If you’re craving the ultimate comfort food, this hash potato casserole is the one! Made with creamy shredded potatoes, melted cheese, tangy sour cream, and a buttery, crunchy topping, it’s a family-favorite dish that always disappears fast at my dinner table. Perfect for weeknights, potlucks, or holiday feasts!
Potato dishes are a huge hit in my home—whether it’s a busy weekday or a cozy holiday, there’s nothing that comforts quite like potatoes. This hash potato casserole has become one of my go-to recipes because it’s hearty, creamy, and absolutely irresistible. My teenage sons love piling it high on their plates, and I love that it’s simple to put together with pantry basics.
Cooking off-grid has taught me to make recipes that are flexible, comforting, and crowd-pleasing, and this casserole checks every box. It’s a dish that never lingers long on the table—everyone always goes back for seconds.
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The Best Hash Potato Casserole Recipe Tutorial
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Shredded Hash Brown Potatoes – The base of the casserole, these give the dish its hearty comfort. I often shred my own potatoes, but frozen hash browns work perfectly.
- Cheddar Cheese – Sharp cheddar melts into the potatoes, giving that creamy, cheesy bite everyone craves.
- Cream of Chicken Soup – Adds a savory richness that binds everything together. You can swap it for cream of mushroom or even homemade soup base if you prefer.
- Sour Cream – This adds tang and creaminess, balancing the richness of the cheese and butter.
- Butter – Melted butter brings depth and helps create that golden topping.
- Onion – A little onion gives the casserole flavor and warmth without overpowering it.
- Cornflakes (or Crushed Crackers) – The crunchy topping that makes this casserole stand out. That buttery crunch is what makes every bite special.
- Salt and Pepper – Just enough seasoning to bring everything together.
I added some garden-fresh tomatoes and cilantro to my dish on the day of creating this post. Though you can use any toppings you desire to make it delicious and special.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Mix the Base
In a large bowl, combine the shredded hash browns, cheddar cheese, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, onion, and seasonings. Stir until everything is well mixed and creamy.
Step 2: Transfer to Baking Dish
Spread the mixture evenly into a greased 9×13 casserole dish. This ensures even baking and keeps the edges golden brown.
Step 3: Add the Crunchy Topping
In a small bowl, mix crushed cornflakes (or crackers) with melted butter. Sprinkle evenly over the top of the casserole. This layer will bake up golden and crunchy.
Step 4: Bake Until Golden
Bake uncovered at 350°F for about 45 minutes, until the topping is golden brown and the casserole is bubbling at the edges.
More Potato Yumminess
If you’re like me and can never get enough of hearty potato comfort food, you’ll love my other recipes, too. Check out How to Make Cheese Potato Casserole for creamy skillet goodness, How to Make the Best Twice Baked Potatoes Casserole for rich, loaded flavor, Easy and Delicious Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe for Any Occasion for that cozy holiday classic, and How to Make Sweet Potato Bread for a sweet twist that’s perfect with a cup of tea or coffee. Potatoes in all their forms just make the table feel warm, welcoming, and downright irresistible!
Conclusion
This hash potato casserole has earned its spot as one of my family’s favorite comfort foods. It’s rich, cheesy, and hearty, yet simple to make—exactly the kind of dish I love serving in my off-grid kitchen. Whether you’re making it for your family, a holiday gathering, or a potluck, you can count on it being the first dish to disappear!
Resources: Here are some helpful resources for further information.
- 25 Lazy Casserole Recipes – By Allrecipes
- 12 Kid-Friendly Casserole Dinners – By Cubby At Home
- 24 Easy Casseroles to Make for Dinner – By Simply Recipes
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I make this hash potato casserole ahead of time?
Yes! You can assemble the casserole (without the topping) up to 24 hours ahead and keep it covered in the refrigerator. Add the crunchy topping just before baking.
2. Can I freeze hash potato casserole?
Absolutely. Assemble the casserole without the topping, wrap it tightly, and freeze it for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, thaw overnight in the fridge, add the topping, and bake as directed.
3. Can I use fresh potatoes instead of frozen hash browns?
Yes, fresh shredded potatoes work wonderfully. Just be sure to rinse and pat them dry to remove excess starch and moisture before mixing.
4. What can I use instead of cornflakes for the topping?
Crushed Ritz crackers, bread crumbs, or even crushed potato chips make a great substitute if you don’t have cornflakes on hand.
Hash Potato Casserole
Equipment
- 1 12-inch cast-iron pan
Ingredients
- 1 30 oz bag shredded hash browns (thawed)
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 can 10.5 oz cream of chicken soup
- 1 ½ cups cups sour cream
- ½ cup butter, melted (divided)
- ½ cup onion, finely diced
- 2 cups cornflakes, crushed (or substitute crushed crackers)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 casserole dish.
- In a large bowl, combine hash browns, cheddar cheese, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, onion, salt, and pepper. Stir well.
- Spread mixture evenly into the prepared casserole dish.
- In a small bowl, mix cornflakes with ¼ cup melted butter. Sprinkle over casserole.
- Bake uncovered for 45 minutes, or until bubbly and golden brown on top.
Summary
I hope I have inspired you to make these recipes in your cast-iron skillet to enjoy and share with your friends and family.
If you were encouraged by this post, I invite you to check out my FREE Printables Page for fun free printables, planners, and charts.
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Here are some more of my cast-iron cooking inspiration posts to check out!
How to Make Cheese Potato Casserole
Chicken: How to Make Creamy Chicken Tacos
How to Make Sourdough Pumpkin Spice Pancakes
How to Make Chocolate Sourdough Pancakes
The Best Cherry Galette Recipe
How to Cook Scrambled Eggs In a Cast Iron Skillet without Sticking!
How to Season Cast Iron for Cooking
The Best Old-Fashioned Homemade Brownies: A Cast Iron Skillet Recipe!
How to Make Dutch Oven Lasagna
How to Make Black Bean Burgers from the Garden!
Blessings,
The Off Grid Barefoot Girl
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