Homemade Hash Browns Recipe

Boos, let me introduce you to the BEST Hash Browns you’ll ever lay your taste buds on! Each bite is a bomb mix of crispy golden edges with a soft, tender center. This breakfast game changer is so easy to whip up, packed with flavor, and delish, you might just forget about heading to the diner ever again!

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Homemade hash browns served up on. a plate with bacon and eggs.

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I love greasy spoons.  Ya know.  The kind with late-night hours, kitschy diner decor, sassy waitresses, and the best breakfast food you can imagine.  

As soon as you enter, you can smell the pancakes (though these brown sugar pancakes are my faves to make at home now), french toast, orders of eggs, and hash browns ripe on the griddle.  

While you all know how much I adore pancakes, there is something quite special to me about crispy hash browns (really breakfast potatoes in general to be honest).

Sure I will still be hitting my local greasy spoon whenever the craving strikes but if I need a quick and delicious fix, I don’t have to look any further than my very own kitchen.

Why You Will Love The Best Hash Browns

  • An easy way to cook perfectly crispy hash browns each and every time!
  • Everyone’s favorite breakfast food!
  • A budget-friendly way to enjoy just-like-the-diner crispy hash browns.

Ingredients

You don’t need much to make the best crispy breakfast potatoes this weekend! Here’s the list:

Ingredients to make hash brown potatoes on the table.
  • Potatoes: Crispy hash browns start with using quality potatoes.  I like to use russet potatoes.  They are sturdy and create a wonderful texture. You could also use sweet potatoes for a sweet yet savory flavor and twist on a classic.
  • Oil and butter: The butter adds flavor to your hash browns while the oil helps keep it from burning.
  • Salt and pepper: For flavor!

How to Make Hash Browns

These hash brown potatoes are crisp, crunchy, buttery, salty, and oh-so lovely.  After enjoying several hundreds of orders (I’m sure at least 100) of hash browns in my life, I decided I should really start making them at home, and they couldn’t be any easier.

  1. Shred the potatoes.  Use a CHEESE GRATER to make the perfect shredded potatoes! So simple and really easy.

PRO TIP: Use the larger holes so you can get large enough potato shreds to have substantial flavor and taste.

Potatoes shredded on a cutting board with a cheese grater next to it.
  1. Get rid of the moisture.  Lay the shredded potatoes on a paper towel and then squeeze to remove as much water as possible.

PRO TIP: Potatoes contain a lot of moisture, so to get super crispy hash browns, you must dry them out before cooking.

Shredded potatoes on a paper towel.
  1. Add the butter and oil to a skillet and heat on the stove over medium heat.
Butter and oil in a skillet to cook hash browns.
  1. Add salt and pepper to the potatoes while cooking to give that perfect diner hash brown recipe flavor!
  2. Cook on one side until a golden brown crust forms and then flip it over and cook on the other side.
Cooked hash browns in a skillet with a wooden spoon under the potatoes in the pan.

What to Serve With Hash Browns

Serve them up with other classic diner faves such as eggs and bacon or try one of these other breakfast recipes!

Cooked hash browns in a skillet on the counter with a potato and other ingredients around the pan.

Expert Tips

  • You must dry the shredded potatoes on paper towels and ring them out as much as possible.
  • Don’t skimp on the salt and pepper! Potatoes soak up a lot of salt so don’t be stingy with it.
  • Cook the potatoes in the skillet without moving so that it forms that nice crisp crust on the outside.
  • Enjoy hash browns freshly cooked for the best flavor.
  • Store leftovers in the fridge for up to four days but don’t freeze. You can reheat them in a skillet until hot.

FAQs

Should I use butter or oil for hash browns?

The addition of butter and oil is great because it is both incredibly flavorful from the butter but it won’t burn.ย  The oil helps to make sure that the potatoes won’t burn.

Why won’t my hash browns get crispy?

The secret to crispy hash browns, like Ihop and other diners, is to make sure to dry the potatoes as much as possible. Lay them out on a paper towel and squeeze out as much water as possible.

The BEST Hash Browns (Perfect Hash Brown Recipe) | Grandbaby Cakes

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Homemade hash browns on a white plate with eggs and bacon strips.

Homemade Hash Browns Recipe

This is a perfect crispy hash brown recipe! Easy, flavorful and absolutely delicious! Make this popular breakfast side right at home and give up the diner!
4.32 from 19 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course: Breakfast
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 2-3 russet potatoes
  • ยผ cup salted butter
  • ยผ cup vegetable oil
  • Salt and pepper

Instructions

  • Using a cheese grater, grate all potatoes until completely shredded. Use the large holes of the grater to get nice sized shreds.
  • Place potato shreds on paper towels and remove all excess liquid from them until dry.
  • Heat butter and oil over medium high heat in a large skillet (add more butter and oil if the entire surface of the skillet is not covered).
  • Once butter/oil mixture is hot, add potato shreds to pan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  • Once a golden brown crust develops on the bottom of the potatoes, flip them on the other side.
  • Once golden brown on both sides, season to taste and serve hot.

Video

Notes

You must dry the shredded potatoes on paper towels and ring them out as much as possible for crispy hash browns.
Don’t skimp on the salt and pepper! Potatoes soak up a lot of salt so don’t be stingy with it.
Cook the potatoes in the skillet without moving so that it forms that nice crisp crust on the outside.
Enjoy hash browns freshly cooked for the best flavor.
Store leftovers in the fridge for up to four days but don’t freeze. You can reheat them in a skillet until hot.

Nutrition

Calories: 202kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 71mg | Potassium: 296mg | Vitamin A: 235IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 0.6mg
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This post was originally published April 2016. It has been updated with new content and images.

Filed Under:  Breakfast, Potatoes

Comments

  1. Oooh this is just so timely! I had some delicious hash browns recently that’s got me thinking about making some at home – this recipe looks like a perfect place to start. Yum, looks delicious!

  2. Great recipe. I love hash browns. Also, I just bought your book and can’t wait to start baking. Thanks for the great recipes and especially the memories and pictures.

  3. Love how straightforward this is! Hash browns are a definite draw at the diner and we do love to hit the diner for a big breakfast! Now I can make hash brown at home and get them just right like this… thank you!

  4. Hash browns are my favorite kind of potato, for sure! And I love how crispy you got yours ๐Ÿ™‚

  5. Thanks for the recipe! I am not a huge hash brown fan, but my daughter LOVES them; these will be a hit in my house. They almost look like Waffle House hash browns. Thanks for sharing!

  6. I always struggle to get by hash browns crispy. Yours look perfect and I can’t wait to try them!

    1. The secret is to get the spuds as dry as possible. I use a potato ricer to press out the juices.

  7. My 5 year old is currently obsessed with potatoes and hash browns in particular. I’ll have to make this for her soon!

4.32 from 19 votes (9 ratings without comment)

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