaurants get hashbrowns so crispy? ›

They are steamed, peeled, steamed again or boiled, shredded and cooked partially in oil, oven dried and IQF before going into a bag to be cooked at home once again. IQF equals individually quick frozen strands. Cooking the potato twice is the key and is something that is hard to replicate at home.

Can I substitute frozen potatoes for fresh potatoes? ›

Frozen diced potatoes can be swapped for fresh by stirring into soups and stews in the last few minutes of cooking. Or simmer a bag of frozen potatoes in chicken stock with some garlic and herbs, then purée. Instant comfort.

Should potatoes be rinsed for hash browns? ›

To ensure ultimate crispness, be sure to rinse the grated potatoes with cold water until the water runs nearly clear and to use a very hot, well-seasoned pan. As with all potato dishes, remember to season well.

Why won t my frozen hash browns get crispy? ›

Remove as much moisture as possible. In order to get evenly crispy hash browns, you need to squeeze out as much water as you can. I prefer to do this using my salad spinner- it works GREAT for removing water! But you can also use a cheese cloth or even paper towels to squeeze it out.

How do you thaw hash browns for casserole? ›

Thaw the hash browns before you start: Thawing the frozen hash browns prevents the sauce from clumping when you mix them in, and helps the casserole cook faster. You can thaw your shredded hash browns overnight in the fridge directly in their bag or for about an hour at room temperature.

Why did my frozen hash browns turn brown? ›

Exposure to air or oxygen is the cause of this situation when the potatoes are cut and stored in advance for any future cooking.

What makes hash browns unhealthy? ›

The problem with prepared hash brown patties is that, typically, they are deep-fried in vegetable oil. This tips the scale to the side of not-so-healthy because of high fat content. Also of note: If you're eating a low-carb diet, be aware that 60 to 70 percent of a potato is starch, a type of carbohydrate.

What can I add to my hash browns? ›

Top crispy hash browns with chili, beans, and cheese. Garnish with sour cream, chopped tomatoes and scallions. Jalapenos too if you are anything like me!

How unhealthy is McDonald's hash brown? ›

McDonald's hashbrowns are generally considered to be a less healthy option due to their high levels of fat and calories. A single hashbrown contains around 150 calories, 9 grams of fat, and 150 mg of sodium. They also contain a small amount of fiber, protein, and vitamins.

How do you make a casserole not soggy? ›

To prevent a soupy casserole, be sure to fully thaw any frozen vegetables in a colander over a bowl, and pat dry, squeeze excess moisture out of greens like spinach or chard, and quickly precook watery fresh vegetables like onions, mushrooms or squashes just until they release their moisture.

How do you crisp soggy hash browns? ›

Tips for the Crispiest Hash Browns

Squeeze out moisture: Use a potato ricer, orange or lemon press, or a tea towel to wring out excess moisture from the shredded raw potato. Some people find a salad spinner can work well too.

Why is my breakfast casserole soggy? ›

Your vegetables could be to blame

According to Allrecipes, the vegetables you selected are the most common culprit for your watery casserole, due to the high percentage of moisture that some of them contain in their raw form which seeps out as they cook down in your dish.

Why is my potato casserole runny? ›

My sauce is watery

If you stored your potatoes in water to prevent discoloring, be sure to drain them well and pat them dry before adding to your casserole. Some of the waxier potatoes can release more water than starchier ones, so look for good baking potatoes like russet or Yukon golds.

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