5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Crispy Crust Cheesy Hash Brown Bake
This 5-ingredient slow cooker hash brown bake is an easy, crowd-pleasing side dish that’s perfect for summer cookouts, family dinners, potlucks, or holiday gatherings. Using frozen golden hash brown patties makes preparation incredibly simple while creating delicious layers of tender potatoes, creamy cheese, and a perfectly golden, crispy topping.
It pairs wonderfully with grilled burgers, hot dogs, barbecue chicken, pulled pork, baked beans, fresh salads, corn on the cob, coleslaw, and even scrambled eggs for brunch.
Servings
8 servings
Ingredients
- 10 frozen golden hash brown patties
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
- 1 (10.5 oz) can condensed cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup sour cream
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
Step 1
Lightly grease the inside of your slow cooker.
In a medium bowl, combine:
- Condensed cream of chicken soup
- Sour cream
- Melted butter
- 1½ cups of the shredded cheddar cheese
Mix until smooth and well combined.
Step 2
Arrange a layer of frozen hash brown patties in the bottom of the slow cooker, trimming or slightly overlapping them if necessary.
Spread a layer of the cheese mixture over the potatoes.
Repeat the layers until all the hash browns and cheese mixture have been used, finishing with the cheese mixture on top.
Step 3
Cover and cook on LOW for 4–5 hours, or until the hash browns are tender and the casserole is hot throughout.
Step 4
Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup cheddar cheese over the top.
If your slow cooker insert is oven-safe, place it under the broiler for 2–4 minutes until the cheese becomes bubbly and golden brown.
If it is not oven-safe, carefully transfer the casserole to a baking dish before broiling.
Allow the casserole to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Variations & Tips
Make it festive
Garnish with chopped chives or sliced green onions for extra color and freshness.
Change the soup
Cream of mushroom or cream of celery soup can easily replace the cream of chicken soup for a different savory flavor.
For the crispiest topping
Don’t skip the broiler step—it creates the delicious golden cheese crust. Watch closely to prevent burning.
Prep ahead
Prepare the cheese mixture the night before and refrigerate it. Assemble everything in the slow cooker the next morning for an effortless meal.
Serving Tip
Let the casserole rest for about 10 minutes before serving so it firms up and is easier to scoop into neat portions.