This is our favorite cheesy ground beef hash brown casserole made with frozen hashbrowns and vegetables for breakfast or brunch. You can add leftover ham after the holidays if you like or make meat free.
This casserole with frozen hashbrowns and Ground Beef in Oven is killer. I’ve made this several different ways, with the same basic ingredients and it comes out great. Adding vegetables if I have them, cheddar cheese or some pepper jack if I want it spicy, it is super versatile.
First I made this Ground Beef Casserole with Potatoes, that was amazing but it did require a lot more prep since you had to slice instead of just pouring out of a bag. Honestly they are both quite amazing and made a bit different so you should try them both and see which you love more. Just sayin’.
This time I wanted to make the same basic dish but way easier. Using bagged shredded potatoes is the way you can do just that. Slight tweaks is all, same flavors, a bit different texture. You decide for yourself which you prefer. Most of the time it comes down to how much time I have, during the holidays it isn’t much.
Can you use ground sausage instead?
Yes, it is super versatile that way. For meat you could use leftover ham or spicy ground sausage, it works great to add some heat to the dish. For a dairy free option you could use vegan cheese, Daiya has a great cheddar we have used in the past.
This go around we are, as you might suspect, use the shredded variety. There are several out there you can buy. Some are diced, others are refrigerated so there is no thawing necessary and then others are in the freezer section. Another variety comes in tots like our Tater Tot Casserole with Ground Beef, also another winner for dinner.
Let the casserole cool for 5-10 minutes, then cut into portions and serve. You can sprinkle with fresh herbs. We have done this a number of different ways, even with rice! For that one you can follow our Hamburger and Rice Casserole that is a great main dish as well.
Can You Use Fresh Shredded Potatoes?
Shredding potatoes is a common technique used in various recipes such as breakfast potatoes, potato pancakes (latkes), and potato fritters. Shredding creates thin strands of this starch that cook quickly and evenly, resulting in a crispy texture on the outside and a soft interior.
Should you thaw frozen hash browns to make a casserole?
Yes, you can microwave at 50% power on a plate for 1-2 minutes or leave on the counter for 45 minutes. If you REALLY wanted to call it homemade just peel a few medium size russets and throw into a food processor to shred. Same thing. Either way you “cut it” you’ll want to lay on paper towels to absorb some of that excess moisture first, nobody wants that.
Why you need to defrost beforehand? If you pour them right out of the bag, right out of the freezer they will add liquid into your mixture when they bake. This will cause your casserole to become looser than you’d want. That is why you should defrost AND press gently inside paper towels to dry before adding.
How to Make Cheesy
I like to add some shredded cheddar or spicy Jack into the mixture itself to bake right in but I go further. In the last 15 minutes it is best to spread another layer on to the very top so it gets super ooey gooey and beyond delicious.
How to Make the Top Crispy
If you’re aiming for an extra crispy texture, you can take an additional step to remove moisture: Place the hashbrowns in a cheesecloth or nut milk bag. Squeeze the bundle of potatoes to remove as much moisture as possible. This step can further enhance the crispiness when cooking.
When serving this as a side dish I love a dollop of sour cream and some diced chives on the top of this hamburger hashbrown casserole recipe. You can in fact make this low and slow Cheesy Hashbrowns Crockpot style too. Total comfort food I tell you.
Ground Beef Hash Brown Casserole Recipe
Equipment
- 1 casserole dish medium size
- 1 pan
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef, or spicy ground sausage
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 c frozen vegetables
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1/3 tsp salt and pepper
- 1/3 tsp granulated garlic
- 3 tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 c chicken broth, or use 1 can of cream of mushroom soup if you want it creamier
- 1.5-2 c hashbrowns, thawed from frozen or 2 potatoes peeled and shredded in food processor
- 1 c cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 360 F. Fry the onion in the oil for 5 minutes. Then add chopped garlic and fry for 1 more minute. Add ground beef and fry everything together for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Pour in the broth, add salt, pepper and granulated garlic, mix. Add frozen vegetables and grated cheese (2/3 cup), stir and wait until the cheese is melted (1-2 minutes).
- Transfer the meat mixture to a baking dish. Peel the potatoes and rub them on a coarse grater, squeeze out the excess moisture. (or use about 1.5 cup of thawed bagged hashbrowns) Lay the potatoes on top of the minced meat. Bake for 30 minutes.
- Put the remaining cheese on top and bake for another 15 minutes. Let the casserole cool for 5-10 minutes, then cut into portions and serve. You can sprinkle with fresh herbs.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I’m making this now. For dinner though. Smells good.