Comfort Food. – Food that feeds your body and your soul.
This Cheesy Ham and Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole is Comfort Food.
It is a food that when eaten with family and friends, nourishes, comforts, fills and satisfies. It’s food that causes silence and then a chorus of sighs and mmmmmmmms.
This is the food of your childhood and your best memories.
Everyone has a recipe for Hashbrown Bakes and Casseroles, those recipes passed among friends and family.  Virtually everyone (at least all the Southerners) have a casserole that falls into this category.
This is my new favorite of all favorites. It’s cheesy and gooey, hot and slightly crisp, while creamy, with just a dash of tang from the sour cream and a sweet bite from the onions.
I bring this recipe to the school several times a year, and at the beginning of each school year the questions begin — when do we get the hashbrown casserole? That makes me a ridiculous kind of happy.
I love sharing food, sharing comfort, sharing happiness and my southern love for soul nurturing food – it’s one of my happy things.
Grate 2 C of good sharp cheddar cheese (or.. pepper jack would be FABULOUS if you like that extra ZING!!!), chop 1/2 of one large yellow onion and 10 oz of cooked ham
Mix together with 2 (10.5 oz) cans of cream of potato soup, 1 (16 oz) tub of sour cream and a 30 oz package of frozen shredded hashbrowns, add about 1 Tbsp pepper (start with 1/2 Tbsp if you’re sensitive), 1/2 Tbsp salt, a dash of paprika (smoked, if you have it).
Once this is all thoroughly mixed, layer it into a 9X13 (will fill) or a 10 X 15 (to make thinner servings) casserole dish
Top with 2 C of your favorite grated cheese blend. I use an Italian Blend: Parmesan, Mozzarella, Fontina, Provolone, Asiago and Romano (If you’re keeping count… that’s SEVEN cheeses in this dish)*
Place in the oven and bake at 325 for 1 hour, or until hot and bubbly and golden brown around the edges
This dish will have everyone wanting more and asking for the recipe. They’ll probably even offer to do the dishes for you, in exchange for the recipe *wink, wink*
Delicious and simple comfort food; this Cheesy Ham and Hashbrown Bake from ASouthernFairytale.com is perfect for every day or special occasions
Ingredients
- 30 oz bag of frozen shredded hashbrowns
- 2 (10.5 oz) cans of cream of potato soup
- 1 (16 oz) tub of sour cream
- 10 oz smoked ham (lunch meat, leftovers etc...), chopped
- 1/2 a medium to large yellow onion, diced
- 2 C grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 C favorite cheese blend (I use a 6 cheese Italian blend)
- 1/4 Tsp to 2 Tbsp black pepper (we love black pepper, remember you can add it, you can never take it away)
- salt to taste
- dash of smoked paprika
- Use pepper jack instead of cheddar for a nice kick
- Add in red and green bell peppers for a delicious crunch and burst of color
- Try using 1/2 frozen shredded hash browns and 1/2 O'Brien style hash browns
- Make ahead and freeze - just don't top with cheese if you're going to freeze it
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 325 F
- Grate the cheese, chop the ham, dice the onion
- In a large bowl mix together: soup, hash browns, seasonings, onion, sour cream, ham and cheddar cheese
- Spread into a 9X13 (for thicker servings) or a 10 X 15 (to make more servings) dish and top with the cheese blend
- Bake for one hour or until the casserole is bubbling and the cheese is golden brown






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51 comments
Yum.. can’t wait to make this!
That sounds so good–there’s nothing like comfort food!
This looks delicious. I love that it can be done ahead of time and then thrown in the oven when you need it.
I love this casserole! Looks delicious and sounds easy to prepare.
I haven’t had breakfast yet this morning…….this post made me SOOO hungry!! looks delicious!! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Rachel. I haven’t been blogging for awhile, but I started up again and thought I would come by and link up. Your cheesy ham bake looks delish!
It is SOOO good Sandi, my husband says it’s one of his all time favorites!
Comfort Food is awesome!
I would love to make this without the ham. I think, it would still be delicious, creamy and yummy.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by SthrnFairytale and SthrnFairytale, Tracey Steer. Tracey Steer said: RT @sthrnfairytale: Cheesy, Gooey, Crisp, Zippy. Cheesy Ham & Hashbrown Bake http://bit.ly/aeAeqF {So hungry right now – wish I had some!} [...]
This looks yummy. I always host my family for Christmas morning breakfast, so I’ll have to bookmark this for then.
Thanks for the meme.
looks delicious
my mouth. it’s watering.
Those Hashbrowns look amazing! My men would love it! Thanks for sharing the recipe and hosting!
~Liz
Hi, I just found your blog! Love it and I just linked up! The casserole looks great, I love things like that! Thanks!
Rachel, your recipe looks super delicious and very, very comforting! Thanks for sharing it, and thank you for hosting Mouthwatering Monday.
Look out, Pioneer Woman! Great photos and a great recipe. Rock on!
My post is very similar – a cheesy scalloped potato and ham casserole.
Looks yummy!
[...] Cheesy Ham and Hashbrown Bake — A Southern Fairytale [...]
Yumm!!!! I love these kind of dishes. But I don’t make them very often as my Husband likes his meats and potatoes separate!:) But maybe tonight will be another time I make it, it’s been a while.
Your recipe is considered comfort food to me and it looks great!! Thanks for hosting!
Yum, what a dish! My husband would love this….which I think I say about almost everything you post.
Thanks for the linky!
Sometimes there’s nothing like a comforting casserole…Thanks for hosting!
This looks sooooo good!
I don’t know if anyone would offer to do my dishes =o) but we’ll definitely be making this! It looks heavenly!!!
http://www.makingmemorieswithyourkids.blogspot.com
this was delicious, oh and it also feeds an army!!!
Oh, my hubby would love that!
Wow, this looks so good! It seems like the perfect comfort food too
~Aubree Cherie
Oh my goodness. Cheese ties with potatoes as my favorite food. I might just have to try this one as well.
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I am totally making this on Christmas morning. YUM!
This looks so good I can hardly stand it!
[...] – Breakfast – Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal – Dinner – Cheesy Ham and Hashbrown Casserole, [...]
I’m making this for dinner tonight. So excited.
Yum! Totally using this for Easter Brunch this weekend!!! The best part is that it looks so easy to make!
I just made this for Easter morning and I must have misread the recipe. It calls for 2 Tbsp pepper. Is that black pepper? Bell pepper? I used black pepper and wow, it is peppery and your picture looks like it doesn’t have any pepper. What did I do wrong??
Hey Brandi,
I do use the full 2 Tbsp of pepper for us, I’m sorry if it’s too peppery for y’all. That’s so frustrating and disappointing. I added a notation to the recipe about the pepper. Thank you for the feedback.
I hope y’all were still able to enjoy it?!
Hope your Easter goes well!
Hey chick-a-dee!
Did y’all eat it??? I’m totally craving it and must make it this week! Happy Easter, love!
Came back to say I made it and you were SO right!! It was a hit with my entire family!! Grandpa, uncles, aunts, sisters, brothers…everyone raved about it and at least four people asked for the recipe. I’m filing it away into my recipe box for sure!!
Kat,
I’m totally dancing around! YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY!!!!
[...] 2) Cheesy Ham Hashbrown Bake [...]
[...] – Cheesy Ham and Hashbrown Casserole, vegetable, [...]
Hi Rachel,
I made this again and just put in some fresh ground pepper and eyed it and I’d say I put in maybe a 1/2 Tablespoon and it was perfect!!!! This recipe is a keeper:)
[...] You can find it over at A Southern Fairytale. Here’s the link—Cheesy Ham and Hashbrown Bake. [...]
[...] – Cheesy Ham and Hashbrown Casserole, [...]
[...] Â Cheesy Ham & Hashbrown Bake from ASouthernFairyTale.com – The aroma alone will bring teachers to the lounge for this [...]
Making this tonight for the family!…Thanks for the recipe, sounds scrumptious!..:)
This looks amazing. Gotta love anything with this much cheese in it. I think I know what we will be having on Saturday morning! Thanks!