This Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole is an all time favorite
If you need to make breakfast for a crowd by don’t want to spend your morning standing over an oven flipping eggs and bacon, this easy Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole is a better solution. It’s got shredded hashbrowns, plenty of eggs and ham, sausage, or bacon for protein, and just the right amount of melted cheese so the whole thing tastes fantastic. Best of all, you can assemble it the night before so it’s ready to pop in the oven first thing in the morning so you can sleep in a little longer without worrying about what’s for breakfast! I love, love, love a good savory breakfast casserole. A group of moms in my area used to do a back-to-school brunch where everybody would drop off their kids on the first day then meet up and enjoy a relaxed brunch, potluck style, and sampling all of the breakfast casseroles was my favorite part. The ones made with hashbrowns were always the best! It’s so satisfying to slice into a casserole that is fully loaded with all sorts of delicious meat and cheese and potatoes. It’s so hearty and filling, and it’s become one of our favorite things to do breakfast casseroles for holidays, even though that’s not something I grew up with. We love celebrating Christmas or Easter morning with something sweet like Cinnamon Rolls or Star Bread, and a savory option, like this one. Some of our other favorites are my Green Chili Egg Casserole or Biscuits and Gravy Casserole.
Why you’ll love this Breakfast Casserole with Hash Browns
Protein-packed – Start your day out right with a hearty, healthy breakfast that will keep you full and energized all the way thru until lunchtime. Customizable – Feel free to add more chopped peppers or onions for extra veggies, or switch the ham for your favorite breakfast protein. Feeds an army – Okay, not a literal army, but this makes a lot and goes even farther if you pair it with some fresh fruit or a pan of cinnamon rolls for something sweet.
I love being able to prep this easy breakfast casserole with ham and hashbrowns the night before while the kids are still settling down. Then the kitchen is all clean and tidy before I go to sleep and all I have to do in the morning is preheat the oven and bake! Not that it’s much work at all to begin with. You could easily make the whole thing in the morning. It just takes an extra 30 minutes to bake the hashbrowns first before adding the eggs, ham, and cheese. I don’t just save this recipe for holidays, either. It’s also a great dish to make AFTER the holidays to use up some of that leftover holiday ham! I will make a breakfast casserole and freeze individual slices for easy breakfasts during the week sometimes. Then you can just reheat individual servings in the microwave. Sometimes I even take the reheated casserole and wrap it up in a warmed flour tortilla with a little sour cream and salsa (and maybe an extra strip or two of bacon if I’m feeling extra ambitious) and it’s an instant breakfast burrito that my kids love!
Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole Ingredients
Frozen hashbrowns: You don’t even need to thaw the hashbrowns first before using them. Just throw the frozen hashbrowns into your baking dish and proceed to Go! Eggs: Where would be without eggs for breakfast? They are a great, healthy protein and are delicious in this dish. There are just enough to bind the casserole together without making it overly “eggy”. Ham: If I have leftover ham on hand or in the freezer, that’s my preferred choice. But you can pick up a couple of ham steaks at the store (they are usually in the breakfast meats section) and dice those up instead, which is why I did when I made this breakfast casserole. Evaporated milk: I like the extra richness of using a can of evaporated milk in this casserole, but you could also sub whole milk. You can even use half-and-half or cream for an extra rich and delicious breakfast casserole. Cheese: Pepper Jack and sharp cheddar are my favorite combo for this breakfast casserole because they melt well and give great flavor, but Montery Jack is a good alternative. Butter: A stick of melted butter gets drizzled over the hashbrowns before they are baked and helps crisp them up a bit before adding the other ingredients, as well as adding wonderful flavor. Salt, pepper, and spices: A little kosher salt, seasoned salt, pepper, onion powder, and smoked paprika give this casserole a flavor boost! Nobody wants a bland breakfast! Green onions: The fresh taste and crunch of some chopped green onions sprinkled over the casserole after baking is the perfect way to garnish this dish.
How to make Egg Casserole with Hash Browns
How to make an Egg Bake with Hash Browns in advance
If you want to make this into an overnight breakfast casserole, just prep to the point of baking the whole thing, then refrigerate it overnight and bake in the morning.
Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole Variations
Add some veggies! Want more veggies in your life? Add in a chopped yellow onion with the hashbrowns and butter before baking. Finely dice two red, orange, yellow, or green peppers and add them along with the diced ham. Tater tot breakfast casserole: You could use tater tots or country potatoes instead of hashbrowns. There is no need to bake the tater tots first like you do with the hashbrowns. Bacon or sausage: If you don’t have ham on hand and don’t feel like running to the store, a pound of cooked and crumbled bacon or sausage is another great option.
Tips for making this Breakfast Casserole with Hash Browns
Use high-quality ingredients. Fresh vegetables, good-quality hashbrowns, and your preferred choice of cheese will make a difference. Thaw frozen hashbrowns before using to ensure even cooking. Choose a melting cheese like cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a blend of cheeses for a gooey texture. Whisk the eggs well before incorporating them into the casserole mixture. Prepare the casserole the night before and refrigerate it. This allows the flavors to meld and makes breakfast preparation quicker.
How to store leftover Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole
Let the casserole cool completely before covering tightly with plastic wrap, foil, or a lid and storing in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can also freeze individual slices in freezer-safe bags for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in the microwave or oven until hot all the way through before serving.
Freezing Breakfast Hashbrown Casserole
I recommend freezing the baked casserole as individual servings rather than as a whole thing. That way they can be easily reheated in the microwave for a quick, filling breakfast whenever you want one. Just let the baked casserole cool, then line a baking sheet with parchment paper and arrange individual slices so they aren’t touching. Freeze for 2-3 hours, then transfer the now-frozen slices to a freezer-safe ziploc bag for longer storage of up to 2 months.
More favorite breakfast ideas
Biscuits & Sausage Gravy Belgian Waffles The BEST Homemade French Toast Toasted Coconut Pancakes Macaroni & Eggs (a family favorite) Smoked Salmon Scrambled Eggs Blueberry Muffins Cinnamon French Toast Sticks
Biscuits and Gravy Casserole
Green Chili Egg Bake Casserole
German Pancake
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