This easy hashbrown casserole is a simple and delicious dish perfect for breakfast or dinner. Packed with cheesy goodness and soft potatoes in every flavorful bite, this is a comforting casserole the whole family will enjoy!
Save This Recipe to Your Inbox
Enter your email and we’ll send this recipe straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you’ll join our email list and can unsubscribe anytime.
Hashbrown casseroles are one of those dishes that is the best of both worlds. It's breakfast for dinner or a hearty, low-maintenance dinner, depending on when you decide to serve it up. I often choose to make it for dinner with a side of Instant Pot Steamed Broccoli.
If serving this Easy Hashbrown Casserole up with breakfast, pair it with some fresh fruits, Sugar Free Pancakes, and Scrambled Eggs with Spinach and Tomatoes. If its dinnertime, add some sliced Garlic and Brown Sugar Crusted Pork Roast and veggies. Yum!
Creating this uncomplicated hash brown casserole is as simple as you'd expect. Whether you opt for store-bought or homemade frozen hashbrowns, this recipe effortlessly comes together, making it a hassle-free meal.
Jump to:
💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Minimal effort. Just combine the ingredients, pour them into the pan, top with cheese and butter, cover, and bake to perfection. Minimal effort dinners like this recipe, and our Sausage Green Bean Potato Casserole, are ideal for busy days and lazy days.
- Quick prep. It doesn't take long to throw together this Easy Hashbrown Casserole and it can be made in advance too, so use this quick hashbrowns casserole whenever you want an easy dinner planned on the menu.
- It's customizable. Whether you want to introduce cooked meats like shredded chicken, bacon, or ham, incorporate diced veggies like bell peppers, or experiment with different cheeses, there are endless possibilities to create a unique version that suits your taste.
🛒 Ingredients
Frozen Hashbrowns- You'll need frozen hashbrowns for the base of this recipe. They can be used from frozen and do not need to be thawed.
Sour Cream- You can use sour cream or plain unflavored Greek yogurt. This adds a rich and creamy consistency.
Condensed Mushroom Soup- Casseroles almost always have a condensed soup and we find that cream of mushroom or cream of chicken works best here.
Shredded Cheese- For a comforting taste we like to add shredded cheese to this casserole. You can use any cheese variety of choice but I prefer cheddar cheese.
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
Hashbrowns: Use store-bought or homemade frozen hashbrowns (about 4 cups).
Condensed Soup: Swap cream of mushroom for cream of chicken, especially great if you already use it in recipes like Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole.
Milk: Use half-and-half or heavy cream for a richer casserole.
Add-ins: Stir in cooked bacon bits, diced ham, or shredded chicken for a protein boost. Diced bell peppers or onions also work well for added flavor.
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Use store brands. Store-brand condensed soups, cheese, and hashbrowns are significantly cheaper and work exactly the same.
Stretch with veggies. Add inexpensive vegetables like peas, onions, or shredded carrots to bulk up portions without adding cost.
Use leftover proteins. This casserole is great for bits of leftover ham, chicken, or bacon. No need to buy meat.
Buy cheese in blocks. Shredding your own is cheaper and melts better than pre-shredded.
🥄 Instructions for Easy Hashbrown Casserole
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease the inside of a 9x13 baking dish, set it aside.
Step 2: In a large mixing bowl combine the hashbrowns, sour cream, onion, cream of mushroom, milk, half of the cheese, and your meat (if using) until well blended.
Step 3: Pour into your prepared baking dish and then top with the remaining shredded cheese.
Step 4: Slice the butter into 12 equal sized squares and arrange them onto the cheese in 4 rows of 3.
Step 5: Cover the pan with foil and bake in the oven for 60 minutes.
Step 6: Remove the foil and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes.
Step 7: Allow to cool in the pan for about 5-10 minutes. This will help the casserole to set before serving, making it easier to dish up.
Serve warm.
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- Handle carefully, the pan is hot. This casserole holds heat extremely well, so use oven mitts and let it rest before serving.
- Expect a soft center. The casserole firms as it cools; don't worry if it looks slightly loose when first removed from the oven.
- Use frozen hashbrowns as-is. No thawing needed, mixing them frozen helps prevent a mushy texture.
- Even cheese melts best. Spread cheese evenly across the surface so it melts consistently and prevents dry spots.
❄️ Storage, Reheating & Make Ahead
Storage: Keep leftover Easy Hashbrown Casserole in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Reheating: Warm individual portions in the microwave or reheat larger portions in the oven at 325°F until hot.
Make Ahead: Assemble up to 8 hours ahead, cover tightly, and refrigerate. Let the dish sit on the counter while the oven preheats, then bake as directed (may need slightly less time since hashbrowns thaw in the fridge).
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
This Easy Hashbrown Casserole pairs well with The Best Canned Green Bean Recipe, fresh fruit, Sourdough French Toast Bake, French Toast with Frozen Waffles, Strawberry Blueberry Pancakes, or savory sides like scrambled eggs or roasted meats. A truly flexible dish for breakfast or dinner!
- The Best Canned Green Bean RecipeRecipe $1.14 / Serving $0.29
- French Toast with Frozen WafflesRecipe $2.24 / Serving $0.56
- Sourdough French Toast BakeRecipe $2.65 / Serving $0.66
- Strawberry Blueberry PancakesRecipe $2.32 / Serving $0.19
❓ Easy Hashbrown Casserole FAQs
If you don't want to make this easy hash brown casserole with sour cream you can use plain unflavored Greek yogurt in its place. This will give you the same great results but without actually using sour cream.
Because this dish is so perfect for both breakfast and dinner you can serve it alongside just about anything from pancakes and waffles to roasted chicken breasts and salad. I often serve ours at dinner time with a simple green veggie.
Nope! Just add them to a big bowl and mix everything together while they're still frozen. They will leave a nice moisture in the dish as it cooks, so things work out pretty perfectly that way.
🍽️ More Recipes You'll Love
- Walking Taco CasseroleRecipe $9.86 / Serving $1.64
- Overnight Tater Tot CasseroleRecipe $13.18 / Serving $1.10
- Tater Tot Corn CasseroleRecipe $10.84 / Serving $1.81
- Mac and Cheese Tuna CasseroleRecipe $6.94 / Serving $0.87
🐝 If you tried this Easy Hashbrown Casserole, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your buzz in the 💬 comments below. I'd truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Easy Hashbrown Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 bag (30 to 32 ounces) frozen hash browns - ($3.42)
- 1 cup sour cream - ($1.18)
- 1 cup onion, diced - ($0.91)
- 1 can (10.5 ounces) cream of mushroom soup - ($0.54)
- 1 cup milk (¾ of can) - ($0.20)
- 1 bag (8 ounces) shredded cheese, about 1 ½ cups - ($2.22)
- 1 cup ham, diced, or 3 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled - ($0.60)
- ½ cup unsalted butter, sliced - ($0.99)
Instructions
- Preheat and prep. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 baking dish and set aside.
- Mix casserole. In a large mixing bowl, combine the frozen hash browns, sour cream, diced onion, cream of mushroom soup, milk, half of the shredded cheese, and ham or bacon if using. Stir until evenly combined.
- Assemble. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly. Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese over the top.
- Add butter. Slice the butter into about 12 even pieces and arrange them evenly over the cheese.
- Bake covered. Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake for 60 minutes.
- Uncover and finish. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, until hot and bubbly.
- Rest and serve. Let the casserole rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving to help it set.
Notes
- Substitutions. Use cream of chicken soup instead of mushroom if preferred. Milk may be replaced with half-and-half or heavy cream. Sour cream can be swapped with plain Greek yogurt.
- Make ahead. Assemble, cover, and refrigerate for up to 8 hours. Let sit at room temperature while the oven preheats, then bake as directed. Check for doneness 10 to 15 minutes early.
- Storage. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Nutritional Information
Save This Recipe to Your Inbox
Enter your email and we'll send this recipe straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you'll join our email list and can unsubscribe anytime.
Comments
No Comments