Description
Whipping up Chicken Hashbrown Casserole feels like a warm hug from your kitchen, with creamy cheese and tender chicken nestled between crispy potato layers. Comfort classics never tasted so good when your family gathers around this satisfying meal that comes together in a snap.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups cooked chicken, diced
- 3 cups frozen hash browns, thawed slightly
- 12 ounces frozen mixed vegetables, thawed slightly
Supporting Ingredients:
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 10.5 ounce can condensed cream of chicken soup
- ½ cup milk
- ¼ cup bacon bits
Finishing/Topping Ingredients:
- 12–14 Ritz crackers, crushed
- ⅛ teaspoon dried thyme
Instructions
- Warm your oven to 350°F and generously coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Grab a large mixing bowl and toss in your thawed hash browns, diced chicken, bacon bits, 1 cup shredded cheddar, cream of chicken soup, ½ cup milk, slightly thawed mixed vegetables, and dried thyme. Stir everything until ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- Create a separate small bowl for your crispy topping by crushing 12-14 Ritz crackers and mixing them with ½ cup additional shredded cheddar cheese.
- Transfer your hash brown mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly across the surface with a spatula.
- Sprinkle the cracker-cheese topping across the entire casserole, ensuring complete and consistent coverage.
- Slide the casserole into the preheated 350°F oven and bake for precisely 45-50 minutes until the top turns golden brown and the edges bubble enthusiastically.
- Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for 5-7 minutes, allowing the ingredients to settle and cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- Swap out canned cream of chicken soup for homemade white sauce to reduce processed ingredients and control sodium levels.
- Frozen hash browns work perfectly, but freshly grated potatoes provide more robust flavor and texture if extra time allows.
- Add a splash of hot sauce or cayenne pepper to the base mixture for those who enjoy a bit of heat in their comfort food.
- When selecting chicken, rotisserie meat delivers excellent flavor and saves significant preparation time for this quick casserole.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-50 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 to 6
- Calories: 388 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg