Loaded Ham & Cheese Hash Brown Casserole

Creamy, cheesy, and delicious -- What more can you ask for in a comfort food breakfast casserole? Loaded with chopped ham, hash brown potatoes, melty cheese, and fabulous flavor, Ham & Cheese Hash Brown Casserole is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or even as a side or main dish for dinner.

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Want a rock star comfort-food breakfast casserole? Or how about a super tasty new way to enjoy that leftover ham? Then give loaded Ham & Cheese Hash Brown Casserole a try. Because loaded with chopped ham, hash brown potatoes, melty cheese, and fabulous flavor, Ham & Cheese Hash Brown Casserole is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or even as a side or main dish for dinner.

This hearty breakfast casserole is an amped-up riff on the classic cheesy hash brown casserole we lovingly refer to as simply "cheesy potatoes." Using that recipe's cheesy potato mix as a base, Ham & Cheese Hash Brown Casserole adds in a hefty dose of chopped ham, some red bell pepper, and even more cheese. And it's a combination that's simply loaded with fabulous flavor.

Besides loving its cheesy deliciousness, we also love how easy Ham & Cheese Hash Brown Casserole is to make. Truly, a little chopping, a little stirring, and some bake time in the oven is all it takes. -- Which makes this comfort food dish one that's beloved by both the maker and the enjoyers, alike.

Creamy, cheesy, and delicious -- What more can you ask for in a comfort food breakfast casserole?

What's to Love About This Recipe?

• Loaded with flavor - With its mix of ham, sharp cheddar, and hash brown potatoes seasoned with chopped onion, red bell pepper, and a creamy sauce, this dish is loaded with fabulous flavor.
• Creamy & cheesy - A generous dose of melty cheese along with a tasty mix of sour cream and cream of chicken soup make this one creamy cheesy comfort food casserole, for sure.
• Can be a side dish or a main - Serve this up as a hearty side, or as a breakfast, brunch, or dinner main dish.
• Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dinner - This casserole's ham & cheese deliciousness can work for any meal!
• Easy to make - A little chopping, stirring, and baking is all it takes to prepare this cheesy hash brown delight.

Ham & Cheese Hash Brown Casserole Ingredient Notes:

Here are a few ingredient highlights to note:

• Shredded Hash Browns - Packaged shredded hash brown potatoes create the foundation of this casserole. You can find shredded hash browns in the freezer section of the grocery store, or sometimes in the refrigerated section near the eggs. Diced hash brown potatoes, also located in the freezer section, can be used instead of shredded, if you'd like.

• Ham - Any chopped fully-cooked ham works, whether that's baked ham leftovers, a portion of a ham steak, or thick slices from the deli. Just be sure to avoid strong sweet flavors from a glaze that could be off-putting in the finished dish.

• Shredded sharp cheddar cheese - We recommend shredding your own cheddar from a block (rather than using pre-shredded packaged cheese) for the creamiest, cheesiest result.

How to Make Ham & Cheese Hash Brown Casserole:

All in all, this loaded Ham & Cheese Hash Brown Casserole is pretty easy to make. A little chopping, a little stirring, and some bake time in the oven is all it takes.

Get started by stirring together some thawed hash brown potatoes with chopped ham, onion, diced red bell pepper, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, melted butter, salt, and a little pepper until they're all well combined.

Then stir in a couple of cups of shredded sharp cheddar cheese.

Spoon the mixture into a 9x13-inch baking dish, and top it all with some more shredded cheddar.

Pop the casserole in the oven and bake it up until everything's hot and bubbly, and the cheese is nice and melty. -- Which takes about 45-50 minutes.

Then you're ready to dig into the deliciousness! 

Because loaded with chopped ham, hash brown potatoes, melty cheese, and fabulous flavor, Ham & Cheese Hash Brown Casserole is one creamy comfort dish that's sure to be loved by all.

Recipe FAQs:

• What do you mean by "hash browns" as an ingredient in hash brown casserole, and where do I find them in the grocery store? - Hash browns are packaged shredded potatoes that create the foundation of this casserole. You can find shredded hash browns in the freezer section of the grocery store, or sometimes in the refrigerated section near the eggs.

• Do you thaw hash browns to use them in a casserole? - Yes, hash browns should be thawed to use them in a casserole. Thawing before mixing them with the other casserole ingredients ensures the hash browns get cooked all the way through when the casserole is baked.

• Can I use diced hash brown potatoes instead of shredded? - Yes, thawed frozen diced hash brown potatoes can be used instead of shredded if you'd like, and work totally fine in this recipe.

• Can Loaded Ham & Cheese Hash Brown Casserole be made in advance? - Yes, you can make Ham & Cheese Hash Brown Casserole in advance. Prepare the casserole a day ahead, cover and refrigerate, and bake it the next day. You may just need to increase the baking time by about 15-20 minutes to account for the casserole being chilled from the fridge.

• Can you freeze Ham & Cheese Hash Brown Casserole? - Yes, you can freeze Ham & Cheese Hash Brown Casserole after assembling it or after baking. If freezing after assembling (without baking it), thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then bake according to the recipe directions, adding a few minutes to the baking time if needed. If freezing after the casserole has been baked, thaw and reheat when you're ready to enjoy. -- It reheats very well in individual portions in the microwave.

Check out these other super tasty breakfast casserole recipes:

• Overnight Sausage, Egg & Hash Brown Casserole
• Easy Cheesy Potatoes
• Crescent Sausage & Egg Casserole
• Ham & Cheese Breakfast Casserole with Spinach
• Italian Egg Casserole
• Savory Breakfast Bread Pudding
• More main dish recipes

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hash brown casserole, ham and hash brown casserole, ham and cheese hash brown casserole, leftover ham hash brown casserole

main dishes

American

Yield: about 10-12 servings

Author: Tracey | The Kitchen is My Playground

Loaded Ham & Cheese Hash Brown Casserole

Creamy, cheesy, and delicious -- What more can you ask for in a comfort food breakfast casserole? Loaded with chopped ham, hash brown potatoes, melty cheese, and fabulous flavor, Ham & Cheese Hash Brown Casserole is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or as a side or main dish for dinner.

Prep time: 20 MinCook time: 50 MinTotal time: 1 H & 10 M

Ingredients

• 1 (2 lb.) package frozen (or refrigerated) shredded hash browns, thawed & drained of any excess water
• 2 c. chopped fully cooked ham
• 1 c. finely chopped onion
• 1 c. diced red bell pepper
• 2 c. sour cream
• 1 (10.5 oz.) can cream of chicken soup
• 1/4 c. butter, melted
• 3 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 3 c. shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine thawed hash brown potatoes, ham, chopped onion, diced red bell pepper, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, melted butter, salt, and pepper. Stir together until well combined. Stir in 2 cups of the shredded cheddar cheese.
2. Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 9x13-inch baking dish.
3. Sprinkle top evenly with remaining 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese.
4. Bake at 350℉ for 45-50 minutes, until heated through and bubbly around the edges.

TRACEY'S NOTES:

1. Diced hash brown potatoes can be used in place of shredded, if you prefer.
2. If your ham is quite salty, consider reducing the salt to 2 teaspoons.

Similar Recipes

Overnight Sausage, Egg & Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole

Easy Cheesy Potatoes

Crescent Sausage & Egg Casserole

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