Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole

Ahhh comfort food…the ultimate meal that soothes you to your core. While everyone has their own idea of the perfect comfort food... they should all have a few things in common. Does it stick to your ribs in the best way possible? Does it warm your soul as much as it warms your belly?? Does it make you feel as cozy as a pig in a blanket??? And the answer should yes...a million times yes!

For me, it doesn’t get much better than a batch of warm, cheesy potatoes, if you couldn't tell from the last post! The ultimate cheesy potato comfort food can be found along interstates across the country at none other than the old country store known as Cracker Barrel. I loved going to Cracker Barrel as a kid, not just for the food (those pancakes!!) but for the super cool gift shop! Did anyone else have the Jumbo Checkers or the awesome Peg Game (try not to be an eg-no-ra-moose)??  

Cracker Barrel serves up their Hash Brown Casserole all day long, but you don't have to go down to the old country store to get your fill of HBC. This cheesy casserole can be thrown together in just a few minutes with a handful of ingredients. You can shred potatoes yourself for this dish, but I’d recommend saving yourself the extra steps and buying a bag of the pre-shredded hash browns. 

Start by preheating your oven to 350*F. Combine all of your ingredients in an oven safe baking dish. I like to add potatoes first, then mix in onion, salt, pepper, sliced butter and cheddar cheese (save some cheese for the top!), followed by the cream of chicken soup. Stir until everything is evenly incorporated and then spread the last of the cheddar evenly over the top. Pop this puppy in the oven for 45 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Garnish with green onions before serving yourself a big ol’ scoop! 

Thanks for Chewsing!