This restaurant-style hash brown casserole is loaded with cheesy onion flavor. Simple ingredients big taste. A perfect brunch recipe for those special occasions like Christmas morning.
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My sister and I love our hash browns when we go out to eat. When our waitress asks us if we want them topped with onions and cheese, of course we agree.
Perfect Recipe for Busy Moms
Prepare this side dish ahead of time and pop it in the oven. When your guests arrive, remove from the oven, and serve. It is as simple as that.
Everyone loves this hash brown casserole recipe; at least they must as it is always the first food to get gobbled up. I always have an empty pan when I bring this to a potluck, brunch, or serve with guests at home.
Delicious Side Dish
This side dish is simple to throw together with ingredients that you most likely already have in your pantry and freezer.
This potato side dish pairs nicely with a slice of meatloaf, steak, ribs, and baked fish just to name a few.
- Meatloaf Recipe
- Pan Fried Steak
- BBQ Honey Apple Cranberry Chutney Ribs
- Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs
- Easy Baked Fish
Re-Heating This Cheesy Onion Hash Brown Bake
I made a whole 9 X 13 pan of these potatoes last week and the four of us did our best, but were not able to eat the whole thing! Ha. We had a few pieces leftover and a day later, this potato side dish because our breakfast. I melted 1 tablespoon of butter in my cast iron pan. Added the hash browns potato side down. Cooked about 10 minutes covered on medium-high heat.
Just look at how cheesy and crispy those potato hash browns ore on the second day!
Re-heating the potatoes this way does three things: covering the pan makes sure to get the cheese all melty again. Additionally, the addition of the butter to the pan not only helps the potatoes not stick but adds more buttery-rich flavor. Lastly, not moving the hash browns and letting them heat in the pan makes the bottom of the potatoes all crispy again. Yum! They are now all gone.
Freezer Potato Meal
This can be made as a freezer meal. Great to give to help a friend or neighbor out in their time of need. That is what our neighborhood does. We all take care of each other by bringing over meals when someone is going through a rough patch.
To make this as a freezer meal side dish, do not thaw the potatoes. Empty the frozen hash browns into a bowl, add the olive oil melted butter, salt, and pepper and mix. Put this in a 9 X 13 container that has been sprayed with oil. Then layer on the onions and cheeses. Cover securely and freeze for up to 3 months.
To make this from the frozen state, lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for 45 minutes. Then raise the temperature in the oven to the 425 degrees Fahrenheit and continue baking 20 minutes covered. Then remove the cover and bake another 15 minutes until the cheese is melty and bubbly and the potatoes are cooked through and starting to crisp on the bottom and sides. (If you take the time to thaw this before baking, just follow the baking directions in the recipe).
When giving this freezer meal as a gift, I will use a disposable foil pan and cover with foil. Make sure to crimp the edges of the foil well so it stays in place. Use a marker to label what is inside and the cooking time.
Potato Casserole Recipe Options
This potato casserole is just like the potatoes we order in a restaurant not far from our house. We love them! When we make them at home, it feel like more of a comfort food than a fancy restaurant menu item. Either way, very easy. Here are a few ideas for you to think about as you make this recipe for your favorite people in your life.
Serve with a bit of diced green onion sprinkled on top after baking.
Add some heat. Sprinkle Cajun seasoning over the potatoes just before adding the onions.
If you like just a little heat. Sprinkle Paprika seasoning over the potatoes just before adding the onions.
Melt a bit more butter and drizzle it over each piece that you serve your guests. I know in our butter-loving family, this would take this recipe over the moon.
I use regular salt in this recipe; however, that could be swapped out for something like a seasoned salt. I happen to have just a homemade seasoned salt recipe you should try.
Here are a few other delicious ways we enjoy potatoes at our house.
Crispy, Herbed Baked Potatoes everyone just loves these.
Fluffy Restaurant-Style Baked Potatoes at Home that have that crunchy potato skin.
If you are looking for that perfect Holiday Meal Side Dish. These buttery mashed potatoes are a family favorite at our house. Learn the secrets.
Restaurant-Style Hash Brown Casserole
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Kitchen Essentials
Ingredients
- 2 Pounds Frozen Hash Brown Potatoes Thawed (1 bag)
- 1/4 Cup Olive Oil
- 1/2 Cup Butter Melted
- 1 Teaspoon Salt adjust as needed
- 1/2 Teaspoon Pepper adjust as needed
- 1 Large Onion Diced
- 1 Cup Parmesan Cheese Shredded
- 1 Cup Cheddar Cheese Shredded
- 1 Cup Mozzarella Cheese Shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray 9 X 13 baking dish with oil so the casserole does not stick.
- In a mixing bowl, add the thawed hash browns, olive oil, melted butter, salt and pepper. Gently mix to combine. Add this to the baking dish and spread out in an even layer.
- Layer on the onions. Next layer the cheese on top of this; Parmesan, Cheddar, and Mozzarella.
- Spray tin foil with the oil so the cheese does not stick. Cover the baking dish and bake for 30 minutes on the lower rack in the oven.
- After 30 minutes, remove the foil and bake another 30minutes or until the cheese is golden on top and the potatoes are starting to crisp on the bottom.
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I hope that you liked this recipe. If you are looking for more ideas on what to make, here are a few other recipes that you may enjoy.
You can find Victoria crocheting, quilting, and creating recipes. She has cooked in restaurants for over 20 years, including many larger parties. She learned to crochet when she was just 11 years old and has been crocheting ever since; over 50 years now. Over 40 years ago, she loved her first class in sewing and continues to hone her skills in quilting. Many have enjoyed the handmade gifts over the years. In her professional career, she has worked in management in a wide variety of businesses including higher education as a dean of a division. All the while attending college part-time to achieve her doctorate in higher education with an emphasis in e-learning.
Teri
Monday 18th of April 2022
I served this casserole for Easter and it was delicious! Best of all, it is gluten free.
patternprincess1
Monday 18th of April 2022
Great idea for an Easter meal. Thanks for sharing.