Kick off a festive day with this hearty and delicious ham and potato breakfast casserole! Fresh or frozen shredded hashbrowns are combined with eggs, cheese, ham, and sour cream for a rich and comforting dish (without soup!). Add more cheese and bake, and you’ve got a no-fail breakfast or brunch winner. The hash brown and egg casserole can even be made ahead as an easy overnight recipe. Try it for your next family gathering and I’m sure it will become a part of your holiday traditions.
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The Best Ham And Hash Browns Breakfast Casserole
The perfect make ahead breakfast casserole with hash browns and ham is here! And, just in time for the holidays. Because nothing brings everyone around the table for some morning cheer like a piping hot, super cheesy hashbrown potato casserole.
In fact, use up your leftover ham from our Crock Pot Ham recipe for an easy, delicious, post-holiday breakfast or brunch.
The casserole recipe is similar to our Easy Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole with sausage. However, this version includes cooked ham for even faster prep.
Combine the ingredients the night before and keep the casserole in the fridge; in the morning, preheat the oven while a pot of coffee is brewing. Then bake, and in less than an hour breakfast on Thanksgiving or Christmas morning is ready to serve…with barely any effort!
Every bite of this hash brown casserole is loaded with tender shredded potatoes, fluffy eggs, savory ham, and lots of cheese. It has a dreamy, creamy texture but is made without canned soup. Just wholesome kitchen staples and, of course, a dash of love and holiday magic.
This has been my go-to brunch recipe for years – so consider it a gift from my family to yours!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Shredded hash browns – You can use fresh or frozen hashbrowns. See notes below for tips on how to thaw.
- Cheese – we used shredded cheddar cheese for a classic flavor, but you can use Colby jack for a more melty texture.
- Ham – Precooked ham is great in this dish, however, you can use any type of cooked ham that you like.
- Sour cream – Use regular sour cream for a richer taste and texture. Substitute with Greek yogurt for a lighter option.
- Milk – Evaporated milk was used as it gives a richer texture. But, you can use half and half instead.
- Butter – melted butter is used to help bind the ingredients together. You can use olive oil instead. However, the flavor may be slightly different.
- Seasoning – We used All-purpose seasoning and pepper.
Kitchen Tools Needed
- Casserole dish or Cast iron skillet
- Baking sheet – for thawing hash browns
- Mixing bowl
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How to thaw frozen Shredded hash browns
I prefer to let the frozen hash browns defrost on a baking sheet. It takes about 30-60 minutes total.
If you’re in a hurry, you can place the frozen hash browns on a baking sheet. Bake then bake them at 170º Fahrenheit for about 15 minutes to thaw them quickly.
Of course, you can always thaw frozen hash brown potatoes right in their bag overnight in the refrigerator. Put a plate or container underneath the package of shredded potatoes baking while defrosting in the fridge to keep them from making a mess.
Tip: Do not rinse hash browns (fresh or frozen)! The potatoes will soak up the water and it will make your casserole soggy.
How to Make the Easiest Breakfast Casserole
- Preheat oven to 375° Fahrenheit.
- In a large bowl, mix together hash brown potatoes, eggs, 1/2 of the cheese, ham, sour cream, onions, milk, melted butter, and seasonings.
- Pour hash brown casserole ingredients into the prepared casserole dish and top with remaining shredded cheese.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until hot and bubbly and golden on top, and the edges of the breakfast casserole are puffy. Let cook for 10 minutes and serve!
Make Ahead Breakfast Casserole with Hash Browns
This recipe is the perfect overnight egg casserole with hash browns recipe! Prepare it the night ahead, pop it in the oven, then bake in the morning.
Just prepare the ham hashbrown breakfast casserole as directed in steps 2 and 3 of the recipe. Cover with plastic wrap or foil, and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Then follow baking directions and bake for 50 minutes.
Can you freeze hash brown casserole?
If you plan to make ahead this breakfast casserole and freeze it, I suggest you use a foil container: Not only is it freezer-safe, but the container can be safely used in the oven as well to reheat it.
To make ahead and freeze this hash brown breakfast casserole: Follow steps 2 and 3 of the recipe, using a freezer-safe container (I recommend using a foil container). Cover with a layer of aluminum foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Then bake from frozen (do not defrost) as directed, adding an extra 15 minutes of baking time or so until it’s heated throughout and the cheese is golden.
How to store leftover Breakfast Casserole with Hash Browns and Ham
Let the casserole cool completely and transfer it to a sealed container before placing it in the fridge.
Leftover cooked potato casserole will keep for up to 4 or 5 days in the refrigerator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Technically, you can keep uncooked, thawed hash browns in the fridge for up to 7 days. I recommend you only keep them in the fridge for no longer than 3 days for optimal taste and quality.
Sure! In order to keep the baking time the same, use separate casserole dishes to bake the hashrown breakfast casserole. If you use one large baking dish, allow at least 60-70 minutes of baking time and check the internal temperature to ensure it is 165ºF.
Get The Full Ham And Potato Breakfast Casserole Recipe
Breakfast Casserole with Hash Browns and Ham
Equipment
- large 9 x 13" casserole dish
Ingredients
- 30 ounces (1 bag) shredded hash browns, fresh or frozen (thawed) (I prefer Ore Ida frozen or Simply Potatoes fresh)
- 8 large eggs, beaten
- 2 cups cheddar cheese or Colby jack cheese, shredded
- 2 cups (about 8 ounces) precooked ham, diced
- 1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
- 1 cup onions, chopped (1 small onion)
- 1 cup evaporated milk or half-and-half
- ½ cup (1 stick) melted butter
- 1½ teaspoons all-purpose seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375° Fahrenheit.
- Prepare a 9"x13" casserole by spraying it with cooking oil spray. In a large bowl, mix together hash brown potatoes, eggs, 1/2 of the cheese, ham, sour cream, onions, milk, melted butter, and seasonings.
- Pour hash brown casserole ingredients into the prepared casserole dish and top with remaining shredded cheese.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until hot and bubbly and golden on top, and the edges of the breakfast casserole are puffy.