Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole

By: Rachel TiemeyerPosted: 3/14/23Updated: 3/22/23

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Our make-ahead, gluten-free Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole is SO easy! It makes this traditional holiday side dish a little bit healthier by making it from scratch and leaving out the canned cream soup. This cheesy potato casserole comes together quickly but is creamy and comforting as always.

“My family won’t let me come to Thanksgiving if I don’t bring this dish!” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Theresa

Table of Contents

The Story Behind the Casserole

My mother-in-law passed away a few years ago, but she and I shared a love of cooking and cookbooks. She told me a few weeks before she went to be with the Lord that she was really excited about the cookbook I was writing at the time and hoped to be able to see it. Sadly, she did not. However, before she died, she gave me something I will always treasure–all of her recipes in one hand-typed cookbook.

One of those treasured recipes is her Hash Brown Casserole. My husband and I always looked forward to Easter and Thanksgiving meals at his parents’ house, which had to include that decadent side dish from the 50s era. Man, is it good!

family recipe for gluten free hash brown casserole

I decided to bring the spirit of my MIL’s recipe into the 2000’s by making it from scratch. These upgrades left my co-blogger, Polly, declaring it “the best hashbrown casserole I’ve ever had.”

a serving of hashbrown casserole on a plate

By making this hashbrown casserole from scratch, I was able to leave out the canned cream of chicken soup, which contains icky additives and ingredients I can’t pronounce. I also made the casserole gluten-free for those guests avoiding gluten (hi, that’s me). Let me assure you, this homemade Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole still screams “creamy, cheesy comfort food”.

Ingredients Needed

You won’t find canned cream soup in this recipe. We’re making our casserole with real food ingredients from scratch and leaving out any ingredients with gluten. The taste is amazing!

Here’s what you’ll need on hand:

Low-sodium chicken broth* – Adds flavor to our homemade cream sauce.
Half and half – Adds creaminess to the sauce.
Cornstarch* – This is what to know when choosing gluten-free cornstarch.
Dried parsley – Brings a little pop of color to the casserole.
Poultry seasoning – Helps to mimic the flavors in the traditional canned cream of chicken soup.
Kosher salt – You’ll use an additional 1/2 teaspoon, if not using bacon.
Ground black pepper
Salted Butter – A key ingredient in this rich side dish.
Yellow onion – Dice fairly small and sauté to add great flavor.
Garlic cloves – Mince finely and only sauté for 30-60 seconds so the garlic doesn’t burn.
Bag of Shredded Hash Browns* – It’s important to thaw these most of the way, if you buy them frozen. Note: Simply Potatoes brand is certified gluten-free.
Sour cream – I’d recommend full-fat Daisy brand since it only has one ingredient (and no additives or preservatives).
Shredded Colby Jack cheese – Or use your favorite shredded cheese. I find that shredding your own cheese or buying the finely shredded kind melts best.
Bacon – Try baking your bacon for easy cleanup.

*Note: If making this casserole strictly gluten-free is important to you, be careful with these store-bought ingredients. Sometimes the way these ingredients are processed in a factory can cause gluten cross-contamination. Always check the label to make sure it says “certified gluten-free”.

How to Make Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole

Here’s the rundown of how this easy hash brown casserole recipe comes together:

Prep the Cornstarch Mixture & Onions

In a glass measuring cup (or mixing bowl), whisk together the chicken broth, half and half, cornstarch, parsley, poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper. Set aside.

Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. When the butter is melted, add the onions and saute until translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic at the end for about 30-60 seconds, until fragrant.

ingredients for hashbrown casserole in a glass baking dish

prepping ingredients for hashbrown casserole

Prep the Cornstarch Mixture & Onions

Whisk in the creamy cornstarch mixture to the onions. Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly until thick and creamy, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the remaining 4 tablespoons butter, and let cool.

In a large mixing bowl, stir together the thawed hash browns, sour cream, cheese, bacon, and the cooled cream sauce.

ingredients for hashbrown casserole in a white bowl

Prepare for the Oven & Bake

Place in the casserole dish, smoothing it out evenly. Sprinkle a little more cheese on top (optional)…because why not?!…and bake until golden and bubbly.

How to Make Ahead and Freeze

Since this hash brown casserole is often made for a holiday meal or group of people, it can be helpful to assemble it ahead of time. Thankfully, this dish lends itself to prepping ahead without compromising the taste or texture at all!

A Few Days Ahead: Simply follow the recipe instructions below but do not bake it. Once your hash brown casserole is assembled, you can store it in the fridge for up to 3 days, until you’re ready to stick it in the oven.

A Few Weeks Ahead: Assemble the casserole but do not bake. Cover tightly with a few layers of plastic wrap and/or foil, squeezing out any air. Freeze. When ready to use it, thaw completely in the refrigerator and bake according to directions.

hashbrown casserole prepped as a freezer meal

What to Serve with Hash Brown Casserole

Looking for some ideas for what to serve with a hash brown casserole? Here are some pairing suggestions.

Crockpot Ham

Autumn Salad tossed with apple cider vinaigrette in a white bowl on a wooden cutting board.

Autumn Chopped Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette

Bread Machine Dinner Rolls

Easy Lemon Bars

FAQs

Can I make it a couple days ahead of time and keep in fridge until ready to bake?

Yes, this will work just fine. This recipe makes a great addition to Easter Lunch or Birthday Dinner because it can be prepped ahead.

Would it work if I cook this ahead and reheat the next day?

Yes, it would. Cover with foil and warm in the oven (at 350°?) just until warmed through. Or microwaving it might even work well if the dish is microwave safe and fits in there.

Can I use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth?

Absolutely. They will easily substitute for one another.

Your family and friends will enjoy this decadent holiday side dish. They’ll never know you made it days in advance and only spent minutes prepping it. Happy Easy Hash Brown Casserole making!

Photography by Whitney Reist of Sweet Cayenne.

Rachel Tiemeyer

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Rachel dreams about creating recipes (literally) and uses her husband, her 3 kids, and even the neighbors as guinea pigs several nights a week. She believes that good food has the power to bring families and friends closer together and continues to wake up excited about her job each day, even after 10+ years!