Ingredients
Scale
Potato Base
- 32 oz frozen hash brown potatoes (shredded)
Cheese Sauce
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 4 tbsp butter, melted
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Topping
- 2 cups French fried onions
Instructions
- Prepare the Potato Base: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spread the frozen hash brown potatoes evenly in the dish, allowing them to thaw slightly while you prepare the sauce.
- Make the Onion Cheese Sauce: In a large bowl, combine cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, melted butter, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until all ingredients are well incorporated to create a creamy, flavorful sauce.
- Combine and Assemble: Gently fold the thawed hash browns into the sauce mixture, ensuring the potatoes are fully coated. Pour this mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish, smoothing the top with a spatula.
- Add the Crunchy Topping: Sprinkle a generous layer of French fried onions evenly over the top. This will crisp up during baking, adding a delightful texture contrast to the creamy potatoes beneath.
- Bake to Perfection: Bake the casserole uncovered for about 45 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown on top. For an extra crispy finish, you can broil for an additional 2-3 minutes, watching closely to prevent burning.
Notes
- Use thawed hash brown potatoes for even cooking and better sauce absorption.
- Don’t skip the butter; it adds richness and helps the topping brown perfectly.
- Substitute some French fried onions with fresh caramelized onions in the sauce for deeper onion flavor.
- If the top browns too quickly, tent with foil halfway through baking to prevent burning.
- Assemble the dish a day ahead and refrigerate, then bake before serving to save time.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free (if gluten-free fried onions are used)
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 560mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Keywords: French onion, funeral potatoes, cheesy casserole, comfort food, side dish, potluck recipe, baked potatoes