Healthy Hash Brown Casserole Recipe (2024)

By Susan Voisin 174 Comments
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Healthy Hash Brown Casserole Recipe (1)

I wish I had a cute story behind this not-so-cute dish, but the truth is that I saw a hash brown casserole recipe online and wanted to fat-free veganize it. So I did.

I threw out all the butter, the cheese, the sour cream, the cream of chicken-parts soup, as well as the corn flakes on top, and what I had left was a package of hash brown potatoes–and the need for a really good sauce. So I turned to my favorite cheesy sauce, which can magically transform even the most mundane ingredients into instant comfort food.

As you know, I can’t resist the impulse to turn side dishes into one-pot meals, so I chopped up some kale and added a can of chickpeas, which resulted in one of the least attractive casseroles I’ve ever seen (and casseroles aren’t generally known for their beauty). But it tasted rich and comforting, with less than half of the fat of the original (even though my servings are much larger) and none of the cholesterol. And as an added bonus, it’s gluten-free!

Healthy Hash Brown Casserole Recipe (2)

Besides being a great main dish, consider this the perfect choice for your next brunch or hearty breakfast. Leftovers keep well—just reheat gently in the oven or taster oven.

For more casseroles (some of them pretty nice looking!) check out my Casseroles Archive of 40+ recipes.

Healthy Hash Brown Casserole Recipe (3)

5 from 20 votes

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Healthy Hash Brown Casserole

Kale and chickpeas give this comfort food a nutritional boost and turn it from a side to a main dish, but if you want to make the more traditional side dish, see the notes at the end of the recipe.

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Author Susan Voisin

Ingredients

Sauce

  • 1 1/4 cups water
  • 1 cup plain sugar-free non-dairy milk
  • 3/4 cup nutritional yeast
  • 1/4 cup raw cashews or 2 tablespoons tahini optional
  • 3 tablespoons potato starch or cornstarch
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 - 1 1/2 teaspoons salt omit for low-sodium diets
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1/8 - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
  • black pepper to taste

Casserole

  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 3-4 cloves garlic minced
  • 12 ounces kale stems removed and leaves chopped
  • 16 ounces frozen Southern-style hash brown potatoes thawed (see notes below)
  • 1 15- ounce can chickpeas rinsed and drained

Instructions

Notes

To make a more traditional style casserole, leave out the kale and chickpeas and use a 32-ounce package of hash browns instead.

Be sure to buy diced hash browns with no oil added. They should contain about 70 calories and no fat per serving. If they aren't available, peel and cut regular potatoes into 1/2-inch cubes.

Nutrition, per serving, without cashews or tahini: 209 calories, 21 calories from fat, 2.6g total fat, 0mg cholesterol, 489.6mg sodium, 764.1mg potassium, 37.3g carbohydrates, 8g fiber, less than 1g sugar, 13g protein.

Nutrition Facts

Healthy Hash Brown Casserole

Amount Per Serving (1 Serving)

Calories 230Calories from Fat 38

% Daily Value*

Fat 4.2g6%

Sodium 490mg21%

Carbohydrates 38g13%

Fiber 8g33%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 13.6g27%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutritional info is approximate.

Have you made this recipe?Mention @SusanFFVK and tag #fatfreevegankitchen in your photos on Instagram.

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Healthy Hash Brown Casserole Recipe (4)

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Healthy Hash Brown Casserole Recipe (5)

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    • Susan Voisin

      April 18, 2019 at 4:41 pm

      It’ll lose a lot of flavor without nutritional yeast. You might be able to add seasonings to it, but it won’t taste the same. Some recipes you can omit nutritional yeast from without problems, but this one really needs it.

      Reply

  1. C.

    April 21, 2019 at 2:24 pm

    Just made this, it’s amazing! Will be making it again. Potatoes are life.

    Reply

  2. Rhiannon

    April 29, 2019 at 5:54 pm

    I’ve been making this recipe regularly for a year or so now. I just wanted to let you know that this has become a staple for our family! I usually sub spinach for the kale (my kid is more likely to eat it that way) and we just love it 😁❤️

    Reply

    • Susan Voisin

      April 29, 2019 at 10:08 pm

      I’m so happy to hear that! ❤️

      Reply

  3. De Dee

    July 16, 2019 at 8:11 pm

    made this recipe today, it will be a regular in my house
    its so good, Thank you for sharing

    Reply

  4. Donn

    August 2, 2019 at 3:50 pm

    I have it in the oven right now..could have used a little more Kale and realized I missed putting in the Nutritional Yeast..so pulled it out of the oven and added it.. Hoping it is as good as everyone says! Will let you know!

    Reply

  5. J

    February 7, 2020 at 5:23 pm

    Will this work with peeled and diced potatoes?

    Reply

    • Susan Voisin

      February 7, 2020 at 6:22 pm

      Yes, just make sure they’re evenly diced.

      Reply

  6. mary schorn

    February 29, 2020 at 9:49 am

    Love the recipe, I have also used the sauce from this for Mac n cheese with very good results. Love it both ways. Mary

    Reply

  7. Cam

    April 4, 2020 at 11:40 am

    Will this work with shredded hash brown?

    Reply

    • Susan Voisin

      April 4, 2020 at 2:29 pm

      Yes, it should.

      Reply

  8. Alexandria Phillips

    January 5, 2021 at 3:47 pm

    This turned out amazing!! I had to make a few tweaks because I am running low on groceries and it still came out amazing. I used shredded oil free hash browns. I only has half a cup of oat milk in the fridge so I used that and upped the water and upped the cashews a bit to make up for less milk. I ran out os smoked paprika the other day so i used regular paprika and a little bit of chipotle powder to give it a smokey ness. It was outstanding. I can’t want to try it with cubed potatoes.

    Reply

  9. Mary Pat Allen

    February 12, 2021 at 11:40 am

    Delicious!! I will be making this again!

    Reply

  10. Catherine

    April 6, 2021 at 12:35 pm

    Can I prepare this in the evening, refrigerate overnight, and bake it in the morning?

    Reply

    • Susan Voisin

      April 6, 2021 at 1:16 pm

      I haven’t tried that, but I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t work.

      Reply

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Healthy Hash Brown Casserole Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Are hash browns healthy? ›

Yes, hash browns are perfectly healthy, containing most of the vitamins and minerals found in potatoes—vitamins B1, B3, B6, magnesium, phosphorus, riboflavin and thiamin. The skin of a potato is also high in vitamin C, folate and potassium.

How many calories in a homemade hash brown casserole? ›

Hash brown casserole (1 cup) contains 44.5g total carbs, 40.2g net carbs, 29.9g fat, 11.5g protein, and 483 calories.

Why is my hash brown casserole soggy? ›

Frozen hash browns will leak moisture during cooking, which could leave a soggy, sad mess behind. For the best results, let the frozen hash browns thaw overnight in the fridge, then thoroughly pat them dry to remove as much moisture as possible before cooking them to crispy.

Can I use fresh potatoes instead of frozen hash browns? ›

Substitute fresh potatoes for 30 ounces of frozen hashbrowns. Substitute diced green onions for 3 tablespoons dried chives.

Can you eat hash browns and still lose weight? ›

Sure, as long as you're in a calorie deficit. Specific foods don't matter for weight loss (though they do for satiety, which can tie in). Overall calories do.

How unhealthy are frozen hash browns? ›

Hash browns, whether frozen or home-made are not especially health as by the time you've cooked them they will contain lots of frying oil. While home-made ones are best, they should still be just an occasional treat rather than a daily presence in any healthy diet.

Are oven hash browns healthy? ›

The main issue is that the oil used in frying is very high in calorie. Baking is often used to cut down on the oil and calories. If you bake the hash browns with the same amount of oil as fried ones, they are equal.

Are hash browns healthier than pancakes? ›

Choosing between hash browns and pancakes? Hash browns contain marginally fewer calories, but quite a bit less sodium. Or, ask for whole-wheat toast.

How many calories are in 2 scrambled eggs? ›

Typical nutritional values per large egg:

If you are using the pan method, then two large eggs scrambled with a small knob of melted butter and 2 tbsp semi-skimmed milk would contain between about 200 and 245 calories, depending on the amount of butter added.

How do you thicken a hash brown casserole? ›

Whisk together equal parts cornstarch and cold water in a small bowl. Use one tablespoon of cornstarch per cup of liquid you would like to thicken. Stir out all the lumps. A few minutes before your casserole is done, add it a little at a time until you are happy with the thickness.

Should you rinse shredded potatoes? ›

To ensure ultimate crispness, be sure to rinse the grated potatoes with cold water until the water runs nearly clear and to use a very hot, well-seasoned pan. As with all potato dishes, remember to season well.

Why do my homemade hash browns turn GREY? ›

A: Exposure to air or oxygen is the cause of this situation when the potatoes are cut and stored in advance for any future cooking.

How do restaurants get hashbrowns so crispy? ›

They are steamed, peeled, steamed again or boiled, shredded and cooked partially in oil, oven dried and IQF before going into a bag to be cooked at home once again. IQF equals individually quick frozen strands. Cooking the potato twice is the key and is something that is hard to replicate at home.

Why won t my hash browns get crispy? ›

Most recipes for shredded hash browns advise squeezing the potatoes to release as much liquid as possible before they're cooked. This makes sense—potatoes are loaded with moisture, which makes browning difficult. By getting rid of excess water, you enable the potatoes to brown more evenly and quickly.

Should you thaw hash browns before cooking? ›

Yes, you do need to thaw the frozen hash browns before cooking. If you forget to thaw them overnight, you can quickly defrost the hash browns in the microwave. Place the frozen hash browns in a microwave-safe large bowl, cover, and heat on 50% power for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring once halfway through.

Are hash browns as unhealthy as French fries? ›

Whether as French fries or hash browns, regular consumption can lead to severe health risks, according to recent scientific studies. These findings shed light on the potential dangers associated with frequently eating such foods and underscore the importance of a balanced diet.

What do hash browns do to your body? ›

In conclusion, hash browns offer a range of nutrition benefits. They are low in calories, high in carbohydrates, and a good source of vitamins and minerals like potassium and vitamin C. Additionally, they provide dietary fiber and essential B vitamins.

Which is healthier rice or hash browns? ›

Overall, potatoes contain more vitamins and nutrients than rice. And if given the choice between rice or potatoes, 9 times out of 10, we would certainly go with potatoes simply because they are more versatile and can be made in many different ways.

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