You cannot go wrong with this side dish!

     Gathering with family, friends or for work usually means cooking (or purchasing) a side dish to bring along.  No matter what the occasion, I know the PERFECT dish to take.  This dish is relatively easy, and I guarantee that multiple people will ask you for the recipe.  My Mom has been making this dish for the past couple of years, and it is great any time of day.  Usually she will make it as a side dish to go with dinner when we all go to the cabin, and then we will eat the leftovers with our breakfast the next morning. 

 

Mom's Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole

• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 10 1/4 ounce condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• 1/2 cup finely chopped green pepper
• 1/4 cup butter melted
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 32-ounce (or close) package frozen loose-pack hash brown potatoes thawed
• 1 cup crushed corn flakes (I put in a baggie and crumbled up)
• 1 tablespoon butter melted

 

In a large bowl combine cheese, soup, sour cream, onion, peppers, 1/4 cup butter, salt and pepper.  Mix well.  Stir in the thawed hash browns.  Place mixture into a greased 9x13 baking dish (I use the disposable aluminum pan).  Bake mixture for 45 minutes at 350 degrees. 

 

While the mixture bakes, place the corn flakes into a sandwich baggy and crunch up the cereal.  Melt 1 tablespoon of butter.  Toss together the corn flakes and the 1 tablespoon of melted butter.  Sprinkle over the top of the potato mixture.  Bake for an additional 15 minutes.

    This delicious side dish serves about 8-10 people.  If you are serving a larger group, consider making 2 pans.  Don't worry...it will be eaten!  Mom suggests that if you are not serving the dish right away to let it cool a bit before serving.  If you take the dish out of the oven and cover it up, the corn flakes may become soggy.  I will say, that if you forget to buy the sour cream like me, you can substitute cream cheese (mix with a little milk first).  

    I took this dish to my work pitch-in yesterday, and by the end of the meeting there was an empty pan on the table.  Multiple coworkers requested the recipe from me.  I also took my Cookie Dough Dip along, which is an easy dessert to make for any occasion that will get lots of attention as well!  I hope this helps you out as you probably have quite a few gatherings coming up due to the holidays.  Enjoy! P.S. Thanks to my Mom, Margie for sharing the recipe with us!