Dolly Parton's 5-Ingredient Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole That's Become a Family Favorite

Dolly Parton's 5-Ingredient Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole That's Become a Family Favorite

There are some meals that just stick with you. The kind you talk about on long car rides home, bring up at holiday dinners, and still think about years later. For a lot of people, a trip to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee means memories of good music, mountain air, and food that felt like a warm hug. Dollywood and the surrounding area have a way of doing that to you.

This casserole comes straight from Dolly Parton's own cookbook, and it is the kind of recipe that makes you wonder why you ever bothered with anything more complicated. Five ingredients, no chopping, no fancy technique, and the result is this bubbling, golden-topped, creamy hashbrown bake that disappears fast no matter where you serve it. It has earned a permanent spot on countless holiday tables and weeknight dinner spreads alike, and once you make it the first time, you will completely understand why.

Ingredients

• 1 bag (30 oz) frozen shredded hashbrowns, thawed
• 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
• 2 cups sour cream
• 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup butter, melted (divided)

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish or a large oval casserole dish.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the thawed hashbrowns, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and about 6 tablespoons of the melted butter. Stir everything together until well combined.
3. Spread the mixture evenly into your prepared baking dish, smoothing out the top so it bakes evenly.
4. Drizzle the remaining melted butter over the top of the casserole. For an extra golden crust, you can sprinkle a small handful of crushed crackers or breadcrumbs over the top before drizzling with butter.
5. Bake uncovered for 45 to 55 minutes, until the top is beautifully golden brown and the edges are bubbling. The center should be hot all the way through.
6. Let it rest for about five minutes before serving so everything has a chance to settle together. Then scoop and enjoy every creamy, cheesy, perfectly crisp-topped bite.

A Few Notes Worth Knowing

Make sure your hashbrowns are fully thawed before mixing. If they go in frozen, the casserole can turn out watery and will take much longer to bake through. Spreading them out on a clean kitchen towel for a bit to dry out any extra moisture is a great trick that makes a real difference in the final texture.

This dish reheats beautifully, which makes it ideal for potlucks or holiday gatherings where you want to get ahead. You can assemble it the night before, keep it covered in the refrigerator, and bake it fresh the next day. Just add about ten extra minutes to the bake time if it is going in cold from the fridge.

Sharp cheddar gives the best flavor here, but a blend of cheddar and Monterey Jack is equally delicious if that is what you have on hand. However you make it, this is the kind of simple, soul-satisfying comfort food that Dolly herself would probably be proud to see on your table.