If you ve ever been on the hunt for a cozy, crowd-pleasing comfort food that feels like a warm hug on a plate, I ve got just the thing. This Million Dollar Potato Casserole Recipe is absolutely one of my all-time favorites because it s super creamy, cheesy, and topped with the perfect buttery crunch. Whether you re bringing a dish to a potluck, making a holiday side, or just craving something indulgent, this casserole really steps up.
What makes this Million Dollar Potato Casserole Recipe stand out to me is how easy it comes together, yet tastes so rich and decadent. I ve made it countless times, and every single time my family goes crazy for it. You’ll find that the layers of cream cheese, sour cream, and ricotta blend perfectly with the hash browns and cheddar, creating a dreamy texture – plus that cracker topping? Pure magic!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Unbelievably Creamy: The blend of cream cheese, sour cream, and ricotta makes this casserole silky smooth and rich.
- Easy to Prep: Uses mostly pantry staples and frozen potatoes, so it s a breeze to pull together anytime.
- Crowd Pleaser: My family always requests this at gatherings because it s classic comfort food done right.
- Perfect Crunchy Topping: That buttery cracker topping adds the ideal contrast to the soft interior.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Each ingredient in the Million Dollar Potato Casserole Recipe works together to create a comforting, flavorful dish. When shopping, grab fresh green onions for a pop of color and use a good quality cheddar for that sharp, melty cheese punch.
- Cooking spray: Makes for easy clean-up and prevents sticking.
- Frozen diced hash brown potatoes: Thawing them ahead ensures the casserole bakes evenly without excess water.
- Cream cheese: Softened for smooth mixing, it adds richness and creaminess.
- Sour cream: Brings a subtle tang that balances the cheesy flavors.
- Whole-milk ricotta cheese: Creates a velvety texture, making the dish extra luscious.
- Cream of chicken soup: Adds moisture and depth, helping bind everything together.
- Kosher salt: Enhances all the flavors without overpowering.
- Garlic powder: For subtle warmth and depth.
- Onion powder: Adds savory aroma and complexity.
- Shredded Cheddar cheese: The star cheese with a perfect melt and bold flavor.
- Green onions: Fresh and crisp, perfect for mixing in and garnishing.
- Unsalted butter: Melted, it helps coat the cracker topping for a golden crunch.
- Buttery round crackers: Like Ritz, crushed for that irresistible topping.
- Chopped fresh parsley: Adds brightness and a pop of color at the end.
- Freshly ground black pepper: Adds a little kick and seasoning right before serving.
Variations
I love customizing this Million Dollar Potato Casserole Recipe depending on the occasion and what we have on hand. You can easily tweak it to suit different tastes or dietary needs – it s surprisingly flexible!
- Make it Vegetarian: Swap the cream of chicken soup for cream of mushroom soup to keep that creamy texture without meat flavors.
- Spicy Kick: Add a pinch of cayenne or chopped jalapeños for some heat-my family enjoys a little spice to brighten up the richness.
- Herb Variation: Try swapping parsley for fresh thyme or chives for a different herbal note I discovered works brilliantly.
- Cheese Swap: Use Monterey Jack or Pepper Jack for a milder or spicier twist on the cheddar flavor.
How to Make Million Dollar Potato Casserole Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Oven and Baking Dish
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F – this temperature ensures the casserole cooks through slowly without drying out. Then lightly grease a 9×13-inch or 3-quart baking dish with cooking spray so the casserole doesn t stick and comes out in one gorgeous piece.
Step 2: Whisk Together the Creamy Base
In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, whole-milk ricotta, cream of chicken soup, kosher salt, garlic powder, and onion powder. I find that whisking everything really well at this stage helps prevent any lumps from forming, giving you a perfectly smooth base.
Step 3: Fold in the Good Stuff
Next, fold in the thawed hash brown potatoes, shredded cheddar cheese, and most of the green onions (reserve about 2 tablespoons for garnish). Be gentle here – you want everything mixed but not overworked to keep that lovely texture in the potatoes.
Step 4: Layer It in Your Baking Dish
Spoon the creamy mixture into your prepared baking dish and spread it out evenly. This helps it cook uniformly and sets the stage for the glorious topping.
Step 5: Create the Crunchy Cracker Topping
In a separate bowl, stir together the melted butter and crushed buttery crackers until the crackers are well coated. Then sprinkle this evenly over the potato mixture. This buttery crust is the part that always impresses guests, giving great texture contrast.
Step 6: Bake Until Bubbling and Golden
Bake your casserole in the 350°F oven for 50 to 55 minutes. You re looking for bubbling edges and a golden cracker topping. If your oven runs hot, check around 45 minutes to avoid burning the topping.
Step 7: Garnish and Serve
Once out of the oven, sprinkle the reserved green onions, chopped fresh parsley, and some freshly ground black pepper over the top. This final touch brings brightness, color, and a hint of freshness to every bite.
Pro Tips for Making Million Dollar Potato Casserole Recipe
- Thaw Your Hash Browns Completely: I learned the hard way that partially frozen potatoes make the casserole watery – fully thaw and pat dry if needed.
- Don t Skip Softening the Cream Cheese: It blends smoothly only when softened, so take it out of the fridge early or give it a quick zap in the microwave.
- Use Freshly Crushed Crackers: Crushing them yourself gives a better texture than pre-crumbled topping mixes.
- Keep an Eye on Baking Time: Ovens vary, so start checking a little early to avoid the topping becoming too dark or burnt.
How to Serve Million Dollar Potato Casserole Recipe
Garnishes
I usually stick with the green onions and fresh parsley sprinkled on top because they add just the right brightness and color. Sometimes I like to add a small dollop of sour cream on individual servings for extra creaminess-it always feels a little indulgent, and my guests seem to love it!
Side Dishes
Because this casserole is so rich, I enjoy pairing it with fresh green salads or steamed veggies to balance the meal. Roasted Brussels sprouts or a crisp Caesar salad work beautifully and keep things feeling fresh alongside the creamy potatoes.
Creative Ways to Present
For holiday dinners, I ve served this Million Dollar Potato Casserole in small ramekins for individual portions, which feels a bit fancy and makes it easier to pass around. I ve also layered it in a trifle dish with layers of crispy bacon and chives for a fun twist that guests remember.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I always store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and find they keep beautifully for up to 3 days. Just be sure to cover it well to keep the cracker topping from getting soggy from fridge moisture.
Freezing
Freezing this casserole is totally doable-just don t add the cracker topping until after thawing and before reheating. I wrap the casserole tightly with foil and plastic wrap to avoid freezer burn and it usually lasts about 2 months frozen.
Reheating
To reheat, I pop the casserole into a 350°F oven (covered with foil if reheating leftovers) for 20-25 minutes or until warmed through. If frozen, thaw overnight in the fridge first, then add the cracker topping and bake to crisp it up fresh once reheated.
FAQs
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Can I use fresh potatoes instead of frozen hash browns?
You can, but I recommend par-cooking and finely dicing them to mimic the texture of frozen hash browns. Frozen ones are convenient and ensure consistent texture without extra prep.
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Is there a dairy-free version of this casserole?
Yes! You can substitute dairy-free cream cheese, sour cream, and cheddar alternatives, and use a dairy-free soup base. Just keep in mind the texture may be slightly different but still delicious.
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How do I prevent the topping from getting soggy?
Make sure to fully melt and coat the crackers with butter before topping, and don t cover the casserole tightly while hot. Adding the topping right before baking also helps keep it crisp.
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Can I prepare this casserole ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can assemble it the night before, keep it covered in the fridge, and bake it the next day. Just add the cracker topping fresh before baking for best results.
Final Thoughts
This Million Dollar Potato Casserole Recipe has become a staple in my kitchen because it combines ease, flavor, and that cozy factor everyone loves. I can t recommend it enough if you want a reliable dish that ll impress without the fuss. Trust me, once you try it, you ll be making this comforting casserole for all your family dinners and special occasions too!
Print
Million Dollar Potato Casserole Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 55 mins
- Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins
- Yield: 10 to 12 servings
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Million Dollar Potato Casserole is a creamy, cheesy, and comforting casserole featuring tender hash brown potatoes mixed with a rich blend of cream cheese, sour cream, ricotta, and cream of chicken soup. Topped with buttery crushed crackers and baked to bubbly perfection, it’s a perfect side dish for gatherings or holiday meals.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Cooking spray, for greasing
- 1 (32-oz.) package frozen diced hash brown potatoes, thawed
- 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese
- 1 (10.5-oz.) can cream of chicken soup
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (about 8 oz.)
- 4 green onions, thinly sliced
Topping
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 32 buttery round crackers (such as Ritz), coarsely crushed
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare oven and baking dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9- x 13-inch or 3-quart baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking and allow easy serving.
- Mix wet ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the softened cream cheese, sour cream, ricotta cheese, cream of chicken soup, kosher salt, garlic powder, and onion powder until smooth and well combined.
- Add hash browns and cheese: Fold in the thawed hash brown potatoes, shredded Cheddar cheese, and most of the sliced green onions into the creamy mixture. Reserve about 2 tablespoons of green onions for garnishing later.
- Add to baking dish: Spoon the potato mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread it out evenly to ensure uniform baking.
- Make cracker topping: In a medium bowl, combine the melted butter with the coarsely crushed buttery crackers, stirring well so the crackers are fully coated with butter.
- Top casserole: Evenly sprinkle the butter-coated crushed crackers over the potato mixture to create a crunchy, golden topping.
- Bake casserole: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 50 to 55 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly around the edges and the topping is golden brown.
- Add garnishes and serve: Remove from oven and sprinkle the reserved green onions, chopped fresh parsley, and freshly ground black pepper evenly over the top before serving for a fresh flavor and appealing look.
Notes
- Allow hash browns to fully thaw to ensure even baking texture.
- You can substitute cream of chicken soup with cream of mushroom soup for a different flavor or for a vegetarian option.
- For a lower-fat version, use low-fat sour cream and cheese, but the texture may be less creamy.
- Make sure to coarsely crush the crackers for a crunchy topping instead of fine crumbs.
- This casserole is best served fresh but can be refrigerated and reheated in the oven.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/10th of casserole (about 175g)
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0.3g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
