Easy Crispy hash browns are delicious breakfast potatoes or great side dish like your favorite steakhouse. But if you've never cooked them before, it can be intimidating. Don't worry, this is a simple recipe.
Using a large skillet on medium-high heat, add a few tablespoons of oil and heat a minute. Add the shredded potatoes. They can be thawed or frozen, the frozen will just take a bit longer.
3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
Add the shredded potatoes. They can be thawed or frozen, the frozen will just take a bit longer. Then layer in the shredded potatoes in a thin layer about ½-inch thick. Pro Tip. If you pile in the potatoes too thick, they will take longer to cook through. In my large pan, I add 3 cups spreading it out covering the entire bottom of the pan.
3 Cups Potatoes
Place the cover on the pan and continue cooking it for 5-7 minutes. adding the butter on the top. Until the bottom is a golden brown in color.
2 Tablespoons Butter
Then flip the hash browns and continue cooking the other side for 5-7 minutes with the lid off until the bottom is crispy and golden brown.
Salt and Pepper to Taste
Salt and Black Pepper
Oven Method
This is a great method to use if you are cooking for a crowd. When we have company over and I want to make restaurant style food, I will make my hash brown side dish in the oven. Here is how I do it.
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Get my frozen hashbrowns out of the freezer.
Spread a little oil, approximately 2 tablespoons on a half sheet baking pan. Add the butter and place in the oven to melt.
3 Tablespoons Olive Oil, 2 Tablespoons Butter
Add about 3 cups of the bag of the shredded potatoes spreading it over the entire pan. Do not be tempted to pile on more potatoes. The layer of potatoes should be about ½-inch thick or less.
3 Cups Potatoes
Bake in the oven 10 minutes. Flip the shredded potatoes over and bake another 10 minutes.
They should be a golden color on the outside with a crispy texture and soft on the inside.
Salt and Pepper to Taste
Salt and Black Pepper
Black Stone Grill Method
Put down about 2 table spoons of vegetable cooking oil, not olive oil. It has too strong of a flavor. Add a good handful of hashbrowns right on top of the hot oil.
Here is how I got the buttery goodness. We always had a tin on the grill on the warm side filled with melted butter. I would put a small ladle of melted putter on the hashbrowns as they were cooking.
Now, you want them crisp. So, just let them fry together to get one big pile. Don’t be tempted to stir or flip. Watch the edges. Once you see the pieces stick out of the edge turn a crispy, golden brown, they are almost ready to flip. Give them another minute or two so the potatoes continue cooking through.
Now flip. The bottom is not on the top and it should be a beautiful golden brown. There is no need to add any more butter or oil. Let it cook for 3 to 4 minutes until the bottom edges are golden and crispy.
This grilling method works for shredded whole potatoes right onto the grill to make hashbrowns. Frozen hashbrowns are no different. Even hashbrowns that have been sitting in water. Just drain the water and add them to the grill. It will just take a little longer to cook and get crispy. Plan on 15-20 minutes cooking time.
Microwave Method
Layer them in a single layer approximately ½-inch thick on a microwave safe dish. Cook on high for 1 to 2 minutes. Flip them over and microwave for another 1 to 2 minutes. Depending on the power setting of your microwave, you may need to repeat this process until the potatoes are cooked through.
Air Fryer Method
Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees.
Place hash brown patties, shredded hash browns, or potato cubes in one layer inside your air fryer basket. Cook for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Remove the hash browns from the air fryer and wait 2 minutes before eating.
Once the hash browns are cooked. Top them with caramelized onions and shredded cheese. The cheese will melt and the fried onion with the fried potatoes is the perfect combination.In place of the oil or butter in the pan, use a little bacon grease for additional potato flavoring. If you happen to have the bacon, go ahead and crumble that over the top of the cooked potatoes.Season the potatoes with salt and pepper, or seasoned salt, or garlic powder.