Frozen hash brown casserole without soup recipe you can add leftover ham to if you like, serve for brunch, breakfast or even a cheesy dinner. This is a great way of how to cook frozen hashbrowns in a cast iron skillet with sour cream and lots of cheese!
You have had this at your favorite restaurant I bet. That cheesy potato dish that comes with your pancakes or a side dish with dinner. This way you can make it with no cream of mushroom soup at all, and it’s still delicious.
We have made others too but like our 5 Ingredient Hash Brown Casserole they have condensed soup cans in them to get creamy. There are other ways to cook it though. One great reason to do so is that you can make it dairy free this way. Daiya has great cheeses, sour cream and other ingredients that are lactose free.
You don’t have to just enjoy this for breakfast though. We have made breakfast for dinner many times and it is way better than just plain shredded potatoes. Thinned out a bit makes a delish Hashbrown Soup on stove that is super hearty and great with leftover ham from after the holidays too.
Ingredient Notes
You are going to want to start out with a cast iron pan with some olive oil, use the good stuff, in it to brown the veggies to soften them first.
What I like to add in there are yellow or white onion diced adds texture and flavor + Bell pepper diced is optional but great
Then you are going to want to pick up a bag of shredded frozen hash browns. Store brand is literally the same as Ore Ida so you can save a few bucks there if you want.
To make it creamy I like to add (not low fat) sour cream or plain Greek yogurt works too if you want a healthier version.
As far as making it cheesy we go all out and use sharp cheddar cheese, shredded. I have tried dairy free cheese from Daiya and yes it works but doesn’t melt really so the texture isn’t as ideal.
As for the seasonings I generally will include some garlic powder and salt and pepper to taste
Variations
We have made this on the stove in a pan since it is typically cooked alongside our main dish, eggs and/or bacon. You could though use the timing and temp for our Crockpot Cheesy Hashbrown Potatoes to create it that way too. When hosting a brunch this can be handy so it can sit and stay warm for a good hour after it’s done.
You can certainly add about 2-3 c leftover meat in the mix but that is optional. A great add in like we did with our Ground Beef Hash Brown Casserole made in a baking dish.
Should I thaw hash browns to make a casserole?
NO, don’t do that. These are best cooked from frozen right out of the freezer for the best texture. If you defrost them first it will be mushy. This is easier too, meaning no real prep time. Just mix ingredients together, layer, add cheese if you like and then bake in the oven until tender and as hot as you’d like.
Frozen Hash Brown Casserole Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Bowl
Ingredients
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 3 c frozen hashbrowns
- 1 c sour cream
- 2 c cheese, cheddar, shredded
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 2-3 c leftover meat, optional
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In an oven-safe skillet over medium high heat add the olive oil, onions (if using,) and bell pepper (if using.) Cook the vegetables until softened, about 5 to 6 minutes.
- If you want to add precooked leftover meat add that in now to warm with the vegetables. If a thicker sauce is desired, whisk together 2 tbsp water and 1 tbsp cornstarch. Pour the cornstarch slurry into the pan. Bring the juices to a boil and cook just until thickened. Turn flame off.
- Spread the meat mixture into an even layer in the cast iron skillet on the bottom. In a bowl, stir together the frozen hash browns, sour cream, half of the cheese, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Place dollops of the hash brown mixture over the top, spreading if possible to even out. Top the casserole with the remaining cheese. Place the casserole into the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the edges are bubbling.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 10 minutes, then scoop out and serve.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
If you wanted a healthier option to make at the same time, follow our Frozen Hashbrowns in Oven on another shelf in there.
Baked in Oven
If you wanted to make this as a Hamburger Hashbrown Casserole you would want to precook and brown the meat at the beginning. Drain and then add after the onions have softened. You’d need a larger cast iron skillet in this case (so that it is oven safe) since there is more food.
Slow Cooker Method
Looking to make a few dishes with the same main ingredient? I get it, makes things easier and cheaper for sure. Often times I will make this one with a batch of Crockpot Potato Soup with Frozen Hashbrowns so people have a great choice of either one, or both.
Our easy Cheesy Potatoes with Frozen Hashbrowns comes in super handy when you want a few dishes to make when a large crowd arrives too.
How to save Leftovers
Now if you wanted to leave out the cheese you could…but why??? This does in fact save quite well if you have leftovers. Wait until it is cooled completely first, then transfer to a airtight container. Keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. When reheating drizzle a bit of melted butter over the top to add moisture and heat for 1 minute in the microwave.
Printable recipe card is below you can jump to recipe and please let us know if you add anything that we might want to try next time.
