Description
A comforting and cheesy hash brown casserole that’s perfect as a side dish for breakfast, brunch, or holiday meals. This easy-to-make casserole combines crispy hash browns with a creamy blend of cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and cheddar cheese, topped with a crunchy cornflake crust for extra texture and baked to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound frozen shredded hash browns, thawed
- 1 can (10.5 ounces) condensed cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Topping (Optional)
- 1 1/2 cups crushed cornflakes
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Mix Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the thawed hash browns, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, melted butter, finely chopped onion, 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Stir thoroughly until everything is evenly mixed.
- Assemble the Casserole: Transfer the hash brown mixture into the greased baking dish and spread it out evenly to ensure uniform cooking.
- Add Topping: If using, mix the crushed cornflakes with 2 tablespoons of melted butter and sprinkle this mixture evenly over the top of the casserole to add a crunchy crust.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the oven and bake uncovered for 45 to 50 minutes, until it is hot, bubbly, and the topping is golden brown.
- Add Remaining Cheese: About 5 minutes before the casserole finishes baking, sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese over the top to create an extra cheesy layer, then return to the oven to melt.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it cool for 5 minutes to set before serving. This enhances the flavors and makes it easier to serve.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, substitute the cream of chicken soup with cream of mushroom or cream of celery soup.
- You can add cooked bacon or diced bell peppers for additional flavor and texture variations.
- Make sure the hash browns are fully thawed to avoid excess moisture in the casserole.
- Try using sharp cheddar cheese for a more pronounced cheesy flavor.
