Slow Cooker Hash Brown Casserole

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 02/7/23
Serving of slow cooker hash brown casserole

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 4 hrs
Total: 4 hrs 10 mins
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Yield: 1 casserole
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
766 Calories
57g Fat
51g Carbs
17g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories 766
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 57g 73%
Saturated Fat 21g 105%
Cholesterol 90mg 30%
Sodium 1497mg 65%
Total Carbohydrate 51g 19%
Dietary Fiber 4g 15%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 17g
Vitamin C 9mg 45%
Calcium 444mg 34%
Iron 1mg 6%
Potassium 715mg 15%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This slow cooker hash brown casserole recipe is easy to make with frozen (thawed) hash brown potatoes, cheese, sour cream, and other ingredients. And the slow cooker makes for nearly hands-free preparation.

This is the perfect side for any meal but especially those "breakfast-for-dinner" meals. Just assemble the ingredients in the crock pot four hours before you plan to eat, and, by supper time, you have hash browns to go with your eggs and bacon or waffles and sausage.

Consider this dish for a brunch or buffet line because they will hold up well to the heat and won't dry out.

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided

  • 1/2 cup chopped onions

  • 2 cups sour cream

  • 1 (10.75-ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup

  • 3 cups shredded or cubed cheddar cheese, or American cheese

  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 30 to 40 ounces frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Butter the inside of a slow cooker insert with 1 tablespoon butter and set aside.

  3. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a skillet or saucepan over medium heat.

  4. Add the onions and cook, stirring, until they are translucent.

  5. In a large bowl, combine the cooked onions with the sour cream, condensed soup, shredded or cubed cheese, salt, and pepper; gently stir in potatoes.

  6. Spoon the potato mixture into the buttered slow cooker or crockpot.

  7. Cover and cook on high for 1 1/2 hours; turn to low and cook for 2 1/2 hours longer.

  8. Enjoy!

How to Thaw Frozen Hash Browns

Put the shredded potatoes in a microwave-safe baking dish in a single layer. Microwave on 100% power for about 30 seconds for each cup of shredded potatoes. Drain or pat dry with paper towels. Or empty the potatoes into a large pan or container and thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Pat dry with paper towels.

Variations

  • Add 1/2 cup of chopped red, green, or orange bell pepper to the skillet and cook along with the onions.
  • For the meat lovers, add 1 to 2 cups of diced ham, cooked and crumbled or sliced breakfast or Italian sausage, or well-drained cooked and crumbled bacon to the potato mixture.
  • Replace the condensed cream of mushroom soup with condensed cream of celery or condensed cream of chicken soup.
  • For Mexican flair, add cooked and crumbled chorizo sausage and 1 diced and seeded jalapeño pepper (leave the seeds in if you like heat). Replace the condensed cream of mushroom soup with condensed cheddar cheese soup and substitute half of the grated or shredded cheddar cheese with jack cheese.
  • Another option is to use 1 1/2 to 2 (20-ounce) packages of shredded refrigerated hash browns (like Simply Potatoes) and a combination of sharp cheddar cheese and processed cheese food (like Velveeta).