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Cheesy Slow Cooker Hash Brown Casserole

Hash brown casserole makes such a nice dish for breakfast or brunch. This make-ahead version is also great for bringing to a potluck. It’s a go-to for our family for Christmas morning or nice Sunday brunches. 

This easy breakfast casserole is nice and cheesy. In our house, if there are any leftovers, everyone tries to be the first one to the fridge the next morning to finish them up. That’s really the sign of a great recipe!clear bag filled with cubed hash browns on top image. Cheesy hash browns on white plate topped with ketchup at bottom. Text reads "Hash Brown Casserole freezer meal" #freezermeals101 #hashbrowncasserole #freezercasserole #makeahead I love a good make-ahead breakfast dish. Make a complete brunch with scrambled egg bites, French toast casserole, this potato side dish, and a fruit platter.

Hashbrown casserole is also sometimes called party potatoes (because it’s perfect for a crowd) or funeral potatoes (because this comfort food is often given to families who’ve lost a loved one). 

Can you freeze hash brown casserole?

You can absolutely make hash brown casserole ahead of time and freeze it. In fact, that’s the way I make mine most of the time. You can freeze it before you bake it or after. I find it is best when you make it without baking, freeze it, and then cook it fresh on the day you want to serve it. 

This recipe freezes beautifully. While potatoes don’t always freeze and reheat well, you can use pre-frozen potatoes such as frozen hash browns without issue.plate of bacon, scrambled eggs, and ketchup topped hash browns

How to Make Hash Brown Casserole:

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 10.5 oz. can cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 1 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • pepper to taste
  • 1 kg bag frozen hash browns (you can use cubed or shredded, but I prefer cubed)

Assembly instructions:

  1. Melt butter in the microwave or a stovetop pot. 
  2. While butter is melting, chop the onion.
  3. Mix everything together in a giant bowl starting with the butter and mushroom soup.
  4. Dump it in a large resealable freezer bag.
  5. Remove the excess air.
  6. Seal.
  7. Freeze.

collage of photos showing making freezer to oven hash brown casseroleOven Cooking instructions:

  1. Thaw.
  2. Bake at 350° in a greased casserole dish for an hour. 

Top it with ketchup, salsa, or hot sauce if you want. 

Crock Pot Cooking instructions:

  1. Thaw.
  2. Dump bag contents into your slow cooker and cook on low for 3-5 hours.

Note that because of the potatoes and cheese, this casserole tends to stick to the crockpot, so I often use a Slow Cooker Liner when I make this dish.

If desired, you can serve with ketchup, salsa, or hot sauce.plate of hash browns topped with ketchup. A bowl of strawberries are nearby.

Recipe Variations:

  • Brown Italian sausage or breakfast sausage and stir it in to add protein and flavor. This is one of our favorite versions. When I add sausage to mine, I also add a can of evaporated milk so that it’s not at all dry. 
  • Change the type of cheese used. Sharp cheddar, jalapeño jack, or a tex mex blend are all nice options. 
  • Add cubed ham or crumbled bacon.
  • Stir in some vegetables such as diced red or green peppers, jalapeños, or diced green chilies. 
  • Top it with a mixture of butter and breadcrumbs or Cornflakes on the day of cooking. 

Find make-ahead breakfast recipes, shopping lists, and printable labels in our Breakfast Freezer Meal Plan.

Hash Brown Casserole
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
1 hr
 
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: casserole, hash brown
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 622 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter melted
  • 10.5 oz. can Campbell's cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 1 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • pepper to taste
  • 1 kg bag frozen hash browns
Instructions
Assembly instructions:
  1. Melt butter.
  2. Chop onion.

  3. Mix everything together in a giant bowl starting with the butter and mushroom soup.

  4. Dump it in a large resealable freezer bag.

  5. Remove the excess air.
  6. Seal.
  7. Freeze.
Oven Cooking instructions:
  1. Thaw.
  2. Bake at 350° in a casserole dish for an hour.

Crock Pot Cooking instructions:
  1. Thaw.
  2. Dump bag contents into your slow cooker and cook on low for 3-5 hours.

Recipe Notes

Serve with ketchup, salsa, or hot sauce if you want.

Some of our other freezer cooking breakfast recipes: