This Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole is a creamy, cheesy, comforting side dish made without canned soup! It’s perfect for holidays, potlucks, or a cozy family dinner. Packed with shredded potatoes, cheddar cheese, and a rich homemade sauce, this easy potato side dish quickly assembles and uses simple, wholesome ingredients.
In This Post
It’s hard to think of a potato dish I don’t love. Whether it’s an Air Fried Baked Potato, Scalloped Potatoes or Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes, I’m a fan!
What Makes This Recipe So Good?
No Canned Soup – Just Fresh, Real Ingredients! Unlike many hashbrown casserole recipes that rely on canned cream soups, this one uses a simple homemade sauce made with milk, butter, and sour cream. My easy creation gives the casserole a cleaner, fresher flavor and avoids unnecessary preservatives or additives.
5-Star Reader Comment
This is the perfect recipe! Made this and it’s delicious
Melossa
Ingredients You Need For This Recipe
What Kind of Potatoes Work Best for Hashbrown Casserole?
- Frozen Hashbrowns—The easiest option is pre-shredded and ready to use. Make sure they are fully thawed before using.
- Fresh Potatoes – Shred them using a box grater or food processor, and pat them dry with paper towels to remove moisture.
- Refrigerated Hashbrowns – Most often sold in the grocery store’s refrigerated section and don’t require thawing, saving time.
- Hashbrowns are the main ingredient!
- Cheddar Cheese and Parmesan—I use sharp cheddar for maximum cheesy flavor. And I always use fresh grated cheese! Parmesan cheese adds a nice saltiness to this cheesy hashbrown casserole, taking this dish from good to great!
- Milk and Sour Cream will make this casserole’s light yet hearty sauce.
- We’ll use butter, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper for flavor. Only pantry staples are needed here—nothing hard to find.
- Chives add a nice pop of color as garnish and slightly tang.
Make It Your Own: Variations and Substitutions
- Protein Boost: Add cooked and crumbled bacon, diced ham, or cooked sausage to the mix for a heartier casserole.
- Bolder Flavor: Add diced, minced garlic or chopped green onions.
- Crunchy Topping: For a crunchy finish, elevate the topping by adding crushed corn flakes, buttered breadcrumbs, or even Ritz crackers.
Easy Hash Brown Casserole Instructions
- Prep: Heat the oven and butter the bottom of a 9 by 13 baking dish. If I’m heading to a get-together, I like to use a disposable aluminum pan!
- Combine Ingredients: Place hash browns evenly in the bottom of the dish and sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese. Gently stir to combine. Heat milk, butter, salt, and garlic powder in a small saucepan until the butter melts. Remove from heat and stir in sour cream. Pour the milk mixture over the potatoes and cheese.
- Bake: Sprinkle on pepper, chives, and Parmesan cheese. Place in the oven and bake until the cheese is browned. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes, then serve.
Can Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole Be Made Ahead Of Time?
You bet! Just make it the evening before you want to serve it, wrap it with foil or plastic wrap, and store it in the refrigerator. When ready to serve it, take it out of the oven and bake it.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can also make it ahead and freeze it! Put the hash brown potato casserole together ahead of time, tightly cover it with plastic wrap or tin foil, and freeze it. Thaw completely and proceed to cook per instructions.
Feel free to experiment with different types of cheese to suit your taste preferences. Cheddar cheese is commonly used in cheesy hashbrown casserole recipes, but you can try variations like Monterey Jack, Swiss, or a combination of different cheeses for a unique flavor profile.
Serving Ideas
This cheesy potato casserole will become your go-to side dish that your family will love. Here are some of my favorite recipes to serve it with Crock Pot Chicken Thighs, 5-Ingredient Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken, and Sheet Pan Hamburger Steak With Mushrooms And Onions for dinner.
Try it with my Ham And Cheese Croissant Breakfast Casserole and Sausage And Egg Breakfast Bake for breakfast or brunch.
More Potato Recipes You’ll Love!
If you tried this Hashbrown Casserole Recipe or any other recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks!
Ingredients
- 2 pounds shredded potatoes or bagged hashbrowns
- 2 cups cheddar cheese
- 1 ½ cups milk
- ½ cup sour cream
- 4 tablespoons butter – melted
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
- 1 tablespoon chopped chives
- ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Butter bottom of 9 by 13 baking dish. Place hash browns evenly in bottom of dish and sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese. Gently stir to combine.
- In a small sauce pan, heat milk, butter, salt and garlic powder just until butter melts. Remove from heat and stir in sour cream. Pour milk mixture over potatoes and cheese.
- Sprinkle on pepper, chives and Parmesan cheese.
- Place in oven and bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until cheese is browned. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes, then serve.
Notes
Nutrition
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Nancy
Wondering if I could just mix the sauce with the potatoes and cheese instead of pouring it on top?
Hey Nancy.
Great time saving tip. Thanks!
~Donya
Elizabeth
Can you use fresh grated potatoes?
Sure – make sure to squeeze out any liquid.
~Donya
Diane Morgan
Does the casserole look “curdled” after it comes out of the oven???
Donya
Hey there Diane!
Thank you for your interest in the recipe! After it comes out of the oven it should look more like the pictures I included on the post. The texture will come out pretty soft and creamy from the potatoes and sour cream in the middle with crispy edges and a nice cheesy top. I hope you like the recipe, let me know how it goes!
~Donya
Tamara
Can I use the dehydrated hashbrowns from Costco? Should I reconstitute them?
Hey there!
Yep, I’d do that. You’ve got instincts, Tamara. Let me know how it turns out.
Have a great day,
~Donya
Mary
Can I add pork sausage or ground beef to this?
Sure! It sounds like a good idea to me!
~Donya
Sam
Can I make it the night before and leave in the fridge overnight and bake it in the oven in the morning?
Hey Sam. Yes, you sure can make it overnight. It turns out great.
Happy New Year!
~Donya
Lauren
Hi! If I’m using bagged hashbrowns, do I need to thaw them first?
Hey Lauren! Yes, thaw the hashbrowns first. When I use frozen, I place them in a mesh strainer and just let them thaw so that any moisture will drip out. Hope this helps! Let me know how the dish turns out.
XO,
~Donya
Melossa
This is the perfect recipe! Made this and it’s delicious
Thank you so much Melossa! I love it when someone let’s me know about their love of one of my recipes.
Merry Christmas!
XO,~Donya
Brenda
This sounds good but I didn’t see what temperature to bake. What temperature?
Donya
Thanks Brenda! Bake at 350 degrees. I updated the post as well.
XO,
~Donya