Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole Recipe (2024)

HomeRecipe ListSide DishesCheesy Hashbrown Casserole Recipe

Posted by Aimee 129 comments
Published: Apr 02, 2023 Last Updated: Oct 12, 2023

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This Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole recipe is true comfort food. Made with frozen hash browns and plenty of cheese, I can guarantee your family is going to enjoy this one! Often served at potlucks and funerals, everyone digs this cheesy dish.

Love holiday sides? You can’t go wrong with a a classic sweet potato casserole or pistachio salad.

Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole Recipe (1)

Table of Contents

  • Why this Recipe works
  • Funeral Potatoes
  • Ingredient Notes
  • Easy Instructions
  • Recipe FAQs
  • More Comfort Food Recipes
  • Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole Recipe

Why this Recipe works

This recipe has been in our family for over 40 years. Back when corn flakes were one of the only breakfast cereal choice, ha!

Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole is such a great addition to any meal as it can be prepared ahead of time. All you need to do is pop it in the oven when it’s time to cook the meal.

  • Corn flakes mixed with melted butter are the perfect crunchy, buttery topping for Cheesy Potato Casserole.
  • My mom’s recipe also uses pre-shredded cheddar cheese. You know, the orange stuff in the bag (which we all love of course).

However, if you’re looking to take this to the next level of deliciousness, try using a good quality cheddar, that you shred yourself.

It gives this dish such an intense, tangy flavor you can’t resist. And, it melts so creamy mixed up with the rest of the ingredients!

Need a new holiday side dish? Try our cheesy hashbrown casserole with our green bean casserole today! Or give our candied sweet potatoes a try next.

Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole Recipe (2)

Funeral Potatoes

My family calls this recipe Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole, but I have also heard it called Funeral Potatoes.

Why, you ask? If you have ever been to a funeral in the Midwest, you know that these Cheesy Funeral Potatoes almost always make an appearance at the meal afterwards.

They’re not just a staple at funerals, though – Funeral Potatoes are a part of just about any potluck or gathering in the Midwest.

They’re great to serve as a side dish with my favorite mississippi roast or Oven Baked Pork Chops too!

If you love Cracker Barrel Hashbrowns, skip the cornflake topping and add shredded cheese on top instead!

Ingredient Notes

Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole Recipe (3)
  • Hashbrowns – thawed or frozen will work just fine. We prefer the cubed hashbrowns, but the shredded potatoes will also work, just a different texture.
  • Cream of Chicken Soup
  • Sour Cream – provides that creamy base!
  • Cheese – a good cheddar cheese is what you’ll need for best flavor.
  • Corn Flakes – provides the perfect crunchy topping. You can also use ritz crackers (like we do with our homemade mac and cheese).

Easy Instructions

  1. Mix it all together in a large bowl.
  2. Pour it in a pan. We use a 13×9 baking dish.
  3. Add the topping. Crush the cornflakes slightly, you don’t want tiny crumbs!
  4. Bake. Cover the casserole dish with foil and bake until bubbly.

It’s that easy! Add it to your holiday list today. Or serve it up with mom’s meatloaf recipe.

Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole Recipe (4)

Recipe FAQs

Should I thaw hashbrowns before cooking?

With my recipe, you can use hashbrowns straight from frozen!

Can I use fresh potatoes instead of frozen hashbrowns?

Yes! Grate potatoes using food processor. Use in recipe as directed.

What are cracker barrel potatoes?

Want to make this more like Cracker Barrel? Add the cheese on top before baking (skip the corn flakes).

How do you store hashbrown casserole?

Store leftovers in airtight container in refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat individual scoops in microwave for 15-30 second intervals until desired temperature.

More Comfort Food Recipes

  • Classic Stuffing Recipe
  • Cole Slaw Recipe
  • Sweet Potato Casserole
  • Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread
  • Panera Mac and Cheese
  • Banana Pudding Recipe – don’t forget dessert!

Holiday Side Dishes

See all Side Dishes recipes

Soups and Stews

Chicken Pot Pie Soup Recipe

Appetizers

Deviled Eggs Recipe

Side Dishes

Seven Layer Salad Recipe

Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole Recipe (9)

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Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole

4.64 from 281 votes

By: Aimee

This Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole, also known as Cheesy Funeral Potatoes, makes an appearance at all family gatherings. So easy and delicious and perfect for a crowd!

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds frozen hashbrowns cubed
  • 16 ounce sour cream
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 can cream of chicken soup 10 1/2 ounce
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 Tablespoons minced onion
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter melted, divided
  • 2 cups corn flakes crushed

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degree F.

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine frozen hashbrowns, sour cream, cheese, soup, salt, pepper, onion and 1/2 cup of the melted butter. Mix until thoroughly combined. Pour into a 13×9 baking dish.

  • In a small bowl, combine remaining 1/4 cup melted butter with crushed corn flakes. Sprinkle over top of casserole.

  • Cover dish with foil and bake for about 60 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 5-10 minutes to add some crunch to the topping. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

  • May be prepared ahead of time and stored in refrigerator. If doing this, the hashbrowns will be thawed. You can now bake it for about 45 minutes covered, and 5 minutes uncovered.
  • Store leftovers in airtight container in refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat individual scoops in microwave for 15-30 second intervals until desired temperature.
  • See blog post for more recipe tips and tricks.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 395kcal, Carbohydrates: 30g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 28g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 15g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 44mg, Sodium: 805mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 3g

Course: Side Dishes

Cuisine: American

Did you make this recipe?Mention @shugarysweets or tag #shugarysweets!

Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Should I thaw hash browns for casserole? ›

The ingredient list for this family favorite is not very long; here are a few quick notes to make sure you have what you need! Frozen Shredded Hashbrowns – The hash browns should be thawed before using so that the dish bakes evenly.

Why is my hash brown casserole soggy? ›

Frozen hash browns will leak moisture during cooking, which could leave a soggy, sad mess behind. For the best results, let the frozen hash browns thaw overnight in the fridge, then thoroughly pat them dry to remove as much moisture as possible before cooking them to crispy.

What is loaded hashbrown casserole at Cracker Barrel? ›

Our Hashbrown Casserole fried into crispy bite-sized tater tots loaded with bacon and melted Colby cheese. Served with buttermilk ranch dressing. Available all day.

Should you soak potatoes before making hash browns? ›

I love using my food processor for this. A hand grater works just fine, but it's so much faster with the grating blade of a food processor. Immediately put the potatoes into the bowl of water. Soaking the potatoes in the water removes some of the starch and keeps the potatoes from turning an unappetizing color.

How to thaw hash browns for cheesy potatoes? ›

You can thaw your shredded hash browns overnight in the fridge directly in their bag or for about an hour at room temperature.

Why are my frozen hash browns not crispy? ›

A: Hash Browns or French fries are usually good in the freezer for 4-8 months at zero degrees F. While still cold, if they are soft to the touch that means they have lost the crispy texture you'll expect of a quick frozen potato. If this occurred over a day or two, you should be fine to heat them up.

What is the secret to crispy hash browns? ›

Remove as much moisture as possible. In order to get evenly crispy hash browns, you need to squeeze out as much water as you can. I prefer to do this using my salad spinner- it works GREAT for removing water! But you can also use a cheese cloth or even paper towels to squeeze it out.

Why did my hash browns turn black? ›

Exposure to air or oxygen is the cause of this situation when the potatoes are cut and stored in advance for any future cooking.

How do you thicken a hash brown casserole? ›

Make a cornstarch slurry for a fast and easy thickener.

Use one tablespoon of cornstarch per cup of liquid you would like to thicken. Stir out all the lumps. A few minutes before your casserole is done, add it a little at a time until you are happy with the thickness. Then, let the casserole finish baking.

Why is it called John Wayne casserole? ›

John Wayne first wrote the casserole recipe, but it looks a little different today. John Wayne Casserole was first popularized by the 1979 cookbook, "Cooking with Love from Cara and Her Friends," a collection of different celebrities' favorite dishes.

What did Cracker Barrel take off their menu? ›

11 Discontinued Cracker Barrel Menu Items We're Probably Not Getting Back
  • Fried Chicken Liver. Stanley Y/Tripadvisor. ...
  • Strawberries n' Cream French Toast. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store/Facebook. ...
  • Chicken Salad Sandwich. ...
  • Frozen Mugs. ...
  • Haddock Dinner. ...
  • Baked Apple Dumplin' ...
  • Red-Eye Gravy. ...
  • Campfire Meals.
Jan 29, 2024

What happens if you don't soak potatoes before cooking? ›

Soaking potatoes in water helps remove excess starch. Excess starch can inhibit the potatoes from cooking evenly as well as creating a gummy or sticky texture on the outside of your potatoes.

What type of potatoes are best for hash browns? ›

Starchy potatoes like Russets work best for hash browns. Waxy potatoes like red new potatoes have a higher moisture content and tend to hold their shape better than starchy potatoes, and as such do not develop the crispiest of edges when fried.

Why do you rinse shredded potatoes? ›

Most recipes require soaking your raw, shredded potato in cold water to rinse off the excess starch, then squeezing every last bit of moisture out before tossing it in a pan.

Should you thaw frozen potatoes before cooking? ›

How to cook boiled potatoes from frozen. Smaller diced potato won't need defrosting, as they will defrost during the cooking process. Pop them straight into boiling water, or into the meal you are cooking, for a few minutes, or until cooked through. For larger pieces, defrost overnight in the fridge.

How do you make frozen hash browns not mushy? ›

If you're reheating frozen hash browns, I suggest preheating your oven to 350 and covering the tray with foil. Pop this into your oven for about 20 minutes. Then, remove the foil and let them cook uncovered for another 5-7 minutes depending on how much crispiness you want.

Why do hash browns need to be frozen? ›

Frozen hash browns often turn out crispier than homemade hash browns because of the way they are processed and prepared. Frozen hash browns are typically par-cooked before freezing, which means they are partially cooked to remove excess moisture and then frozen.

How long to thaw casserole before cooking? ›

Single serve items most likely will defrost overnight. Casseroles, gallon bags of food and roasts will not. They will likely 24-48 hours to thaw in the refrigerator. One of the biggest mistakes individuals make is thinking that a casserole will defrost in the refrigerator over night.

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