What Is Hash brown potatoes and How Can I Use It?

Wondering what to do with hash brown potatoes? This guide covers how to pick it, cook it, store it, and swap it, plus 84 recipes to put it to work.

What are hash brown potatoes?

Hash brown potatoes are potatoes shredded or finely diced, then fried until the outside crisps and browns. The name covers both the loose diner-style shreds and the small-cube version, and the goal is always the same: a deep golden crust over a tender inside.

They are a breakfast staple on their own and a workhorse in casseroles, where frozen shredded hash browns bind a whole bake together.

Getting Them Crisp

Squeeze the water out. This is the single step that separates crisp hash browns from a steamy gray mat. Shred raw potato, then wring it hard in a clean towel or press it in a sieve until it stops dripping. Wet potato steams instead of frying and will never brown.

Spread the shreds in a thin, even layer in a hot pan with a good amount of fat, oil or butter or both. Then leave them alone.

Pressing down helps the crust form, but flipping too early tears the crust before it sets. Wait for a deep golden edge before you flip, then crisp the second side.

A starchy russet is the best potato here. Its dry, high-starch flesh browns hard and crisps where a waxy potato stays soft and pale.

Frozen Versus Fresh

Frozen shredded hash browns are genuinely convenient and already blanched, but they carry surface moisture, so thaw and squeeze them dry before they hit the pan. Skip that and you steam them, same as wet fresh potato.

Frozen really earns its place in casseroles. Crack Potatoes, the various Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole copycats, and Awesome Breakfast Casserole For Two all start from a bag of frozen shreds, mixed with cheese and sour cream and baked until set.

Diced Versus Shredded

Shredded gives you the classic lacy, crisp-edged mat. Diced potatoes, sometimes sold as Southern-style or home fries, give bigger crisp faces and a chunkier bite.

Diced take a little longer in the pan and like a lid for the first few minutes, to cook through before you brown them.

Buying and Storing

Fresh: use firm russets and shred them just before cooking, because raw shredded potato browns gray fast once exposed to air. If you must hold it, submerge the shreds in cold water, then drain and squeeze very dry before frying.

Frozen hash browns keep for months in the freezer; keep them frozen until use and never refrigerate a thawed bag for later. Cooked hash browns are best fresh and hot, since they lose their crisp as they sit.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find hash brown potatoes: Hash brown potatoes are usually found in the frozen foods section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Hash brown potatoes are a member of the Vegetables and Vegetable Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

薯饼

British (UK) term

Hash brown potatoes

en français

pommes de terre rissolées

en español

el hash patatas marrones

How much do hash brown potatoes weigh?

Related

Vegetables and Vegetable Products

Recipes using hash brown potatoes

There are 84 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Breakfast Burritos Anytime

Breakfast burritos loaded with crispy hash browns, scrambled eggs and bulk sausage rolled into warm flour tortillas, ready in 30 minutes. Serve with salsa for an anytime meal that holds up beyond the morning.

Cracker Barrel's Hashbrown Casserole with Corn Flakes

A creamy, cheesy hashbrown casserole inspired by Cracker Barrel, topped with a crunchy cornflake crust. Perfect for brunch or as a comforting side dish.

Mom's Hash Brown Potato Casserole

My mother's famous hash brown potato casserole. Easy to make one dish casserole that creamy and delicious comfort food.

Awesome Breakfast Casserole For Two

A scrumptious hash brown breakfast casserole with sausage (or bacon) that’s perfectly sized for two servings.

'Cracker Barrel' Hashbrown Casserole with French Onion Topping

Cheesy and potato-y goodness: hash brown potatoes in a creamy sauce topped with crispy French fried onions.

Crack Potatoes

Crack potatoes, a loaded hash brown casserole baked with sour cream, sharp cheddar, real bacon, and ranch seasoning until bubbly and golden. The cheesy, addictive potluck side everyone fights over.

Farmer's Breakfast

Farmer's breakfast is a hearty all-in-one: hash brown potatoes, ham, green onion and eggs cooked together in a single dish in the microwave. A filling, no-skillet breakfast on the table in about 25 minutes.

Morning Mix-Up

Morning mix-up breakfast skillet with frozen hash browns, ham, eggs, and cheddar cheese all cooked in one pan. A hearty, satisfying scramble ready in 20 minutes.

Bread Shell Breakfast Pizza

The crust is a filled Italian bread shell loaded with tasty "toppings". Hearty and vegetarian!

Favourite Brunch Hash Brown Quiche

Hash brown crust quiche with diced ham, sharp cheddar, and green pepper in a creamy egg filling. A gluten-free brunch quiche where crispy potatoes replace traditional pastry crust for a heartier morning bake.

Saucy Potatoes

Saucy Potatoes: frozen hash browns, stewed tomatoes, and Velveeta cooked in the microwave in 20 minutes flat. A simple 3-ingredient cheesy potato side dish that works for breakfast or dinner.

Ranch Style Brunch Eggs

Ranch style brunch eggs with crispy bacon, hash brown potatoes, and cheddar cheese baked in individual dishes. A layered breakfast bake where crispy potatoes meet a fluffy egg custard.

Jean Hardin's Potatoes

Jean Hardin's potatoes are the classic funeral potatoes casserole: hash browns, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, and onion, topped with buttered corn flake crumbs. Pure Midwest potluck comfort.

Mexican Potato Omelet

Simple and tasty omelet, nice breakfast selection.

Vegan Breakfast Tortillas

Vegan breakfast burritos with crispy hash browns, brown rice, salsa, scallions, and corn rolled in whole wheat tortillas. Six ingredients, no eggs, no oil, ready in 25 minutes.

Hashbrown Sidedish

Hashbrown casserole with frozen hash browns, sour cream, cheddar cheese, and cream of chicken soup topped with buttery corn flake crumbs. A classic potluck side dish baked for an hour.

Oven Easy Turkey & Potato Dinner

One-dish turkey and potato casserole with a hash brown crust, brown gravy, mixed vegetables, and melted cheddar. A smart way to use leftover turkey for a fast weeknight dinner.

Potatoes & Eggs

Microwave potatoes and eggs, a one-bowl breakfast with hash browns, turkey bacon, eggs, melted cheddar, and salsa. Ready in 10 minutes for a fast protein-packed morning.

Sour Cream Potatoes

Sour cream potato casserole with frozen hash browns, cheddar cheese, cream of chicken soup, and a crunchy buttered cornflake topping. The classic funeral potatoes everyone fights over.

Italian Herbed Potatoes

Italian herbed potatoes made in the microwave with frozen hash browns, green onions, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan cheese. A 20-minute side dish with herb-butter flavor and zero oven time.

Creamy Hash Brown Bake

Frozen hash browns baked in a cream of celery and cream cheese sauce with onions, topped with melted sharp American cheese. Six ingredients, hands-off baking, total crowd-pleaser.

Quick Potato Casserole

Need a quick recipe? Try this one and your family will not be disappointed by this hearty dish.

Rosemary Hash Browns with Scrambled Eggs

Rosemary hash browns with soft scrambled eggs make a diner-style breakfast plate, with golden potatoes scented with rosemary and onion alongside creamy, just-set eggs. A hearty morning from one skillet.

Confetti Scalloped Potatoes

Cheesy scalloped potatoes with hash browns, cream of mushroom soup, peppers, and pimentos, topped with crunchy cheese cracker crumbs. One-dish comfort at its finest.

Lisas Hash Brown Quiche

Hash brown crust quiche with shredded potatoes pressed into a crispy shell, filled with ham, cheddar cheese, and a creamy egg custard. Gluten-free and perfect for brunch.

Skinny Countdown Casserole

Light turkey hash brown casserole with corn, bell peppers, skim milk, and fat-free cheddar. A leaner take on classic comfort casserole that doesn't sacrifice flavor.

Awesome Hash Brown Quiche

Hash brown quiche with a crispy shredded-potato crust, no pastry needed, loaded with diced ham and three melty cheeses in a soft egg custard. A naturally gluten-free brunch centerpiece.

Armstrong Olive Quiche

Olive quiche with a hash brown potato crust, two cheeses, green chilies, and spicy olives. Gluten-free and hearty with a crispy golden potato shell instead of pastry.

Hash Brown Breakfast Quiche

Breakfast quiche with a crispy hash brown crust filled with ham, sharp cheddar, green peppers, and eggs in a creamy chicken soup base. No pastry crust needed.

Ziploc Omelets

Great for camping trips!! or just weekend fun with the kids!!

Hashbrown Picante Quiche

Hashbrown picante quiche made in the microwave in just 5 minutes. Loaded with hash browns, two cheeses, sausage, and picante sauce for a spicy, crustless breakfast.

Broccoli-Cheddar Chowder

Thick, freezer-friendly broccoli cheddar chowder loaded with hash browns, corn, and pimientos. Mix it up, freeze it, then reheat for a cozy weeknight bowl.

Mexican Hash

Mexican hash with seasoned ground beef over crispy hash browns, topped with sliced tomatoes and melted cheese. A quick, spiced skillet dinner broiled until bubbly and golden.

Vegetable Ham Hash

Browned diced ham and hash brown potatoes tossed with mixed vegetables in a quick skillet hash. Five ingredients, 30 minutes, and supper's on the table.

Spanish Burgers with Manchego & Chorizo Hash Browns

Juicy ground sirloin burgers seasoned with smoked paprika and garlic, topped with melted Manchego and roasted red pepper paste. Served alongside crispy chorizo hash browns.

Sicilian Potato Bake(Hash Browns & Mozzarella)

Layered hash brown casserole with sliced tomatoes, onions, and stretchy mozzarella, seasoned with oregano and beau monde. A Sicilian-style breakfast bake or hearty side dish.

Overnight Hashed Brown Potatoe Casserole

Overnight hash brown casserole with frozen potatoes, sour cream, cream of mushroom soup, and cheddar cheese. Assemble the night before and bake for a hands-off brunch side.

Crustless Potato Quiche

Hearty crustless quiche with hash brown potatoes, cheddar, cottage cheese, and crispy turkey bacon. Ten minutes to prep and it feeds six hungry people.

Hash-brown Suprise

Cheesy hash brown casserole baked until golden, made creamy with sour cream, cream of mushroom soup, and plenty of sharp cheddar. A potluck and holiday-table favorite that feeds a hungry crowd.

Barbecued Chicken Hash

Smoky chicken hash baked in a cast-iron skillet with hash brown potatoes, BBQ sauce, cumin, and chili powder, topped with melted sharp cheddar and jalapeno. A hearty one-skillet meal in 30 minutes.

Hearty Breakfast Pizza

Crescent rolls, sausage, hashbrowns, cheese and eggs make this an easy yet hearty breakfast.

Potato 'N Ham Bake

Quick potato and ham bake with a Bisquick crust, hash brown potatoes, cream of mushroom soup, smoked ham, peas and carrots, and melted cheddar. One pan, 40 minutes, dinner done.

Hash-Brown Quiche

Hash brown crust quiche with ham, pepper jack, gouda, and a half-and-half custard. The crispy potato crust ditches pastry entirely. Brunch crowd-pleaser, breakfast-for-dinner all-star.

Au Gratin Potatoes

Loaded au gratin potatoes with hash browns, cheddar cheese, sour cream, green chiles, and a crunchy cornflake topping. The ultimate cheesy potato casserole for potlucks and holidays.

Chicken'N Hash Brown Bake

Diced chicken and mushrooms layered over hash brown potatoes, smothered in a sour cream and chicken soup sauce, topped with almonds. A hearty one-pan bake.

Sausage Tortilla Roll Ups

Sausage tortilla roll-ups stuff a warm flour tortilla with browned bulk sausage, scrambled eggs, hash browns, jalapeño, and two cheeses. A handheld breakfast burrito built for hungry mornings or tailgate spreads.

Country Breakfast Pie

Browned sausage, hash brown potatoes, bell peppers, and sharp cheddar baked in a flaky pie crust with a savory egg custard. The ultimate make-ahead brunch for 6.

French Potato Pancakes

French-style potato pancakes with diced cooked turkey, scallions, chervil, ripe olives, and Dijon mustard. Crisp-edged hash brown cakes that turn leftovers into dinner.

Potato, Egg, & Hominy Breakfast

Potato, egg, and hominy breakfast skillet: hash browns, Rotel tomatoes, hominy, and scrambled egg substitute, seasoned with chili powder and cumin. One-pan Tex-Mex breakfast.

Breakfast Bake

Breakfast bake: savory sausage, hash browns, peppers, and cheese in an egg and biscuit-mix batter, baked into one hearty casserole. A make-ahead crowd-pleaser for brunch.

All 84 recipes