Cheesy Loaded Hashbrown Bites (Printable)
Crispy hashbrown cups loaded with melted cheddar, bacon, and green onions for any gathering.
# What You'll Need:
→ Potatoes
01 - 3 cups frozen shredded hashbrowns, thawed and patted dry
→ Dairy
02 - 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
03 - 1/2 cup sour cream
04 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
→ Meats (Optional)
05 - 1/2 cup cooked bacon, crumbled (optional, omit for vegetarian)
→ Vegetables & Aromatics
06 - 1/4 cup finely chopped green onions
→ Seasonings & Pantry
07 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
08 - 1/2 tsp onion powder
09 - 1/2 tsp salt
10 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
→ Binder
11 - 1 large egg
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Generously coat a 24-cup mini muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the thawed hashbrowns, shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, melted butter, crumbled bacon (if using), chopped green onions, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and egg. Stir until all ingredients are evenly distributed.
03 - Spoon the mixture evenly into the prepared mini muffin cups, pressing down gently to firmly pack each one.
04 - Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the edges are golden brown and crispy.
05 - Let the bites cool in the tin for 3 to 5 minutes before carefully removing. Serve warm with additional sour cream or extra chopped green onions on top.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- They come together in one bowl with zero fussy techniques, which means you can make them half asleep and still impress everyone.
- The crispy edges and melty cheese center hit that magical spot between comfort food and party appetizer.
- You can prep the mixture the night before and just pop them in the oven when guests arrive.
02 -
- Do not skip patting the hashbrowns dry with paper towels because excess moisture is the enemy of crispiness and your bites will spread instead of holding shape.
- Letting them cool those few minutes in the pan is not optional, as they firm up dramatically and become much easier to remove in one piece.
03 -
- Press a tiny indent into the top of each bite before baking and fill with a small cube of cream cheese for a molten center surprise.
- If your mixture feels too wet to hold together, stir in a tablespoon of flour or panko breadcrumbs to absorb the extra moisture without changing the flavor.