Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole

Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole sides This Hashbrown Casserole is made with shredded hash browns in a rich and creamy cheese sauce, baked until hot and bubbly! What sets this hash brown casserole apart from the rest is that it uses frozen hashbrowns making it easy and you do not need to defrost and drain the hashbrowns at all cofort sides Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole poatoes

This Hashbrown Casserole is made with shredded hash browns in a rich and creamy cheese sauce, baked until hot and bubbly! What sets this hash brown casserole apart from the rest is that it uses frozen hashbrowns making it easy and you do not need to defrost and drain the hashbrowns at all. Plus we make the sauce from scratch (no need for canned cream of chicken soup) and it is super customizable. This easy recipe is similar to au gratin potatoes, or as we like to call them the cheat no fail scalloped potatoes, but also known as funeral potatoes, or Copy Cat Cracker Barrel Hash brown Casserole. It makes a great side or potluck dish!

Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole

Hashbrown Casserole Recipe Ingredients

  • FROZEN HASH BROWNS: Use shredded frozen hashbrowns instead of cubed potatoes. No need to thaw - add them frozen. Keeps this dish easy and delicious.No need to peel, slice, and layer thin slices of potatoes like in other scalloped potato recipes
  • UNSALTED BUTTER: This is for cooking ghee onions and making the sauce.
  • ONION & GARLIC: You will need 1 yellow onion and 2 cloves of garlic. Feel free to use more garlic if you wish.
  • FLOUR: We use all purpose flour to make the roux for the sauce. Use a GF 1:1 flour if needed
  • MILK: We use whole milk for the sauce but you can use any milk you prefer.
  • HERBS & SPICES: We like to season the sauce with dried thyme (you could use fresh thyme if you wish), salt, black pepper, mustard powder, poultry seasoning or bouillon, cayenne and a touch of nutmeg. These amp up the flavors in the cheese sauce. Please adjust amounts to taste.
  • SHREDDED CHEESE: You can use any shredded cheese you like or cheese blend. We usually go with the classic cheddar cheese white and yellow or we like to often mix in some gruyere.
  • EXTRA ADD INS: This is great o its own but you could also add in some cooked crumbled bacon or chopped deli ham or leftover roast ham. We also like to add in chopped broccoli. If we are adding a veggie like broccoli or chopped green beans we cook them with the onions but the cooked ham or bacon we toss in with the potatoes. For a variation you can make the top for he casserole more crispy y adding a topping with bread crumbs or crushed cups of cornflakes tossed with a little melted butter then sprinkled it over top of the cheese.

Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole

How to Make Hashbrown Casserole

  1. Make Sauce: Saute onions, and garlic, then create a roux: stir in the flour, whisk in the milk followed by the herbs and spices then simmer til thickened.
  2. Combine Sauce & Hashbrowns: Stir in the frozen (not thawed) hashbrowns, with 1 cup of the shredded cheese. Pour into baking dish or mix everything in the baking dish. Top with remaining cheese.
  3. Bake: Transfer casserole dish to preheated oven and bake for 30 mins.
  4. Enjoy: Scoop it out onto plates and enjoy warm.

Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole

Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole

Hash Brown Casserole Storage, Make Ahead & Freezing

  • STORAGE: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave, oven or air fryer.
  • MAKE AHEAD: The whole casserole can be made up to just before baking then wrapped tightly with plastic wrap and foil and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. When ready to bake allow sit on the counter-top while you preheat the oven and bake as directed in the recipe.
  • FREEZING: The whole casserole can be made up to just before baking then wrapped tightly with plastic wrap and foil then frozen for up to 1 month (probably more but I don’t recommend it). Allow it to thaw in the fridge over night, allow it to sit on the countertop while you preheat the oven then bake as directed adding an extra 5-10 minutes as needed.
  • CAUTION: Placing a baking dish straight from the fridge into a hot oven can cause thermal shock, which may crack or shatter glass and ceramic bake-ware that is why we usually recommend that you allow the refrigerated dish to sit at room temperature for 15 to 30 minutes while preheating the oven before putting it into the oven. Place the dish on a room-temperature metal baking sheet to buffer heat transfer and catch any potential spills if you think it might need it.

Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole

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Recipe

Servings: 8
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 40 mins
Total Time: 50 mins

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup unsalted butter
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced
  • ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 cups whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon mustard powder
  • ¼ teaspoon poultry seasoning or bouillon
  • ⅛ teaspon cayenne pepper
  • Pinch nutmeg
  • 6 cups (1 lb) frozen shredded potatoes (frozen hash browns)
  • 1½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Spray or lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. Heat butter in Dutch oven, or extra-large skillet over medium-high heat, until melted.
  3. Add the onion and garlic and cook until softened and translucent approx 4-5 minutes.
  4. Add the flour, stirring well to coat the ingredients, and cook 1 min.
  5. Reduce the heat to medium and drizzle in the milk ½ to 1 cup at a time, while whisking to get any clumps.
  6. Whisk in the salt, thyme, garlic powder, mustard powder, bouillon, cayenne pepper, nutmeg if using and pepper. Increase the heat to medium-high and allow the mixture to come to a boil for 1 minute while whisking then remove from the heat. The mixture will be creamy and thick enough to coat spoon.
  7. Add the frozen shredded potatoes, and 1 cup of the cheese into the sauce, and stir until well incorporated.
  8. Transfer mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer. Sprinkle over the remaining cheese.
  9. Transfer baking dish to preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes.
  10. After 30 minutes, turn the oven broiler on and broil for 3-5 minutes, until the topping is browned, keeping and eye that it doesn’t burn.
  11. Garnish with sliced green onions, chives, or parsley. Serve warm.

Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole