Hashbrown Casserole is easy, cheesy and totally delicious! This simple casserole is made easy with frozen hashbrowns!
Copy Cat Cracker Barrel Hashbrown casserole needs just 5 minutes of prep making it the a great side or potluck dish! The perfect breakfast casserole!
The Hashbrowns, That’s Why
I love Cracker Barrel but the truth is… I only show up for the hashbrown casserole. That’s it. Just the hashbrowns people.
My friend shared her version of that yummy, oh so creamy and cheesy easy Hashbrown Casserole with me and WOW! Tender shredded hash browns in a rich and creamy cheese sauce, topped with more cheese and baked until hot and bubbly!
This is a perfect breakfast casserole for any holiday morning or just when you’re getting the family together for a delicious breakfast or brunch. It also makes a perfect side dish for Crispy Oven Parmesan Chicken or even served alongside a Ranch 7 Layer Salad for lunch!
Better Than the Original
There are lots of recipes out there for this cheesy casserole but this is the one I’ve found to be the closest! This hashbrown casserole is made with condensed cream of chicken soup. I’ve also made it with cream of cheddar soup if you can find it. Both work perfectly in this recipe! While I’ve had a version of hashbrown casserole without sour cream, I definitely prefer it with, it adds a little bit of creaminess and tang to the recipe. Since this is a copy cat hashbrown casserole recipe, my list of ingredients is inevitably different than the original but the flavor is just like my favorite Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole (in fact, it’s even BETTER in my opinion)!
How to Make Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole
One of the best things about hashbrown casserole is that it’s super quick to prepare (5 minutes). I literally cannot stop eating it; dinner, bedtime snack and then breakfast if there is any left!
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
- Spread into a 9×13 dish.
- Top with cheese and bake. Voila!
It’s that easy! If you’d like you can add leftover chicken, ham or ground beef to this easy recipe. Stir in your favorite veggies as well, Steamed Broccoli, peas or frozen veggies work well too!
Toppings
I like to top it with cheese to keep it close to the version I’ve had at Cracker Barrel but if you prefer a nice crunchy topping on your hashbrown casserole, this is also great with cornflakes. Gently crush 2 cups of cornflakes and toss with 1/4 cup of melted butter, sprinkle over the casserole before baking.
How to Freeze Hashbrown Casserole
This easy cheesy hashbrown casserole can easily be frozen. We usually prepare as directed and freeze any leftovers in individual servings making them the perfect lunch or quick dinner.
More Potato Dishes You’ll Love
- Scalloped Potatoes Recipe – Simple classic recipe.
- Easy Oven Roasted Potatoes
- The BEST Mashed Potatoes – Creamy perfection.
- Twice Baked Potatoes – Make ahead (these freeze well).
- Perfect Baked Potatoes
- Potatoes Au Gratin
- Colcannon Recipe (Cabbage and Potatoes) – So yummy!!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 32 ounces frozen shredded hash browns thawed
- ½ cup melted butter
- 10.5 ounces condensed cream of chicken soup 1 can, or cream of cheddar
- 16 ounces sour cream
- ½ cup finely diced onion
- 2 cups shredded Colby cheese divided, or cheddar cheese
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish.
- In a large bowl, combine thawed hashbrowns, melted butter, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, onion, 1 ½ cups of cheese, and pepper.
- Spread the mixture into the prepared baking dish and top with the reserved ½ cup of cheese.
- Bake for 45-55 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
Video
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Casserole
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
Note: This recipe originally appeared on SpendWithPennies.com April, 2013.
More Must Try Cheesy Casseroles
Creamy Macaroni and Cheese Casserole
Making this now didn’t have sour cream but added extra cream of chicken soup. Also added in smoked sausage and broccoli. Can’t wait to try. Very easy meal
Without a doubt, the easiest, yummiest version of this favorite I’ve ever made!! I served it with oven-baked barbeque pork chops when my daughter’s family came to celebrate Christmas/New Years yesterday. It was a hit!
I am teaching my 9 yrs old daughter to cook, this was the perfect recipe… I didn’t have sour cream on hand. We cut up 4 potatoes into hash browns, cream of chicken soup, a little sage and pepper and cheddar cheese. She is a very finicky eater… she went back for seconds!!! Definitely got to get sour cream the next time.. thank you
I just made the Cracker Barrel has brown casserole, substituting plain green yogurt instead of sour cream & cream of mushroom soup, fresh parsley. It was great!
Yummy, ez, $$ saving. ❤
Instead of frozen hashbrowns, can you use the refrigerated Bob Evans or Simply Potatoes brand?
Yes, that should work just fine.
Holly, we are making this today and are excited to try, would you happen to know the serving size, our 15yo is diabetic and has to take insulin fir her meal, any help would be appreciated, also making your crock pot pork chops !!!!!!
The nutritional estimate is for a serving size of 1/10th of the recipe (we cut into 10 squares to serve). You can also use an online calculator with your exact ingredients/brands to get a more precise count.
Hello! I make so many of your recipes! They are ALL amazing. This is the first time I have been unable to find an ingredient and just wanted to know… can I substitute Colby jack for Colby?
You sure can, your favorite cheese would be great in this recipe.
If all I have is the southern style of hashbrown rather than shredded…. do you think that would still turn out ok?
Yes, it should work just fine.
Can this recipe be made ahead? Thinking of making for eater and sure would be easier if I could make day before and just pop in oven Easter morning
It would be just fine prepped ahead of time Melissa. You might need to adjust the cooking time slightly longer if the dish is cold.
I tried this recipe last year for a brunch party and it was a success. I did it again for my family and they absolutely loved it. I’m planning on make it again for another Christmas event. Can this be refrigerated overnight before baking?
Yes, this can be made the day before and refrigerated overnight before baking.
Absolutely the best recipe ever my family would eat this every day if I would cook it great job!
This sounds great but I will have no oven space for this on Thanksgiving. Can this be made in a crockpot?
I have made this in a crock pot before following the cook times in my Crock Pot Macaroni and Cheese. Enjoy Pamela!
I’ve done it in a dutch oven
I have tried this recipe and my boyfriend loved it! He loves the Cracker Barrel has brown casserole so I decided to make it for him and he said this one was even better than the original!
I am currently going to make it for thanksgiving, I have a few family members who are vegetarians and don’t want them to miss out on the dish. Do you have any replacement recommendations for the cream of chicken ingredient?
You could use cream of celery or mushroom in this recipe (I haven’t checked the label to confirm that it is vegetarian).
Cream of mushroom
You can use cream of mushroom or cream of celery. I used cream of mushroom and it was great! I also read that someone used the cheddar soup.
Cream of mushroom will work too!!
I always use cream of mushrooms soup. My family likes it better than the cream of chicken. I can not tell the difference.
I halved this recipe for my family of 3. My family and I really enjoyed it! I did use slightly less sour cream after reading other’s reviews and colby jack cheese because that’s what I had on hand.
Thank you, this one will go into rotation:)
So glad to hear that you love this casserole recipe Angela!
Love changing things up! Used Cream of Bacon and cream of mushrooms soups and French onion dip. Yummy!!
Definitely not too much sour cream, as others complain about. I’ve made this several times, and it’s always a hit! I don’t buy Colby cheese, so use sharp cheddar. I let the bag of hash browns thaw in a bowl for about an hour. Also, grated onion is best. If they’re chopped, they don’t cook all the way through. I use butter to grease the baking pan, ALWAYS make corn flake topping and bake for an hour. Thanks for the yummy recipe! A staple in this house.
This was so easy and turned out perfect!
WE love this recipe. I have made it again. I do not use frozen as I use my kitchen aid processor and peel my own potatoes and shred them.
I did this too. Did u have to cook it longer than instructed because my potatoes are still hard?
I love love how easy and good your recipes are
Yummy!!!!!!!!!!!
Way to much sour cream
Sorry you didn’t enjoy this recipe, Stella, it’s usually loved by our readers!