I absolutely love a good comfort food breakfast. This creamy chicken potato bake is the best hashbrown casserole I’ve ever served to my family. If you’re craving cheesy potatoes or a chicken casserole, this one’s for you. This Cracker Barrel copycat includes creamy chicken that simply screams comfort food! If you’re tired of the same bacon and eggs for breakfast, you’ll want to give this creamy, cheesy, crispy on top breakfast dish a go.
This is a gold, cheesy, irresistibly comforting casserole that’s cozy, no-fuss, and feels like a warm hug after a long day or night. You can serve this as breakfast or, if you’re having breakfast for dinner! This chicken casserole brings together bites of tender chicken, fluffy hashbrowns, and a deliciously creamy sauce that’s all baked into one satisfying dish that the entire family can agree on. It’s hearty without feeling overly complicated. It’s indulgent without being over-the-top. It’s exactly the type of recipe you’ll want to keep in a regular rotation, especially if you’re into meal prepping or if you have a larger family to cook for each day. This casserole comes together effortlessly, making it a great dish to try even if you’re newer in the kitchen!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Quick: Luckily, this casserole only takes a few minutes to come together. So, even if you’re in a pinch for time, you can put this recipe to good use.
Ingredients: This recipe calls for simple ingredients that you likely already have in your fridge or pantry. Most of these ingredients can be found at any local grocery store.
Comforting: If you’re seeking something comforting, yet hearty and filling, you’ll want to try this creamy chicken potato bake!
Nutritious: You can swap and add additional veggies to this bake to make it more nutrient-dense. The potatoes included are also backed with micro-nutrients!
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
Anytime you take on a new recipe it’s important to have options. Here are some notes and potential substitutions you’ll want to remember and keep in mind:
- Veggies: If you want more of a basic dish or you have picky eaters in the home, you can omit the veggies used in this casserole.
- Breadcrumbs: crushed Ritz crackers, plain chips, etc. A low-carb option might include using crushed pork rinds.
- Cheese: Swap the cheese for Monterey cheese, pepper jack, etc.
- Protein: You can add in diced chicken, beef, or another type of ground turkey (or your preferred meat), to bump up the amount of protein you get with each serving when making this potato bake.
- Sour cream: We highly recommend keeping the sour cream in this recipe, as it adds a tangy taste that balances the cream of chicken in this dish. You might also swap it for unflavored Greek yogurt. Just keep in mind this will slightly alter the taste of the bake if you choose to go this route.
Tips for Success
- Always mix the casserole ingredients together well before placing this dish in the oven.
- Add a spritz of oil to the top of your casserole to help with the browning of the breadcrumbs.
- Make sure to drain the corn, or it will make your dish to wet and soggy.
Storage & Reheating
Storing and reheating this casserole is a breeze. You can store your potato bake in the fridge for up to 3 days with airtight containers (or Ziploc solutions). You can also place your individual servings of this casserole potato bake into freezer-friendly containers for up to 3 months, depending on your dinner and breakfast rotations.
To reheat, allow the containers to sit out and come back to room temperature. You’ll then want to microwave individual portions in microwave-friendly containers for 1-3 minutes, per serving. You can also reheat this dish in the oven at 350 degrees (F) for 10-15 minutes, per serving.
Serving Suggestions
Pair a meatloaf, baked chicken, or even a tasty pork chop recipe to go with this hash brown recipe. You will find that potatoes are so versatile, and it goes with any protein. You can also pair this dish with fresh bread, roasted veggies, or even eggs, depending on when you plan to serve it.
Notes
You can prep this casserole the night before you want to cook it. Just leave off the breadcrumbs until you are ready to bake it in the oven. Just make sure it stays in a covered dish in the fridge until you are ready to bake.
Then add about 15-20 additional minutes to the bake time.
Creamy Chicken Potato Bake
Ingredients
- 2 lbs Southern-style Frozen Hashbrowns The cubed kind work best for texture
- 3 cups Shredded Chicken Rotisserie chicken works perfectly here
- 2 cups Sour Cream
- 1 Can 10.5 oz Cream of Chicken Soup
- 1/3 cup Whole Milk
- 2 cups Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
- 1 cup Frozen Peas and Carrots
- 1/2 cup Canned Corn drained well
Topping:
- 2 cups Panko Breadcrumbs Panko provides a better crunch than traditional breadcrumbs
- 4 Tbsp Unsalted Butter melted
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/4 tsp Smoked Paprika
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F. Spread the frozen hashbrowns in a single layer in a 9×13 baking dish. Bake them for 10–12 minutes before adding any other ingredients. This evaporates excess moisture and prevents a “mushy” base.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the sour cream, cream of chicken soup, milk, salt, and pepper. Stir in the shredded chicken, cheddar cheese, peas, carrots, and the well-drained corn.
- Spread the creamy chicken mixture evenly over the par-baked hashbrowns. Use a spatula to press the mixture down slightly so it integrates with the top layer of potatoes.
- In a small bowl, toss the panko breadcrumbs with the melted butter, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. This ensures every crumb is seasoned and will toast to a deep golden brown.
- Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over the top of the casserole.
- Bake for 45 minutes. If the crumbs are browning too quickly, loosely tent the dish with foil for the last 15 minutes.
- Let the casserole sit for 10 minutes after removing it from the oven. This “sets” the cream sauce so it stays on the chicken rather than running to the bottom of the plate.
