5 Ingredient Hash Brown Casserole Recipe

Easy Hashbrown Casserole Recipe

I would say this is a little bit like our Cheesy Hashbrown Potatoes in Crockpot except we used frozen taters as the base for this one to make it that much easier!! The key to cutting down prep time is just that. Skip the shredding because why???

with meat

There are LOTS of tweaks you can make to this sort of Copycat Cracker Barrel casserole. If you need it dairy free you can use lactose free sour cream and cheddar. Want to add meat? Sure! We did something like that with our Meatball Hashbrown Casserole here. If you wanted to brown just the meat, I’d keep it to about 1/2 of a cup cooked. Just fold that into the mix.

Got leftovers after the holidays?? This is a great leftover ham recipe too! After Easter and Christmas I love different ways of using that diced meat I just can’t bear to throw away. Incorporate that into the mixture before pouring into your dish and it bakes up real nice. You may need a bit larger baking dish but no worries.

And diced up rotisserie chicken is yet another winner winner chicken dinner idea. 😉 I mean breakfast for dinner is always a win with us. Want it meatless? That is what we are going to show you here. You change it up from there to your liking. The basic 5 items you need are;

Ingredient Notes

• A few cups of hashbrowns should be thawed, or shredded fresh potatoes work too
• You will add some sour cream will make it creamy, plain Greek yogurt works too
• About a can of condensed cream of chicken soup or mushroom variety
• We will need buttter melted or a dairy free alternative will work for this instead if need b
• 2 c cheddar cheese or a mixture of cheeses we love, a dairy free alternative is fine for this too.
• Cornflakes is what we used here for the crispy topping but we will go over alternatives galore below

Variations

1. Toasted breadcrumbs mixed with melted butter can create a crunchy topping for casseroles. You can season the breadcrumbs with herbs, spices, and grated cheese for extra flavor.
2. Crushed Ritz crackers works as another option for a bit of crunch for this breakfast casserole recipe.
3. Grated or shredded cheese can be melted on top of casseroles to add richness and a gooey texture. Cheddar, mozzarella, Parmesan, and Gruyère are commonly used options.
4. Crushed potato chips, like in our Crockpot Funeral Potatoes is amazing and can provide a salty and crunchy topping.
5. Crispy fried onions can be used to top casseroles like green bean casserole, adding a savory crunch.
6. Chopped nuts like almonds, pecans, or walnuts can provide a satisfying crunch and a hint of nutty flavor.
7. A drizzle of sauce, such as hollandaise, marinara, or gravy, can enhance the flavors of certain dishes.

The other items I do use are optional such as diced onion, seasonings I don’t even count, and whatever you want to add to the top. I will say a casserole with corn flakes sounds weird but really you have to try it. have a few other options for the topping here;

Remember to consider the flavors and textures of the main ingredients when choosing a topping. Experimenting with different combinations can lead to delightful results and make your dish even more enjoyable. If adding leftover meat inside you might want that to shine so I would use crushed crackers.

Recipe tips

Now if you are using bagged frozen shredded potatoes like in our Crockpot Potato Soup with Frozen Hashbrowns you will want to thaw them ahead of time for this. If not it will have too much moisture once it cooks down. There are a few methods of how to defrost frozen hashbrowns, the most common method would be to sit on the countertop for about an hour though.

Remember that when using quicker defrosting methods like the microwave or room temperature, you should plan to cook them immediately afterward to ensure they avoid any risk of bacterial growth. Most of the time, like when making our Hashbrown Soup on Stove I don’t bother heating at all.

If you do want to add a bit of meat make sure it is precooked. I would keep the amount to about 1/2 cup after cooked and drained from fat like in our Ground Beef Hash Brown Casserole.

How to Defrost Frozen Hashbrowns

in the Refrigerator

• Place the frozen hash browns in a sealed container or a resealable plastic bag to prevent any potential drips or cross-contamination.
• Put the container or bag in the refrigerator.
• Allow the hashbrowns to defrost in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight. The exact time will depend on the size and thickness of the hashbrowns.

at Room Temperature

• Place the frozen hashbrowns in a sealed plastic bag.
• Let the bag sit at room temperature for about 15-30 minutes. The outer layers will start to thaw while the inner layers may remain frozen.
• Once the hashbrowns have partially thawed, separate them and cook them immediately.

in the Microwave

• Place the frozen hashbrowns on a microwave-safe plate, spreading them out to allow even defrosting.
• Use the defrost setting on your microwave or set it to a low power level.
• Microwave the hashbrowns in short intervals, usually around 1 minute each.
• Check and rearrange the hashbrowns after each interval. As they start to thaw, you can separate them.
• Once partially thawed, cook the hashbrowns immediately to avoid any potential bacterial growth.