For a deliciously wonderful, quick & easy egg-free breakfast, make our Cheesy Ham and Hashbown Casserole – this is sure to be gobbled up!
Cheesy Ham and Hashbrown Casserole is the best breakfast recipe sure to please everyone! Using hash browns, ham & cheese, green onions, & cream of chicken soup as the foundation, this meat & potato casserole is eggless, budget-friendly, super simple to prepare, and absolutely SCRUMPTIOUS, especially when topped with buttery Ritz cracker crumbs!
The Perfect Breakfast for the Holiday Season!
Ham & Hashbrown Casserole is the ideal recipe for Christmas morning AND the day after Christmas! Let me tell you why…
This breakfast casserole is fantastic because it’s a “make the day before and bake the morning of” recipe, so you can drink a cup of coffee and watch the kids open presents on Christmas instead of slaving away in the kitchen! It’s warm and cheesy and yummy and sure to be a hit with everyone!
Also…it’s a perfect POST-holiday brunch because you can utilize all that leftover ham your mom brought and turn it into a fantastic meal! It will only take minutes to make, but it tastes like you cooked all morning! Win!
Other Recipes to Serve with Cheesy Potato Casserole
- Cranberry Sauce Muffins are a deliciously sweet & tangy way to use up that leftover cranberry sauce!
- White we’re at it, easy Eggnog French Toast Bake makes scrumptious use of extra eggnog – and it is so, so good!
Ingredients
Potatoes: Frozen hash browns are the bulk of this casserole – diced or shredded, either work great!
Meaty: Chopped or diced ham adds the savory, meaty element to this casserole, making it perfect for breakfast OR dinner!
Creamy: To make the “saucy” part, you’ll need condensed Cream of Chicken Soup, butter, sour cream, and shredded cheddar cheese.
Extras: Sliced green onions add color and so much flavor!
Crunchy: Ritz crackers (or any similar) make a crunchy, crumbly, buttered top that adds that WOW factor!
How to Make Hashbrown Casserole
STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine the butter, sour cream, and cream of chicken soup. Microwave 30 seconds at a time until melted. Be sure to stir it after each heating to evenly combine everything.
STEP TWO: To a 9×13 pan, add the hashbrowns, cheddar cheese, sliced green onions, and diced ham. Pour the sour cream mixture over the top and gently mix to coat all of the hash browns.
STEP THREE: Bake the casserole uncovered for 55-60 minutes.
STEP FOUR: Crush one sleeve of Ritz crackers in a medium bowl and then mix in the melted butter. After the casserole has been baked, sprinkle the buttered crackers to the top and spread out.
STEP FIVE: Pop the casserole back into the oven and bake for another 5-10 minutes. Serve with fruit or muffins and a great cup of coffee!
Tips for Success
- For best results, make sure the hashbrowns are thawed before beginning.
- This is such a versatile recipe! You can substitute cooked breakfast sausage or bacon for the ham or remove the meat and add in some diced peppers or green chilies for a vegetarian option.
- Yes, you can use shredded or diced hash browns or even tater tots (if thawed first!)
- Make this gluten-free by substituting gluten-free options for the Cream of Chicken Soup and Ritz crackers.
- Block cheese always melts creamier than pre-shredded, but either tastes great!
- With ham, chees,e and crackers, this casserole does NOT need any added salt!
Can I Freeze Hashbrown Casserole?
Yes, yes, yes! Make the ham & hashbrown casserole (minus the baking and cracker topping), and instead of popping it into the oven, cover it tightly (I double wrap it with plastic wrap and then in foil), then pop it into the freezer. It will easily last 2 months, so make a couple before Thanksgiving and freeze one of them until Christmas!
When you’re ready to eat, thaw in the fridge overnight, then bake for 60-65 minutes before finishing with the cracker crumb topping. Bubbly, cheesy, fabulous!
Why is My Hashbrown Casserole Mushy?
There could be a few culprits if your Ham & Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole came out a bit soggy. First, check your original ingredients. Did you use a brothy chicken soup instead of a condensed cream soup? Was your sour cream watery on top? Did you use more than the recommended amount of butter?
If none of those reasons fit, it could be that your hash browns were still frozen when you started baking. Hash browns work best if thawed first. Frozen hash browns heat unevenly and can cause your fillings to clump in places and separate in others. Thawing ahead of time ensures the perfect finished texture – soft and cheesy in the middle with lightly crisp edges on top.
Other Beautiful Brunch & Breakfast Casseroles
- Sausage, Gouda & Biscuit Breakfast Casserole
- Spinach and Tomato Breakfast Casserole
- Farmer’s Casserole
- Breakfast Sweet Potato Casserole
- Sausage Egg Casserole
- Cheesy Bacon & Jalapeno Hashbrown Casserole
*This post originally posted on 03/26/2016.
Ingredients
- 32 ounces frozen southern style hash browns
- 10.5 ounces cream of chicken soup
- ¾ cup butter divided
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
- ¼ cup green onions thinly sliced
- 3 cups ham chopped
- 1 slevve Ritz crackers
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- To a large microwave-safe bowl, add 1/2 cup of butter, sour cream, and cream of chicken soup. Microwave in 30-second intervals, whisking after each heating, until melted and combined.
- To a 9-inch x 13-inch baking dish, add the hash browns, cheddar cheese, green onions, ham, and the sour cream mixture. Mix well to coat all of the hash browns.
- Bake uncovered for 55-60 minutes.
- In a medium mixing bowl, crush the crackers and then mix with 4 tablespoons of melted butter.
- Sprinkle the buttered crackers all over the casserole once it's done baking. Return to the oven and bake for another 5-10 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and serve warm with your favorite breakfast sides.
Liz says
Sounds so good. Thank you and happy Easter!