This Easy Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole is comforting, delicious, and super easy to make! All you’ll need is 5 minutes to prep and a handful of simple ingredients. Perfect to feed a crowd. The recipe includes step-by-step photos and lots of tips.
I’m so happy to share this Easy Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole recipe with you because it’s perfect for breakfast, brunch, potlucks, and barbecues.
We are a family that loves potatoes. Bake potatoes, mashed potatoes, breakfast potatoes, roasted…you name it, and we’ll eat it, especially if it’s paired with cheese. So, this Easy Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole has become a favorite among our family.
Easy Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole Recipe Highlights
- This Easy Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole is incredibly delicious, with all the flavors you’d want in a hot, comforting dish.
- It’s super easy to make with a handful of simple ingredients.
- It can be completely prepared ahead of time.
- Perfect to feed a crowd.
Just wake up, bake it and enjoy!
Ingredients Notes & Substitutions
Please check the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact quantities and detailed instructions (scroll down).
- Potatoes: This time I used cubed hash browns, but this will work well with cubed or shredded hash browns, it’s totally up to you.
- Butter: I prefer to use unsalted butter, but if you only have salted butter handy, you can use it. In this case, reduce by half the salt called in the recipe.
- Condensed cream of chicken: Store-bought or homemade. See recipe notes for instruction to make your own cream of chicken.
- Sour cream: I reccomend the full-fat version.
- Onion You can substite for 2 teaspoons of onion powder.
- Cheese: I always use Cheddar cheese, but you can use any melty cheese of your liking, such as colby cheese, monterey jack, havarti etc.
- Salt and Black pepper: For seasoning.
Step By Step Recipe Photo Tutorial
Please check the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact quantities and detailed instructions (scroll down).
- Preheat oven to 350° F. Spray casserole or baking dish (2-quart) with cooking spray.
- Combine in a large bowl, frozen hash browns, melted butter, 1 can condensed cream of chicken, sour cream, chopped onion, grated cheddar cheese, salt, and pepper; stir together until well combined. Pour into prepared pan or dish. Cover baking dish with aluminum foil.
- Bake for 30 minutes. Then remove the foil and bake for 10-15 more minutes until top is golden browns.
Topping Ideas
Corn Flakes: Mix 2 1/2 cups of corn flakes (roughly crushed) and 4 tablespoons of melted butter. Then sprinkle the corn flakes on top of the casserole just before baking.
Ritz crackers: Mix 20 crushed Ritz crackers (roughly crushed) and 3 tablespoons of melted butter. Then sprinkle the crackers on top of the casserole just before baking.
Homemade Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup
I know that many of you prefer not to use canned food, in that case, you can make your own condensed cream of chicken soup. If you want to make this casserole meatless you can use a can of condensed cream of cheese instead.
To make Homemade Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup, combine in a small saucepan ¾ cup chicken broth, ¼ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon poultry seasoning or chicken granulated bouillon, ¼ teaspoon dried parsley, pinch paprika, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper. Bring to a simmer. Meanwhile, whisk together ½ cup milk and ¼ cup flour until smooth. Pour into a saucepan, whisking continuously, until the mixture bubbles and thickens, about 1 minute.
Frequently Asked Questions
* 30 – 40 minutes if using thawed hash browns.
* 40 – 50 minutes if using frozen hash browns.
Yes! Prepare hash brown casserole as instructed in the recipe without baking, and store in an airtight, freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Ready to eat it? Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then bake as directed and serve. Please be aware that, since this dish has sour cream the texture of the dish will slightly change if you choose to freeze it.
Not necessarily! If you forget to thaw the hash browns don’t worry! Bake cover for 45-50 minutes and then uncover for 10-15 more minutes until the top is golden brown.
Storing & Freezing Instructions
Store: store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freeze: prepare hash brown casserole without baking, store in an airtight, freezer-safe container the freezer for up to 3 months. To serve, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then bake as directed and serve.
Make-Ahead: This casserole can be mixed up entirely, covered, and refrigerated for up to 24 hours before baking.
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Easy Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 lb (907 g) frozen hash browns, thawed (cubed or shredded)
- ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 10.75 oz (1 can) condensed cream of chicken (see notes for homemade version)
- 2 cups ( 480 g) sour cream
- ½ cup onion, chopped
- 2 cups (230 g) cheddar cheese, grated (see notes)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º F (180º C). Spray casserole or baking dish (2-quart) with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and stir together until well combined. Pour into prepared pan or dish. Cover baking dish with aluminum foil.
- Bake for 30 minutes. Then remove the foil and bake for 10-15 more minutes until the top is golden brown.
- Serve with your favorite breakfast dishes, such as pancakes, waffles, or french toasts.
Nutrition
Originally posted in December 2018, the post content was edited to add more helpful information, with no change to the recipe in April 2022.