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Hashbrown casserole is the ultimate cheesy comfort food! This creamy, hearty dish is perfect for potlucks, parties, and to serve as a side!

Casseroles are so easy to prepare and great for a crowd! Chicken parmesan casserole, corn casserole, and this amazing breakfast casserole are more great recipes for when you’re craving an easy, hearty meal.

Closeup of a hashbrown casserole with a slice taken out of it.

Classic Hashbrown Casserole Recipe

When you’re looking to indulge in carbs and cheese… a potato casserole is the answer! Today’s recipe is inspired by Cracker Barrel’s cheesy, creamy hashbrown casserole which is one of my favorite sides! It tastes similar to funeral potatoes, just without the crispy topping. It’s a delicious combination of potatoes, sour cream, cheddar cheese, and cream of chicken soup!

My youngest (whose diet consists primarily of chicken nuggets) absolutely loves this hashbrown casserole, so it’s perfect for even the pickiest eaters in your family! There’s a reason why a version of this dish is at almost every potluck I go to- it’s just that good! You can’t go wrong with the combination of cheese and potatoes. You’re going to love how your casserole turns out!

All Ingredients Needed

This is all you need to make an irresistible hash brown casserole! The best part about this recipe is that you can use frozen hash browns for easy prep! No thawing required! You can find measurements for each ingredient in the recipe card below.

  • Frozen Shredded Hashbrown Potatoes: No need to thaw your frozen potatoes, just throw them in as-is! Also, feel free to experiment with other shapes/sizes. Diced hashbrowns work great, too!
  • Seasonings and Spices: I used a mixture of dried thyme, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
  • Cheddar Cheese: Prepackaged cheese is a great option, but if you really want to take your casserole to the next level, try using freshly grated cheddar!
  • Butter: Butter is a must in any comfort food! It adds richness and flavor.
  • Cream of Chicken Soup: Adds creaminess and savory flavor. You can use canned soup or make it from scratch for better flavor. Find my recipe here!
  • Sour Cream: A must-add for delicious tangy flavor. You can also use plain Greek yogurt.

How to Make the Best Hashbrown Casserole

This cheesy hashbrown casserole is something that anyone can make! It’s so easy but turns out perfectly every time. Your friends and family won’t be able to resist the creamy, cheesy goodness.

  1. Preheat Oven, Prep Baking Dish: Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit. Spray a 13×9 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
  2. Combine Hash Browns, Cheese, and Seasonings: In a large bowl, mix together the frozen hash browns, onion powder, dried thyme, salt, pepper, and 1 cup shredded cheese. 
  3. Prepare Soup Mixture: Add the butter and cream of chicken soup to a medium saucepan. Heat and stir the mixture over medium-high heat until the butter is melted. Remove the saucepan from the stove, and stir in the sour cream.
  4. Pour Over Hash Browns: Pour the soup mixture over the hash brown mixture and mix until incorporated.
  5. Transfer to Pan and Bake: Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup of cheese. Bake for 1 hour or until hot and bubbly. Serve immediately.
4-photo collage of casserole filling being prepared.

Tasty Variations

The great thing about casseroles is that there are so many delicious ways to customize them. Here are some of my favorite add-ins and variations!

  • Swap the Cheese: Other melty cheeses like mozzarella, Monterey Jack, and provolone work great as a substitute for cheddar. If you want a little heat, you can also swap out your cheddar for pepper jack cheese.
  • Add Meat: Feel free to throw in things like cubed ham or bacon bits for added flavor and texture! You can also add cooked shredded chicken!

How Long Does Leftover Hashbrown Casserole Last?

Stored in the refrigerator, your hashbrown casserole will last for 4-5 days. Wrap in plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container for the best results!

To Reheat: Pop your casserole in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until warmed through at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. You can also warm up individual slices in the microwave with 15-30 second cooking intervals.

Top-down photo of hashbrown casserole in a white serving dish.

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Hashbrown Casserole

5 from 4 votes
By: Alyssa Rivers
Hashbrown casserole is the ultimate cheesy comfort food! This creamy, hearty dish is perfect for potlucks, parties, and to serve as a side!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit. Spray a 13×9 baking dish with non stick cooking spray and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, mix together the frozen hash browns, onion powder, dried thyme, salt, pepper, and 1 cup shredded cheese.
  • Add the butter and cream of chicken soup to a medium saucepan. Heat and stir the mixture over medium high heat until the butter is melted. Remove the saucepan from the stove, and stir in the sour cream.
  • Pour the soup mixture over the hash brown mixture and mix until incorporated.
  • Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and top with the remaining 1 cup cheese. Bake for 1 hour or until hot and bubbly. Serve immediately.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 398kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 11gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 16gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 79mgSodium: 721mgPotassium: 390mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 889IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 252mgIron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Breakfast, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Alyssa Rivers is the author of 'The Tried and True Cookbook', a professional food photographer and experienced recipe-developer. Having a passion for cooking, her tried and true recipes have been featured on Good Morning America, Today Food, Buzzfeed and more.

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21 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Made this for the first time Christmas morning 2022….. DELICIOUS!!! Be sure to make 2 if serving more than 4 people. They’ll want seconds for sure!

  2. The recipe multiplier DOES NOT change the amounts IN the instructions. So for a double recipe you would need to alter the amount of cheese for instance that you include in the preparation.

  3. 5 stars
    This is the second time making this, I always tweak recipes so I put sharp cheese cream of potato soup and a few other spices so good and yummy!!!

  4. I need to make this for a family dinner with one person who is a vegetarian. Would you substitute cream of mushroom or cheddar cheese soup for the cream of chicken?

    1. I made with cream of onion soup because that’s what I had in the pantry. It was delicious. 👩🏻‍🍳

    1. I have made this casserole for at least 20 years…it works better with frozen hash browns. I usually use southern style rather than shredded. I mix the soup, cheese, sour cream and seasoning together omitting the butter without heating anything. Then I add the potatoes and dump in the dish. Make it a meal by adding ham or kielbasa. Ultimate comfort food!

  5. 5 stars
    I made this today for my church potluck.
    I assembled everything and placed in the fridge 4-5 hours before I baked it.
    It was a hit & everybody loved it! <3 <3 <3 <3
    (Didn't use thyme cause I don't have it)
    Thanks Alyssa! <3 <3

    1. Yes! I wouldn’t make it more than a few hours ahead. Store it in your fridge until you are ready to cook it!