You won’t regret starting or ending your day with this satisfying and easy hashbrown casserole with ham and cheese! You can make it ahead of time, and it’s great leftover. I’m sure it will be a big hit at your house too.
I guess this easy hashbrown casserole could be considered a breakfast dish, but I say ham, potatoes, and cheese are welcome at any time of day. I’m not sure why hashbrowns = breakfast and french fries = dinner. I don’t need to pigeonhole my potatoes like that. I’ll gladly take any kinds of potatoes at any time. How about you?
This simple breakfast casserole takes about an hour to bake but only 10-15 minutes to assemble. You can make it up to 24 hours ahead of time and refrigerate until ready to bake. Try using pepper jack cheese if you are looking to add some spice.
Make ahead meals make me so, so happy. I love knowing that dinner is already made when I get it ready earlier in the day, whether that means a slow cooker meal or a casserole like this one. This hashbrown casserole is so great leftover that it can give me that happy “dinner is already done” more than once! Leftover dinners are at least as good as make ahead ones, right?
This casserole pairs great with fruit salad at breakfast or mixed greens at lunch or dinner. I have served this baked hashbrown breakfast casserole at mid-morning parties, Easter brunch potlucks, taken it as a pop-in-the-oven meal for a new mom, or enjoyed it for breakfast or dinner at our house. It’s probably one of the recipes I’ve made the most over the years, and it’s always a hit. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
How to Make Easy Hashbrown Casserole?
This breakfast casserole is so easy it can be done in 4 quick steps.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees and spray 9 x 13″ baking dish with cooking spray or rub the dish with butter.
In a medium bowl, stir together the hashbrown potatoes, diced ham, half the shredded cheese, and green onions. Spread the breakfast hashbrown potato mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish.
In a small bowl, whisk together eggs, evaporated milk, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Pour the egg mix evenly over the potatoes, ham, cheese and green onions.
Cover the breakfast casserole with foil, and bake for 40 minutes. Remove the cover, and sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheese over the casserole. Bake uncovered an additional 15 minutes or until hot and bubbly and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray 9 x 13″ baking dish with cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, stir together potatoes, ham, 1/2 c. cheese, and green onions. Spread mixture evenly in prepared baking dish.
In a small bowl, whisk together eggs, evaporated milk, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Pour evenly over potato mixture.
Cover with foil, and bake for 40 minutes. Remove cover, and sprinkle remaining 1/2 c. cheese over casserole. Bake uncovered an additional 15 minutes or until hot and bubbly and knife inserted in center comes out clean.
Andi Gleeson is a passionate blogger and mom based in San Francisco who focuses on easy and delicious dinner recipes.
18 comments
Tracy
6 months ago
If I use liquid eggs, do I still need as much evaporated milk?
anthony
6 months ago
I would recommend still using milk so it has more of a custard flavor and texture. You can use just eggs if you prefer it to be more of an omelette/frittata in flavor and texture.
Charity L
2 years ago
Baking in the morning!
Taylor M
3 years ago
This did not work for us. I halfed the recipe, at 40 minutes it was so liquidy there was nothing I could do. I took the foil off cooked for another 15 to find it looking the same. Then broiled it. Took a total of 1 1/2 hours to make. Little ridiculous the time it took and lots of gas used.
Rosie
2 years ago
Cool! I think you’re a chef, haha! And how was it? It’s okay t use lots of gas as long as the taste is worth it, haha!
Diane
7 years ago
Great recipe! I wanted a recipe for hash brown casserole without the canned soup ingredient. Not a fan of that one! Only change I made was to add chopped bell peppers. Gave it a Denver omelet feel! Thanks!
Bert
7 years ago
There are just two in our house. 13 / 9 dish is a lot so I never know to how lone to bake recipes when using one haft of the ingredients. To bake in a 9/9 pan.
Gail
8 years ago
I agree about frozen hash browns versus fresh – I made my own for a similar recipe after using the frozen for years, and I really prefer the frozen. The fresh ones even after squeezing all the liquid out, seem to stick together and become a bit gummy. Definitely going to make this recipe!
Megan
11 years ago
I have made this recipe multiple times for brunch, and it’s a crowd pleaser! I do have one question, though; would it be alright to substitute the evaporated milk for regular (for days when I don’t have a can in the cupboard)?
Andi
11 years ago
I’m so glad you love this recipe, Megan! Did you see I added a new breakfast casserole recipe this week? Maybe you’ll like that one too. Since evaporated milk is heavier than regular milk, you would probably need to use half and half or at least whole milk. Let me know how it goes, or I’ll try it myself the next time I make it and let you know. Thank you!
Heather @ Sugar Dish Me
11 years ago
This turned out beautifully Andi!!! I love it! My kids are hash brown junkies and I really don’t make them nearly enough!
Andi
11 years ago
Thank you, Heather! It’s not as fancy as your gorgeous sandwiches, but it’s a start :) I bet your kids would like this casserole!
Jennifer
12 years ago
There must be something magic about frozen potatoes because my attempt to make it with freshly grated ones (with all liquid pressed out, even) didn’t turn out that well. My daughter declared it bland and mushy, but in the end ate she ate it (all along with about an entire pot of sour cream). Just an FYI in case other readers are feeling do it yourself-y – don’t try it on this one.
Andi
12 years ago
I’m sorry it didn’t turn out well for you, Jennifer! I have made this at least four times, and it has always been a hit. You are right that there must be some texture/moisture difference with frozen vs. fresh potatoes. Thanks for letting us know!
Savannah @ HammockTracks
12 years ago
Thanks for sharing…breakfast for dinner…one of my favorites. I hope you’ll return to saturday dishes next week when we feature spring desserts.
The Weary Chef
12 years ago
Thanks! I would love to join you this weekend, and I’ll be thinking of something sweet and Springy to share.
auntiedoni
12 years ago
Oh My Gravy all over my two scoops of rice (that’s OMG! in my world)!! Andi, this sounds very similar to Cracker Barrels Hashbrown Casserole! Gotta try this one, for sure!
ALOHA!
The Weary Chef
12 years ago
I haven’t been to a Cracker Barrel in years but remember liking it as a kid. Let me know how you like it if you try the recipe.
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18 comments
If I use liquid eggs, do I still need as much evaporated milk?
I would recommend still using milk so it has more of a custard flavor and texture. You can use just eggs if you prefer it to be more of an omelette/frittata in flavor and texture.
Baking in the morning!
This did not work for us. I halfed the recipe, at 40 minutes it was so liquidy there was nothing I could do. I took the foil off cooked for another 15 to find it looking the same. Then broiled it. Took a total of 1 1/2 hours to make. Little ridiculous the time it took and lots of gas used.
Cool! I think you’re a chef, haha! And how was it? It’s okay t use lots of gas as long as the taste is worth it, haha!
Great recipe! I wanted a recipe for hash brown casserole without the canned soup ingredient. Not a fan of that one! Only change I made was to add chopped bell peppers. Gave it a Denver omelet feel! Thanks!
There are just two in our house. 13 / 9 dish is a lot so I never know to how lone to bake recipes when using one haft of the ingredients. To bake in a 9/9 pan.
I agree about frozen hash browns versus fresh – I made my own for a similar recipe after using the frozen for years, and I really prefer the frozen. The fresh ones even after squeezing all the liquid out, seem to stick together and become a bit gummy. Definitely going to make this recipe!
I have made this recipe multiple times for brunch, and it’s a crowd pleaser! I do have one question, though; would it be alright to substitute the evaporated milk for regular (for days when I don’t have a can in the cupboard)?
I’m so glad you love this recipe, Megan! Did you see I added a new breakfast casserole recipe this week? Maybe you’ll like that one too. Since evaporated milk is heavier than regular milk, you would probably need to use half and half or at least whole milk. Let me know how it goes, or I’ll try it myself the next time I make it and let you know. Thank you!
This turned out beautifully Andi!!! I love it! My kids are hash brown junkies and I really don’t make them nearly enough!
Thank you, Heather! It’s not as fancy as your gorgeous sandwiches, but it’s a start :) I bet your kids would like this casserole!
There must be something magic about frozen potatoes because my attempt to make it with freshly grated ones (with all liquid pressed out, even) didn’t turn out that well. My daughter declared it bland and mushy, but in the end ate she ate it (all along with about an entire pot of sour cream). Just an FYI in case other readers are feeling do it yourself-y – don’t try it on this one.
I’m sorry it didn’t turn out well for you, Jennifer! I have made this at least four times, and it has always been a hit. You are right that there must be some texture/moisture difference with frozen vs. fresh potatoes. Thanks for letting us know!
Thanks for sharing…breakfast for dinner…one of my favorites. I hope you’ll return to saturday dishes next week when we feature spring desserts.
Thanks! I would love to join you this weekend, and I’ll be thinking of something sweet and Springy to share.
Oh My Gravy all over my two scoops of rice (that’s OMG! in my world)!! Andi, this sounds very similar to Cracker Barrels Hashbrown Casserole! Gotta try this one, for sure!
ALOHA!
I haven’t been to a Cracker Barrel in years but remember liking it as a kid. Let me know how you like it if you try the recipe.