It is almost time to harvest the huge gardens of potatoes that I planted! So I wanted to share with you a recipe of one of the first dishes we make with our homegrown potatoes. In our house is my Baked Crispy Hashbrown Casserole is a must have.
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get in a rut and feel like I am making the same foods for breakfast week after week, after week. This crispy hash brown casserole may take a little longer to make, but let me promise you, it is totally worth every minute. Make an extra large pan of it because it tastes just as good reheated!
I have even created a YouTube video for you, where I go over making the Potato Hash and the creativity you can have with it. You can head on over and check it out on our YouTube Channel.
The Blank Canvas of Breakfast
Does anyone else feel like breakfast is the hardest meal to be creative with?! It’s almost daunting when you are someone who likes to have delicious wholesome and fun meals like our family,.. Coming up with what to eat for breakfast is like “uhhh??!!”
I have come up with some solutions in my Family Cookbook to make breakfast a more delicious and fun meal for everyone to enjoy. Recipes like my Cherry Almond Baked Oatmeal, Honey Almond Granola, and my personal favourite, This potato hash brown recipe is a great recipe to add to your weekly breakfast routine and is easy to freeze!
Ingredients
- Potatoes – Our favourite potatoes to use are russet potatoes. You can use red russets or Yukon gold potatoes for this recipe. Both work interchangeably. We used chopped potatoes for this recipe, if you really prefer shredded potatoes, you can do that as well. They will not take as long to bake when they are shredded, but will take a little longer to prepare.
- Onion – We use a white or yellow onion for this dish. You can use onion powder to taste if you have picky eaters or do not have an onion.
- Red Pepper – A red pepper adds a little color to this dish, but you can use sweet green peppers or any other colored bell peppers.
- Bacon – Let’s be honest, bacon is bacon. And what is breakfast without bacon!
- Ground Beef – Ground beef adds a good amount of protein to the crispy baked hash browns. If you choose to not eat beef, you can use ground chicken, ground turkey or ground pork instead.
- Cheddar Cheese – Our preferred cheese is cheddar cheese, but you can use whatever kind of cheese you prefer; Gouda, Cheddar and Parmesan cheese blended or even pepper jack.
- Garlic – Oh garlic! What would we ever do without garlic? It is a staple to season all dishes. You can use fresh garlic cloves like we do or granulated garlic. We grow all of our own garlic because we use it so often. Learn how to grow your garlic here!
- Paprika – Smoked paprika is a must! It will add a little smoky flavor to the dish while adding a little bit of color as well.
- Salt – Salt is a spice that I add to taste. It is also a good tenderizer for the meats.
- Pepper – Adding a pinch of black pepper seasons the dish with a deep earthy flavor.
- Chipotle Powder – Adds a bit of a twist to the seasonings. It gives the dish a slightly southern flavor.
- Olive Oil – We choose to use olive oil for many of our recipes, but any kind of oil with work. Different oils have more subtle or more strong flavors, so use the oil that suits your palate best.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F and line a baking sheet pan with parchment paper. Dice the potatoes. Add the diced potatoes to a large bowl, coat them with olive oil and remaining seasonings. Place the potatoes on the prepared baking sheet, spreading out so that they are in an even layer. Then bake covered for 30 minutes until they begin to turn into crispy hash browns.
- Meanwhile, fry the bacon until lightly brown and set aside. I find it easiest to chop the bacon prior to frying it. The bacon will turn into a crispy bacon by the time you are done baking the cheesy potatoes.
- Add the onions and garlic to the pan that you fried the bacon in, with a tablespoon or two of bacon grease and fry until the onions become translucent.
- Fry the ground beef until cooked through and then mix it in with the bacon, peppers, and onions.
- Spread the mixture into a casserole dish and top with cheese.
- Place the meal in the oven and bake for an additional 20 minutes until the cheese is melted and the potatoes are soft.
- Remove from the oven and serve hot! Enjoy your new favourite cheesy hashbrowns.
Baked Crispy Hashbrown Casserole
Ingredients
- 8 large potatoes chopped into bite sized pieces
- 1 large onion finely chopped
- 1 large red pepper (or colour of your choice) cut into bit size pieces
- 1 lb bacon cut into small bits
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
- 2 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 1 Tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp chipotle powder
- 4 Tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F.
- Dice the potatoes. Mix the potatoes with olive oil, add remaining seasonings and toss to coat.
- Bake covered for 30 minutes.
- Fry bacon until lightly browned, set aside.
- Caramelize onions and garlic in the bacon fat. Add onions first, and garlic once the onion is translucent.
- Fry ground beef until cooked through.
- Add bacon, ground beef, peppers and onions and mix well.
- Top with cheese and bake for an additional 20 minutes or until potatoes are soft.
Nutrition
Variations and Serving Suggestions
The best thing is that this easy recipe can be tailor to your preferences, particularly when it comes to the seasonings. I have added tomato powder, used onion and garlic powder instead of onions and garlic. We have even added sausage in the past, which is always a great addition to make the dish extra tasty.
If you want to add a little heat to your dish, you can add some roast red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, chopped jalapeños, and even pepper jack cheese.
I would love to hear what variations you have done to create a delicious meal for your family.
When it comes time to serve the baked crispy hashbrown casserole, try topping it with some sour cream and salsa.
Reheating and Storing Leftovers
The best way to store any leftovers is in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
To reheat your leftover hash browns, you can melt some butter in a cast iron skillet and toss the hash brown casserole in the melted butter, heating until the potatoes are warm. You can line your air fryer with aluminum foil and reheat in the air fryer.
FAQs
- The casserole has a starchy flavor to it. How do I get rid of that?
- You can soak the grated or diced starchy potatoes in a cold water bath for 20 minutes. Then drain the potatoes and dry them off completely using a kitchen towel or paper towels to remove any excess starch that may be on the potatoes.
- Why are my potatoes not crispy?
- To make the potatoes more crispy, be sure to drain any excess moisture from them and pat them dry using a towel.
- If I want to use grated potatoes, what is the easiest way to grate potatoes?
- I personally think using grated potatoes is harder, but if you choose to use grated potatoes, the easiest way to do so is with a food processor.
Prepare, Freeze, Enjoy
One of the standout features of this Potato Hash is its meal-prep friendliness. The ease of preparing it the night before and freezing leftovers ensures that a hearty breakfast is just a reheat away, even on the busiest mornings. Here at the farm we love the convenience of waking up to a delicious and piping hot plate of Potato Hash without the hassle of morning cooking.
The adaptability of this dish allows you to play chef and tailor it to your liking. Whether you’re a spice enthusiast or a cheese lover, this recipe accommodates all tastes. If you give this recipe a try make sure to leave a comment and let me know how it went and what you added to make it fit perfect for your family!
