I cleaned up the sides a bit after I mixed the ingredients and packed them down into the dish, but if your goal is perfectly clean sides, I suggest mixing the casserole in a large mixing bowl. That way, I added not only moisture but also flavor, specifically chicken flavor, without adding condensed cream of chicken soup.Įven though you could mix everything in a large bowl and then pour it into a greased 9 x 13 casserole dish, I just decided to mix everything in the Pyrex. Even though it would probably have been fine as it was, I thought that the dish looked a bit dry, so I decided to add a couple tablespoons of homemade chicken broth that I had in the refrigerator. I then added two eggs for not only extra protein but also to help bind the casserole together.
I was not quite sure how much to use or how it would turn out in the final product, so I only used about 5 ounces however, looking back, I should have added 9 ounces since the smokiness of the ham combined very well with the other flavors. In order to bulk up the protein content, I added some smoked ham. I then added some extra spices for more flavor, as well as an 8 ounce block of cheese. With the combination of sour cream and onion soup mix in my hash brown casserole, I did not need canned soup. Onion soup mix is a secret of many Southern cooks, and I am no different: it is amazing how much flavor one little packet has. Sour cream is smooth, creamy, tangy, so it adds to both the flavor and textures of casseroles. My go-to combination in casseroles is sour cream and onion soup mix, so I decided to give that a try. Since I do not like canned condensed soup, I wanted to make a hash brown casserole recipe without soup. Hash Brown Casserole without Soup: Sour Cream and Onion Soup Mix I wanted to make my own version of Cracker Barrel’s hash brown casserole without soup, so I used a combination of sour cream and onion soup mix instead.Īfter cooking the shredded hash browns, I then started assembling the casserole. So, I suggest defrosting the frozen hash browns and then perhaps microwaving them for a minute or two, just to make sure that they are fully defrosted and cooked through a bit: microwaving something is a lot easier than standing over the stove and stirring it. Even though I did manage to get a bit of color on some of the shreds, it did not make a significant difference.
I was hoping that precooking the shredded potatoes would help to crisp them up a bit, but I soon realized that my pan was a bit overcrowded, the shredded potatoes steaming more than frying. First, I sautéed some onions and red bell pepper for a few minutes, then I added the shredded potatoes. I have no doubt it is very delicious, but since I like to cook without canned soup, I decided to create my own version.Īs with the original, my recipe starts with a bag of frozen hash browns however, I decided to cook mine a bit before assembling the casserole. Frozen hash browns such as Ore Ida, or any other brand, are defrosted and then added to a casserole dish with cream of chicken soup, cheese, and eggs. Although I have never tried it or made it personally, from my research it seems to be a fairly popular recipe. Like I said, this dish is based on the version served at Cracker Barrel restaurants. This recipe is very easy since it is uses frozen hash browns. If you want to learn how to make a breakfast casserole that is perfect for Christmas, Easter, Sunday, or any day, keep reading. Along with eggs, ham, and veggies added to the base of frozen hash browns, I created the one of the best breakfast casseroles. Based on the Cracker Barrel version, I make mine with sour cream but without soup. My hash brown casserole recipe is easy and delicious. Jump to recipe My hash brown casserole recipe with sour cream instead of canned soup is easy and delicious.