My hash brown casserole recipe is easy and delicious. Based on the Cracker Barrel version, I make mine with sour cream but without soup. Along with eggs, ham, and veggies added to the base of frozen hash browns, I created the one of the best breakfast casseroles. If you want to learn how to make a breakfast casserole that is perfect for Christmas, Easter, Sunday, or any day, keep reading.
Easy Hash Brown Casserole Recipe
This recipe is very easy since it is uses frozen hash browns. Like I said, this dish is based on the version served at Cracker Barrel restaurants. Although I have never tried it or made it personally, from my research it seems to be a fairly popular recipe. Frozen hash browns such as Ore Ida, or any other brand, are defrosted and then added to a casserole dish with cream of chicken soup, cheese, and eggs. I have no doubt it is very delicious, but since I like to cook without canned soup, I decided to create my own version.
As with the original, my recipe starts with a bag of frozen hash browns; however, I decided to cook mine a bit before assembling the casserole. First, I sautéed some onions and red bell pepper for a few minutes, then I added the shredded potatoes. I was hoping that precooking the shredded potatoes would help to crisp them up a bit, but I soon realized that my pan was a bit overcrowded, the shredded potatoes steaming more than frying. Even though I did manage to get a bit of color on some of the shreds, it did not make a significant difference. So, I suggest defrosting the frozen hash browns and then perhaps microwaving them for a minute or two, just to make sure that they are fully defrosted and cooked through a bit: microwaving something is a lot easier than standing over the stove and stirring it.
Hash Brown Casserole without Soup: Sour Cream and Onion Soup Mix
After cooking the shredded hash browns, I then started assembling the casserole. Since I do not like canned condensed soup, I wanted to make a hash brown casserole recipe without soup. My go-to combination in casseroles is sour cream and onion soup mix, so I decided to give that a try. Sour cream is smooth, creamy, tangy, so it adds to both the flavor and textures of casseroles. Onion soup mix is a secret of many Southern cooks, and I am no different: it is amazing how much flavor one little packet has. With the combination of sour cream and onion soup mix in my hash brown casserole, I did not need canned soup.
I then added some extra spices for more flavor, as well as an 8 ounce block of cheese. In order to bulk up the protein content, I added some smoked ham. I was not quite sure how much to use or how it would turn out in the final product, so I only used about 5 ounces; however, looking back, I should have added 9 ounces since the smokiness of the ham combined very well with the other flavors. I then added two eggs for not only extra protein but also to help bind the casserole together. Even though it would probably have been fine as it was, I thought that the dish looked a bit dry, so I decided to add a couple tablespoons of homemade chicken broth that I had in the refrigerator. That way, I added not only moisture but also flavor, specifically chicken flavor, without adding condensed cream of chicken soup.
Even though you could mix everything in a large bowl and then pour it into a greased 9 x 13 casserole dish, I just decided to mix everything in the Pyrex. I cleaned up the sides a bit after I mixed the ingredients and packed them down into the dish, but if your goal is perfectly clean sides, I suggest mixing the casserole in a large mixing bowl. However, in my opinion, it doesn’t make any sense to dirty a bowl that does not need to be dirtied, so I just accepted the homemade look; besides, as long as a recipe is easy and delicious, that is all that matters.
Recipe Review
Once the casserole was done baking, I couldn’t wait to cut a slice and give it a try. When I finally tried the hash brown casserole, I was honestly impressed by just how delicious it really was. First of all, I noticed the texture contrast right away between the soft and moist interior and the crispy hash browns on top. The key to getting the crispy top is making sure that the casserole has a large surface area, so using a dish that is wider than it is deep is important. I also liked the color, the golden brown top having bits of red bell pepper and green onion. The casserole was definitely a feast for the eyes.
In terms of taste, this hash brown casserole was amazing. As I said early, onion soup mix is a secret ingredient in many Southern recipes, and it definitely shined in this recipe. Onions and potatoes go together, so along with the sauteed onions in this dish, the dehydrated onions added a sweetness that really put this dish over the top. The sour cream was crucial in this hash brown casserole as well, the creaminess making the interior moist and the tanginess making the flavor profile very interesting. The cheddar cheese was tangy as well, so when combined with the sour cream, every bite of this casserole overwhelmed my palate with flavor. The extra spices and two tablespoons of chicken broth added to the flavor as well, so every ingredient played its part in making this dish delicious.
However, the one ingredient that really surprised me was the smoked ham. Although originally intended as a cheap and easy protein source, the smokiness of the ham combined perfectly with all of the other flavors, especially the tanginess of the sour cream and cheddar and the sweetness of the onion soup mix. You could definitely make this a vegetarian casserole by replacing the ham with a few extra eggs, but honestly, I highly recommend that you make this breakfast casserole with smoked ham or perhaps sausage. If you try it, I know you will love it.
In short, I really enjoyed this hash brown casserole. It was not only easy to make but also colorful and flavorful. This would be the perfect breakfast casserole for Christmas morning, a Sunday, etc. Whether you try this recipe for the holidays or any other time. I know you will fall in love with it at first bite.
Best Hash Brown Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 30 oz bag of frozen hash browns
- 1/2 medium onion
- 1 medium red bell pepper
- small bunch of green onions
- 1 cup of sour cream (240 grams)
- 1 packet of onion soup mix
- 1 8 oz block sharp cheddar cheese
- *5 ounces smoked ham (next time, I would use 9 ounces)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- *2 Tablespoons chicken broth (optional)
- 2 eggs
Instructions
- Sautee onion, red bell pepper, and white parts of green onions for 5 minutes. I used 2 Tablespoons of canola oil and 2 Tablespoons of butter
- Add hash browns and cook for 15 minutes, stirring constantly. Add green tops of green onions with 5 minutes of cooking them left.
- 3. Mix all ingredients in a large 9 x 13 casserole dish.
- 4. Bake at 350 F, uncovered, for 45 minutes.
YouTube Video Recipe
Be sure to watch my YouTube video tutorial:
Links
Cracker Barrel CopyCat Recipe:
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/13755/restaurant-style-hashbrown-casserole/
