Description
Comfort meets elegance in this hearty Cheesy Hash Brown Potato Bake that blends golden crispy potatoes with melted cheese. Perfectly seasoned and baked to golden perfection, you’ll savor each creamy, satisfying bite of this irresistible side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein and Dairy:
- 2 cups shredded pepper jack cheese
- 1½ cups heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup butter (melted)
- ½ cup cooked chopped bacon
Potato Base:
- 1 30 to 32-ounce (850 to 907 grams) bag frozen shredded hash browns
- 1 10.5-ounce (298 grams) can unsalted cream of chicken soup
Seasonings and Topping:
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 sleeve Ritz crackers (crushed)
Instructions
- Thoroughly coat a 9x13x2-inch baking dish with light grease and heat the oven to 400ºF.
- Combine hash browns with cream of chicken soup, pepper jack cheese, heavy cream, melted butter, sour cream, Parmesan cheese, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl, ensuring all ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Carefully spread the potato mixture into the prepared baking dish, creating a uniform layer.
- Create a crispy topping by blending crushed crackers, crumbled bacon, remaining Parmesan cheese, and paprika in a separate bowl.
- Generously sprinkle the cracker and bacon mixture over the potato base, covering the entire surface.
- Slide the dish into the preheated oven and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, watching for a golden-brown topping and bubbling edges.
- Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes to set and cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- Swap hash browns for sweet potato cubes to create a healthier alternative with more nutrients and unique flavor profile.
- Use gluten-free crackers or breadcrumbs to make the recipe suitable for those with gluten sensitivities.
- Add diced jalapeños or green chiles to the mixture for an extra spicy kick that elevates the dish’s complexity.
- Consider using turkey bacon or reducing bacon amount for a lighter version with less saturated fat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 438 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 460 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 21 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg