Meaty Hash Brown Potato Casserole

By
Linda Larsen
Linda Larsen
Linda Larsen is a journalist, quick-cooking and slow-cooking expert, and accomplished cookbook author with over 30 years of experience in testing and developing recipes.
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Updated on 12/21/20
Meaty Hash Brown Potato Casserole

The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 75 mins
Total: 80 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
713 Calories
53g Fat
37g Carbs
25g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 713
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 53g 68%
Saturated Fat 19g 97%
Cholesterol 114mg 38%
Sodium 1417mg 62%
Total Carbohydrate 37g 13%
Dietary Fiber 5g 17%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 25g
Vitamin C 5mg 26%
Calcium 358mg 28%
Iron 3mg 14%
Potassium 717mg 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 simple recipe for a meaty hash brown potato casserole is comfort in a dish, and perfect for a cold night's dinner. With just five ingredients, it comes together quickly–especially since the hash browns and meatballs are straight from the freezer. Sour cream, cheese sauce, and shredded Colby make for a rich, creamy sauce that is combined with the hash browns and then topped with the meatballs. The casserole is baked until bubbling and golden.

Serve with this dish with a green salad or a fruit salad, and perhaps some toasted garlic bread for an easy dinner. A balsamic tomato salad would also complement this casserole nicely, as would a simple spinach and strawberry salad.

Ingredients

  • 1 (24-ounce) package frozen shredded hash brown potatoes (thawed)

  • 1 (8-ounce) container sour cream

  • 1 (10-​ounce) jar cheddar cheese pasta sauce or cream of potato soup

  • 2 teaspoons dried chives

  • 2 cups shredded Colby cheese (divided)

  • 24 frozen precooked meatballs

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Meaty Hash Brown Potato Casserole ingredients

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  2. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Spray a 13 by 9-inch glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

    greased baking dish

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  3. Combine the potatoes, sour cream, sauce or soup, dried chives, and 1 1/2 cups of the Colby cheese in the prepared baking dish.

    potatoes, sour cream, dried chives, and Colby cheese in a casserole dish

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  4. Mix until combined and well blended.

    potato hash mixture in a casserole dish

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  5. Top with the frozen meatballs.

    potato hash mixture topped with frozen meatballs

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  6. Cover the casserole with foil and bake for 40 minutes.

    casserole dish covered with aluminum foil

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  7. Uncover the casserole and bake for 25 to 35 minutes longer, or until the casserole is bubbly and the meatballs are crisp on top.

    baked Meaty Hash Brown Potato Casserole

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

  8. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup cheese and bake for 5 to 10 minutes longer, or until the cheese is melted.

    Meaty Hash Brown Potato Casserole

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

Tips

  • To thaw the potatoes, simply leave them in the fridge overnight before you want to make the casserole.
  • You can prepare this casserole ahead of time, cover with aluminum foil, and store in the refrigerator for up to three days. Then bake as usual. If you prefer, wait to add the meatballs until you are ready to put the casserole in the oven.


Recipe Variations

  • Feel free to add a vegetable to the casserole to make a one-dish-meal. Frozen baby peas, green beans, or broccoli would be good additions.
  • If you would like to make your own meatballs, you can simply brown them in a skillet before placing them on top of the casserole.
  • Change up the cheese if you prefer another flavor. Cheddar, Swiss, Monterey Jack, or even Havarti would be delicious in this recipe.
  • Turn this into a breakfast casserole by swapping out the meatballs for breakfast sausage. Cut links or patties into pieces and place them on top of the cheesy potato mixture.