This Ham and Cheese Hash Brown Casserole is a hearty dish perfect for a filling breakfast and an ideal choice for effortlessly serving large groups on holiday mornings. Made with hash browns, ham, cheese, and eggs, this casserole is known for its rich flavors and is a favorite for its ease of preparation and satisfying taste.
Jump to:
- 🙋♀️ What is a Breakfast Hash Brown Casserole
- 💝 Why You Will Love This Dish
- 📝 Key Ingredients
- 🔄Substitutions
- 🔀 Variations
- 💡 Expert tip
- 👩🍳How To Make This Breakfast Ham And Cheese Hash Brown Casserole
- 🍽️ How to serve this hash brown egg casserole
- 📦Storage
- 🤔Recipe Faqs
- 🍳What is your favorite breakfast recipe?
- 🥞 More Breakfast recipes to enjoy
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
🙋♀️ What is a Breakfast Hash Brown Casserole
The hashbrown casserole is a wonderful recipe for breakfast or brunch, combining savory ingredients like diced ham, shredded hash browns, eggs, milk, and cheese with various seasonings. Mixed in a baking dish and baked until the eggs are set, and the top is golden brown, it results in a cheesy, satisfying meal ideal for feeding large groups.
💝 Why You Will Love This Dish
- Ideal for Large Gatherings: This casserole is a fantastic choice for breakfast or brunch, especially when serving many people.
- Rich and Flavorful: Combines ham, hash browns, eggs, milk, and cheese, baked until golden and set.
- Customizable Recipe: Easily adaptable to include various ingredients according to your preferences.
- Holiday Favorite: Perfect for festive occasions like Thanksgiving and Christmas, offering a delicious, hearty meal.
- Convenient Preparation: Can be made ahead and stored, reducing kitchen time on busy mornings.
📝 Key Ingredients
This dish uses simple ingredients that most people have in their homes.
- Hash browns: Frozen hash browns are available in most grocery stores. You can also use breakfast potatoes.
- Eggs: I used large eggs for this recipe.
- Ham: This is a great opportunity to use leftover ham. Black forest ham or other cold cuts work as well.
- Cheese: Sharp cheddar cheese is the preferred cheese here.
- Milk: Whole milk was my choice. You can also use low-fat or plant-based milk, like almond or rice.
- Salt and black pepper to taste, as everyone is different.
🔄Substitutions
- Cheese: Substitute sharp for mild cheddar cheese, Gruyere, Colby Jack, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, or a mixture of them.
- Ham: Substitute with cooked bacon, oven-roasted classic turkey ham, roast beef, bologna, prosciutto, Serrano ham, cooked sausages (like mild Italian or Kielbasa), cooked chicken or turkey, or breakfast sausage.
🔀 Variations
You can add one or more of these ingredients:
- Green onions or regular onion
- Green bell pepper or red bell pepper
- Mushrooms
- Spices: onion powder, garlic powder
💡 Expert tip
If you're outside the US and struggling to find a bag of hash browns, don't worry! As an American who's traveled extensively, I've often made my own hash browns. Simply shred potatoes and squeeze out the water and starch. This method works great when you're craving this dish abroad.
Alternatively, you can use cubed frozen potatoes or repurpose homemade fries or leftover roasted potatoes as a substitute. These options can mimic the texture and taste of traditional hash browns quite effectively.
👩🍳How To Make This Breakfast Ham And Cheese Hash Brown Casserole
(scroll to the bottom of the article for detailed instructions on the printable recipe card)
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 350F and grease the pan. Use a nonstick cooking spray to grease a 13×9″ baking dish. Set aside.
Step 2. Mix the dry ingredients: Grab a large mixing bowl and mix hash browns, chunks of ham (or the meat you chose for this recipe), ½ cup shredded cheese, salt, pepper, and paprika. Spoon the mixture on the dish and set aside.
Step 3. Mix the wet ingredients: Beat eggs and milk until smooth in a separate bowl, and pour the egg mixture over the hash brown mixture. Top with the remaining cheese.
Step 4. Bake: Bake this easy breakfast casserole in the preheated, uncovered, at 350F, for 45 to 50 minutes or until golden brown on top.
🍽️ How to serve this hash brown egg casserole
- Perfect for breakfast with fresh fruit.
- Great for lunch, accompanied by your favorite salad.
- Suitable for a light dinner.
📦Storage
For storing the casserole, cool it at room temperature for 30 minutes, then cover or place it in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. To reheat, microwave portions for 1-2 minutes or bake the whole casserole at 350°F for 20 minutes.
For freezing, let the casserole cool, wrap it well, and freeze for up to 3 months.
🤔Recipe Faqs
Yes, assemble it the night before, refrigerate, and bake in the morning. For a dinner option, complement the casserole with a side salad or roasted vegetables for a well-rounded, satisfying meal.
Yes, you can grate fresh potatoes to use in place of frozen hash browns. Make sure to squeeze out any excess moisture before mixing them with the other ingredients.
For a more even baking result, it's recommended to thaw frozen shredded hash browns before adding them to your casserole. Alternatively, you can opt for diced hash browns if preferred.
Yes, you can freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat as above. You can also reheat from frozen, extending the oven time to 30-40 minutes. Please note that the texture might change slightly after freezing.
🍳What is your favorite breakfast recipe?
Here are some of my favorite ones:
- Vegetarian Mini quiche recipe
- Crustless broccoli bacon quiche
- Fried peppers with tomatoes, eggs, and cheese
- How To Make The Best Breakfast Strata
- Easy Yogurt Drop Homemade Doughnuts
🥞 More Breakfast recipes to enjoy
📖 Recipe
Breakfast Ham and Cheese Hash Brown Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 20 ounces package frozen hash brown potatoes
- 8 ounces cooked diced ham Or cold cuts, bacon, sausage, etc.
- 1 cup cheddar cheese (See notes for substitutions)
- 6 large eggs
- 1 ½ cups whole milk
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon sweet paprika
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease a 13x9 inch baking dish and set aside.
- Combine thawed hash browns, ham, ½ cup cheese, salt, pepper, and paprika in a large bowl.
- Spoon into the prepared baking dish.
- In a separate bowl, beat eggs and milk until smooth, and pour the mixture over the hash brown combination.
- Top with the remaining cheese.
- Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 45 to 50 minutes or until golden brown on top.
Video
Notes
- Cheese Options: Besides cheddar, try Gruyere, Colby Jack, Monterey Jack, or Pepper Jack.
- Meat Variations: Substitute ham with bacon, sausage, turkey ham, or cooked chicken.
- Potato Prep: Thaw frozen hash browns before use to ensure even cooking.
- Add-In Suggestions: Enhance with green onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, onion powder, or garlic powder for extra flavor.
- Baking Tips: Preheat your oven as specified and bake until the top is golden brown.
Lynn says
Can this be made ahead time in and refrigerate then baked?
The Bossy Kitchen says
Hi, As long as you keep it refrigerated, yes, you can do it.
Susan says
how long should it bake it if you only want to make 1/2 a recipe
The Bossy Kitchen says
Hi Susan, Keep the same temperature (350F), but check the dish after 25-30 minutes.
LL says
Did you thaw the hash browns before mixing it all together?
The Bossy Kitchen says
No, you do not need to thaw the potatoes.
Melissa Huber says
Made this recipe for my husband and myself, cut the ingredients down and added a 1/2 C extra cheese. Awesome
Gabriela says
Thank you, Melissa. I really like this recipe too. It is very good.