Amazing 5-Ingredient Cheesy Chicken Hash Brown Casserole

Name: Amazing 5-Ingredient Cheesy Chicken Hash Brown Casserole
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 20 ounces frozen shredded hash browns, thawed; 2 cups cooked diced chicken breast; 8 large eggs; 1 cup sour cream; 2 cups shredded Mexican blend or cheddar cheese, divided; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder or onion powder (optional); 1/4 cup chopped green onions or diced bell peppers (optional)

By anna Boncoeur On October 16, 2025

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

If you are looking for that perfect weeknight hero—something unbelievably satisfying that uses just five main ingredients—then you’ve found it! This Cheesy Chicken Hash Brown Casserole is about to become the star of your recipe rotation. Seriously, it’s creamy, it’s hearty, and it makes cleanup a breeze, which is exactly what I aim for.

Hi there, I’m Anna, and I’m passionate about showing busy home cooks like you that everyday meals can be both incredibly simple and genuinely joyful. Chicken is my go-to protein because it’s versatile, but I always look for ways to dress it up without spending an hour prepping. This casserole proves you don’t need a long ingredient list to achieve deep, comforting flavor.

We’re talking about a dish that works just as well for a hearty breakfast as it does for a quick, no-fuss dinner. Forget complicated steps; we are keeping things straightforward here. I promise that once you try this, you’ll see how easy it is to pull off a stunning, crowd-pleasing meal with minimal effort. Let’s get cooking!

Table Of content

Essential Ingredients for Cheesy Chicken Hash Brown Casserole

When you’re aiming for pure, delicious comfort food in under an hour, simplicity is key. This Cheesy Chicken Hash Brown Casserole relies on just a handful of core items, which means less time shopping and more time eating! We need to be precise with our measurements here, especially with the eggs and sour cream, because they create that creamy binder that holds everything together.

Gathering Your Core Components

For the heart of this casserole, you’ll need 20 ounces of frozen shredded hash browns—make sure they are thawed! Then, grab 2 cups of cooked chicken breast, diced up nicely. The liquid base is crucial: 8 large eggs whisked together with 1 cup of sour cream. For the cheese, we are using 2 cups total of a Mexican blend or sharp cheddar. Don’t forget the basic seasoning: 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper. That’s the foundation!

Optional Flavor Boosters for Your Cheesy Chicken Hash Brown Casserole

While the five main ingredients make this an amazing Cheesy Chicken Hash Brown Casserole, a few extras can really elevate things if you have them handy. I often toss in 1/4 cup of chopped green onions right into the mix for a little bite of freshness. If you don’t have fresh garlic powder on hand, you can skip it, but I think 1/4 teaspoon of the dried powder really wakes up the cheese flavor. You can also use onion powder instead if that’s what you have—it works just as well!

Equipment Needed for Perfect Baking

We aren’t using a ton of dishes for this, which is great for cleanup! You’ll definitely need a large mixing bowl to handle all those hash browns and the liquid base. Make sure you have a standard 9×9-inch casserole dish ready to go—that’s the perfect size for 8 servings. Also, grab a whisk for the eggs and sour cream, and don’t forget a spatula for gently folding everything together before it hits the oven!

Step-by-Step Instructions for Cheesy Chicken Hash Brown Casserole

This is where the magic happens, and trust me, it moves fast! Since we are aiming for that perfect texture in our Cheesy Chicken Hash Brown Casserole, timing the baking steps is really important. Don’t rush the resting time at the end; that little break lets the casserole firm up so you can slice it neatly.

Preparation and Initial Mixing

First things first: get that oven heating up to 375°F. While it warms, lightly grease your 9×9-inch dish. You want a good, non-stick surface so nothing sticks! Now, grab your big mixing bowl. Whisk those 8 eggs vigorously with 1 cup of sour cream until the mixture is completely smooth—I mean totally uniform, no streaks of white left. Add your salt, pepper, and any optional powders right into this liquid base now so they distribute evenly.

Assembling the Cheesy Chicken Hash Brown Casserole Layers

Time to layer! Gently toss the thawed hash browns, the 2 cups of diced, cooked chicken, and 1 1/4 cups of your shredded cheese right into the baking dish. Use a spatula to mix everything gently. You don’t want to smash the potatoes! Once that’s evenly distributed, pour that lovely egg and sour cream mixture right over the top, making sure it seeps down into all the nooks and crannies. Finally, sprinkle the remaining 3/4 cup of cheese right on top for that beautiful crust later.

Baking for Golden Perfection

Cover your dish securely with aluminum foil—this steams the inside and cooks everything through without burning the top too fast. Bake it covered for 35 minutes. Then, pull the foil off and let it bake uncovered for another 15 to 20 minutes. This is when it gets that gorgeous, golden-brown top. Safety check time: you *must* make sure the internal temperature hits 165°F (74°C) if you used raw chicken, or at least that the center feels really firm when you gently nudge it. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving warm!

Tips for Making the Best Cheesy Chicken Hash Brown Casserole

This Cheesy Chicken Hash Brown Casserole is so simple, but a couple of little tricks I learned the hard way can really take it from good to absolutely phenomenal. If you are worried about the texture of the hash browns being a bit too soft, don’t stress! We have simple fixes for that, and we always need to talk safety, especially when dealing with chicken.

Remember, since this recipe calls for cooked chicken, it’s already halfway there, but if you decide to start with raw chicken breast, you must cook it separately first. Trust me on this: use a meat thermometer! The safe internal temperature for chicken is 165°F (74°C). If you skip that step, you’re just asking for trouble down the road.

Achieving Optimal Texture and Crispness

If you love that little bit of crispness around the edges—that satisfying crunch that makes hash browns so good—I have a secret weapon. Right after you thaw your hash browns, don’t just toss them in the bowl! Take a big skillet, put a little oil in it over medium heat, and actually cook those thawed shreds for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. You just want to dry them out a bit and give them some color. Once they look slightly golden, then you fold them into your egg mixture. It makes a world of difference when the Cheesy Chicken Hash Brown Casserole comes out of the oven; you get that creamy middle with crisp edges. It’s the best of both worlds!

Frequently Asked Questions About This Comfort Food Casserole

Can I make this Cheesy Chicken Hash Brown Casserole ahead of time?

Oh yes, absolutely! This is one of my favorite things about this recipe for busy mornings. You can assemble the entire Cheesy Chicken Hash Brown Casserole—everything up to the final sprinkle of cheese—the night before. Just cover it tightly with plastic wrap and stick it in the fridge. When you’re ready to bake it the next morning, pull it out about 30 minutes before you plan to put it in the oven just to take the chill off. You might need to add about 5 to 10 minutes to the covered baking time.

Ingredient Substitutions for Dietary Needs

Life happens, and sometimes we run out of one thing or need a slight swap. If you are out of sour cream, plain Greek yogurt works perfectly well, though it might make the casserole slightly tangier. For the cheese, feel free to use Monterey Jack or even just a simple sharp cheddar if you don’t have a Mexican blend on hand. The key is using about 2 cups total! If you need to cut dairy, you can try a dairy-free sour cream alternative, but you may lose a little bit of that signature richness.

How to know when the breakfast casserole is fully cooked?

The visual cues are great, but the thermometer is your best friend for safety. You’re looking for that beautiful, deep golden brown topping after you remove the foil. But the main thing, especially since we use chicken, is the internal temperature. Stick a reliable thermometer right into the center; it has to read 165°F (74°C). If you don’t have a thermometer, the center should feel completely set and firm when you gently touch it. If it jiggles like Jell-O, it needs more time! This ensures your breakfast casserole is safe and delicious.

Storing and Reheating Leftover Cheesy Chicken Hash Brown Casserole

Even though this Cheesy Chicken Hash Brown Casserole disappears fast, you might have leftovers, and that’s a great thing! It reheats beautifully, making it perfect for a quick lunch the next day. We want to keep that creamy texture intact, so following these simple steps ensures you get the best flavor the second time around.

Storage Guidelines

Once the casserole has cooled down completely—and I mean completely cool, don’t trap any steam!—you need to get it into an airtight container. You can store leftovers in the fridge for up to three days. If you want to freeze portions, wrap individual slices tightly in plastic wrap first, then slip them into a freezer-safe bag. They should be good for about a month frozen!

Reheating Instructions

Here is my quick reference guide for getting that cheesy goodness back to life:

Method	Instructions for Leftover Casserole
Microwave	Place a slice on a microwave-safe plate, cover loosely with a damp paper towel (this keeps it from drying out!), and heat in 30-second bursts until warmed through.
Oven	This is my preferred method for the best texture! Place the dish (or individual slices) in a 350°F oven. Cover with foil and heat for 15 minutes, then uncover for 5 minutes until the edges are sizzling.

Share Your Experience Making This Dish

I genuinely hope this recipe brings a little bit of easy joy to your kitchen rotation. If you tried out this amazing Cheesy Chicken Hash Brown Casserole, please let me know how it turned out! Drop a comment below telling me what you thought or if you added any great twists of your own. Seeing your finished dishes makes all the testing worth it! You can also check out more of my favorite quick meals on Pinterest.