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Turn ordinary frozen hash brown patties into an amazing breakfast centerpiece with this dish layered with smooth avocado, crunchy bacon, and gooey cheese. It's just what you need on weekend mornings when you want something that'll impress without any fancy cooking skills.
I came up with this idea one lazy Sunday when plain hash browns seemed boring. Now we can't go without it on weekends, and my partner always asks me to cook extra bacon specially for this dish.
Ingredients
- Bacon strips: Go for thick-cut to get more crunch and flavor in each bite
- Frozen hash brown patties: They're the foundation of our meal; try to find ones without too many extra ingredients
- Sliced avocado: Gives you that buttery smoothness and good fats; pick ones that aren't too soft
- Sour cream: Adds a nice tang and helps everything stick together
- Garlic salt: Gives you big flavor without needing lots of different spices
- Sharp cheddar cheese: Grate it yourself for better melting than the bagged stuff
- Scallions: Brings nice color and mild oniony taste
- Red pepper flakes: Adds a bit of heat; use more or less as you like
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Bacon Preparation:
- Get your oven hot at 400°F and put some foil on a baking sheet so cleanup's easy. Lay out your bacon strips without crowding them too much. Cook for 25 minutes until they're nice and crispy. Put them on paper towels to soak up the extra grease while staying crunchy.
- Hash Brown Cooking:
- Just follow what it says on the package for best results. If you've got an air fryer, 15 minutes at 400°F makes them super crispy outside but still soft inside. Using a pan? Cook them on medium-high heat around 4 minutes each side until they look golden and delicious.
- Assembly Process:
- Start building your masterpiece with hot hash browns on the bottom. Add your avocado slices all over the top. Spread a thin coating of sour cream then sprinkle some garlic salt. Break up your bacon into pieces and scatter them around. Next comes your freshly grated sharp cheddar - the leftover heat will make it melt a little. Top it all off with plenty of sliced scallions and red pepper flakes to make it look and taste amazing.
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The cheese you pick makes all the difference here. Once I spent extra on a five-year aged cheddar and it made this simple dish taste like something from a fancy restaurant. Good cheese brings amazing flavor that works so well with the crispy hash browns.
Make-Ahead Options
You can easily prep most of this ahead of time. Cook your bacon and keep it in the fridge up to three days. Cook the hash browns fresh when you're ready to eat, but everything else can be prepared in advance. Just cut the avocado last so it doesn't turn brown. With everything ready to go, you can throw this together in under five minutes on busy mornings.
Serving Suggestions
These loaded hash browns go great with a simple green salad for lunch or some scrambled eggs for a bigger breakfast. When I have friends over for brunch, I set up a build-your-own hash brown station. I put out little bowls with extras like pickled jalapeños, chopped tomatoes, different kinds of cheese, and fresh herbs. Everyone loves getting to customize their own, and it makes hosting so much easier.
Dietary Adaptations
You can easily change this recipe to fit different diets. Don't want dairy? Swap the sour cream for cashew cream and use dairy-free cheese instead. For vegetarians, just leave out the bacon or try a plant-based version. Watching carbs? Many grocery stores now sell cauliflower hash brown patties in their freezer section that work perfectly. All the toppings taste great no matter what base you go with.
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This dish makes any morning feel a bit more special. Have fun trying different toppings until you find your perfect combo!
Frequently Asked Questions
- → How do I cook the bacon for loaded hash browns?
Heat your oven to 400°F and cover a baking tray with foil. Put the bacon strips flat without overlapping and bake them for about 25 minutes until they're nice and crispy. After cooking, put them on paper towels to soak up the extra grease.
- → Can I air fry the hash browns instead of baking?
You sure can! Just pop them in the air fryer at 400°F for around 15 minutes, or check what your package says for the best results and crispiness.
- → What toppings work well with loaded hash browns?
Popular toppings are sliced avocado, a dollop of sour cream, a sprinkle of garlic salt, crumbled crispy bacon bits, grated sharp cheddar, chopped green onions, and some red pepper flakes if you want a bit of heat.
- → Can I use fresh potatoes instead of frozen hash browns?
Absolutely! Grate fresh potatoes and make sure to squeeze out all the water first. Then cook them in a pan or your oven till they're good and crispy before adding your favorite toppings.
- → How can I store leftover loaded hash browns?
Put any leftovers in a container with a tight lid and keep them in your fridge for up to 2 days. When you want to eat them, warm them up in your oven or air fryer so they'll stay crunchy.