Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole with Corn Flakes Topping

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Learn how to make hash brown casserole with Corn Flakes, filled with cheesy shredded potatoes and a crispy topping. This quick and easy side dish recipe is perfect for breakfast, family dinner, or a holiday spread. Feed a crowd and watch them go back for seconds!

Back in the day, I remember many a church potluck where someone would bring the most flavorful hash brown casserole ever. That potato casserole with Corn Flakes was always one of my favorite things about potlucks and special occasions!

Thumbing through my family cookbook, I realized my aunt added her family favorite recipe for cheesy hashbrown casserole. And let me tell you, this cheesy side dish brings back so many delicious memories.

Now some might call this cheesy funeral potatoes. My aunt calls it sour cream potatoes. I'm just calling it like it is… a cheesy hashbrown casserole recipe.

What You'll Love about This Side Dish

  • My goodness, how cheesy delicious these cheesy potatoes are.
  • And easy to make too, kinda like my favorite mashed potato bar!
  • I love using my slow cooker to make this casserole too. CrockPot funeral potatoes are the ultimate comfort food.
  • It's a great recipe for the perfect side dish. This crowd favorite cheesy potato casserole is perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and that one Easter side dish everyone will love! It's a family favorite for Sunday dinner and family gatherings.
cheesy hash brown potato casserole with Corn Flakes baked in a blue baking dish

What Is Hash Brown Casserole Made Of?

Hash brown casserole is a potato dish that's very cheesy and has delicious flavor, thanks in part to the sour cream. But it also has a mix of ingredients like soup, onion, and butter that give it tremendous flavor, as well.

It's a comforting side dish served at church potlucks, family gatherings, holiday dinners, and after-funeral luncheons too, hence the name funeral potatoes. Cracker Barrel even serves cheesy hashbrown potatoes on their menu.

Ingredients and Substitutions Notes:

You'll need a few simple ingredients to make this simple casserole…

  • Frozen Hash Browns – Be sure to thaw them beforehand; just follow the instructions on the packaging, and allow ample time for thawing. You can use shredded or cubed hash browns, but I highly recommend shredded for the texture they give the casserole.
  • Salted Butter
  • Salt and Black Pepper
  • Minced Garlic – You can either mince up garlic cloves or use already minced garlic found in most produce sections.
  • Cream of Chicken Soup – You can also use cream of mushroom soup if you prefer, but it will change the flavor just a bit.
  • Yellow Onion – While we prefer to use yellow onion for its less sweet flavor and to give a little kick to every bite, you can also use a sweet onion.
  • Sour Cream – I recommend whole sour cream rather than low fat. You can also substitute Greek yogurt instead.
  • Sharp Cheddar Cheese – I actually prefer to use extra sharp cheddar cheese for added flavor (and it's usually what I have on hand). Lots of cheese gives lots of flavor.
  • Corn Flakes – You can also substitute potato chips for the Corn Flake mixture.

How to Make Hash Brown Casserole with Corn Flakes

  1. In a large bowl, combine the hash browns, melted butter, salt, pepper, minced onion, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and shredded cheese.
  2. Spread the potato mixture in a greased 13×9 baking dish.
  3. In a smaller mixing bowl, mix together the slightly crushed Corn Flakes and melted butter.
  4. Sprinkle the buttery CornFlakes over the top of the casserole in the casserole dish.
steps for how to make cheesy hashbrown casserole by mixing ingredients in dish, spreading into baking dish, and topping with slightly crushed Corn Flakes
  1. Bake uncovered at 350° F for about 1 hour, 'til the casserole is golden brown.

And that's it! When it's done, this easy hash brown casserole is ready to serve while warm.

scoop of hash brown casserole in large spoon over blue baking dish

Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ's

How do you crush Corn Flakes?

To quickly crush the Corn Flakes, just put them in a quart sized plastic bag, and seal the bag, making sure there's no air left in it. Then just crush the cereal with your hands, or with a rolling pin. For this recipe, they just need to be slightly crushed, so no need to spend a lot of time on this.

How do you make this a gluten-free hash brown casserole?

Sadly, regular cream of chicken soup is NOT gluten-free. And you may want to watch which hash browns you use too, because some have a coating that makes them not gluten-free, as well. BUT there is hope for all of us gluten-free peeps. There are gluten-free hash browns; just read the labels on the packaging before purchasing. AND there are options for gluten-free cream of chicken soup, as well. So you can make this a gluten-free hash brown casserole if needed.

How do you store leftover casserole; and can hash brown casserole be made ahead?

Yes, you can make this casserole the night before, the day before, etc. You can even freeze hash brown casserole. Just be sure to store leftover casserole in an airtight container so it doesn't get freezer burn.

Why is my hash brown casserole watery?

The answer is that you likely didn't thaw the hash browns beforehand. This is why it's so important to allow adequate time for thawing before mixing and baking.

serving of hash brown casserole with Corn Flakes on white plate with fork

What Goes with Corn Flake Casserole?

Potato casserole with Corn Flakes pairs well with these delicious side dish recipes:

funeral potatoes in blue baking dish with large serving spoon

More Potato Recipes You May Enjoy:

If you love this Corn Flake casserole, you'll love these side dishes too…

Join the Friendsgiving Virtual Potluck!

I've joined up with a bunch of blogger friends for a Friendsgiving Virtual Potluck! Be sure to check out the recipes below for wonderful Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving recipe and craft ideas!

Appetizers
Baked Brie with Honey & Walnuts from Kelley of Mountain Mama Cooks
Reindeer Bacon Cheddar Cheese Ball from Julie of Julie Blanner

Salads
Sauteed Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad with Cranberries and Walnuts from Shashi of Savory Spin
Creamy Brussels Sprouts Salad from Faith of An Edible Mosaic

Main Dishes
Savory Vegetable Crisp from Bree of Baked Bree
Turkey Pot Pie from Kelly of Eat Picks

Side Dishes
Fried Brussels Sprouts from Erin of The Almond Eater
Cheesy Horseradish Mashed Potato Casserole from Renee of Kudos Kitchen by Renee
Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip from April of April Golightly
Cornbread Stuffing with Chorizo from Isabel of Isabel Eats
Bacon Brussels Sprouts from Kara of Kara J. Miller
Crockpot Sweet Potato Casserole from Jennifer of Show Me the Yummy
Amazing Gluten Free Thanksgiving Stuffing from Sommer of A Spicy Perspective
Pumpkin Caramelized Onion Gratin from Denise of Chez Us
Crockpot Mac & Cheese from Leanette Fernandez of Funtastic Life
Cheesy Brussels Sprouts au Gratin from Rachel Gurk of Rachel Cooks

Drinks
Spiced Pumpkin Margarita from Sharon of Cupcakes and Cutlery

Breads
Sourdough Pull Apart Rolls from Erica of Buttered Side Up
How to Make Homemade Butterhorn Rolls from Mel of Flour on My Fingers
Sweet Dinner Rolls from Jocelyn of Grandbaby Cakes
Parker House Rolls from Irvin of Eat the Love

Desserts
Sugar Pie from Julie of The Little Kitchen
Oatmeal Apple Crisp from Julie of Peanut Butter Fingers
Pumpkin Pie Milkshake from Eden of Sugar and Charm
Strudel Pastry from Justine of The Typical Mom
Tahini Hawaij Pumpkin Pie from Amy of What Jew Wanna Eat
Turkey Cookies from Meaghan of The Decorated Cookie
Mini Apple Pie Bites from Lynsey of MoscatoMom
Kabocha squash pie from Hilah of hilahcooking
Pecan Pie Cupcakes from Courtney of Pizzazzerie
Coconut Cream Pie from Schnelle of Brooklyn Active Mama
Chocolate chip cheesecake from Jeannette of Hispana Global
Chocolate Pecan Pie from Kate of I Heart Eating
Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes from Chelsea of Someday I'll Learn
Turkey Donut Race Cars For Thanksgiving Treats from Theresa of Chewable Structures

Crafts and Centerpieces
Cinnamon Stick Holiday Candle Place Setting from Alli of Made with HAPPY
Metallic Pumpkin Luminaries from Amy of As The Bunny Hops
Easy centerpiece that will stun + party favor from Noelle of Oh Happy Play

If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. And subscribe to my email list too!

large spoonful of cheesy hash brown casserole with Corn Flakes above blue baking dish

Hash Brown Casserole with Corn Flakes

How to make hash brown casserole with Corn Flakes, filled with cheesy shredded potatoes and a crispy topping. Quick and easy side dish recipe.
4.70 from 59 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 12
Calories: 525kcal
Author: Mel Lockcuff

Ingredients

  • 30 ounces frozen hash browns thawed
  • 1/2 cup salted butter melted
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 cup yellow onion minced
  • 10.5 ounces cream of chicken soup
  • 1 pint sour cream
  • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese

Corn Flake Topping:

  • 2 cups Corn Flakes slightly crushed
  • 1/4 cup salted butter melted

Instructions

  • Pre-heat the oven to 350° F.
  • In a large bowl, combine the hash browns, melted butter, salt, pepper, minced garlic and onion, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and shredded cheese.
  • Spread the potato mixture in a greased 9×13 baking dish.
  • In a smaller mixing bowl, mix together the slightly crushed Corn Flakes and melted butter.
  • Sprinkle the buttery Corn Flakes over the top of the casserole in the casserole dish.
  • Bake uncovered at 350° F for about 1 hour, 'til the casserole is golden brown.
  • Serve while warm.

Notes

*I prefer to use extra sharp cheddar for added flavor, but sharp is fine, as well.
*To quickly crush the Corn Flakes, just put them in a quart sized plastic bag, and seal the bag, making sure there’s no air left in it. Then just crush the cereal with your hands, or with a rolling pin.
You can make this a gluten-free hash brown casserole by using gluten-free hash browns (watch the packaging) and a gluten-free cream of chicken soup.
You can make ahead and freeze hash brown casserole. Just be sure to store it in an airtight container so it doesn’t get freezer burn.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 525kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 41g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 91mg | Sodium: 741mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g
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33 thoughts on “Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole with Corn Flakes Topping”

  1. 5 stars
    I have been making this recipe for years, it is one of my favorite potato sides. For myself I prefer a milder cheese like Colby or mild Cheddar. I also prefer to omit the cornflake topping, I add some extra cheese the last few minutes of baking for some extra cheesy goodness. I cannot have garlic as it conflicts with a medication so the onions are plenty to add flavor. I just happened upon your delightful recipes today and will be following up on your adventures. I love collecting a variety of vintage items as well. As for books, they are as necessary to me as food, water and the air I breathe. Books feed the mind as well as the heart and soul.

    Reply
    • That sounds delicious, Cheryl! The great thing about this recipe is that it is so versatile….It’s not at all hard to change out a few ingredients to fit your preference. I love just about anything vintage.

      Reply
  2. I used to make this when my son was just two or three years old now he’s 40 and I’ve been looking for this and I really don’t think the one at Cracker Barrel holds up to it. Thank you so much.! it is the best!
    Jaime

    Reply

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