Cheesy Loaded Hashbrown Bites (Printable version)
Crispy golden bites loaded with melted cheese, bacon, and green onions for any gathering.
# What you 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 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
→ Meats
05 - 1/2 cup cooked bacon, crumbled (omit for vegetarian)
→ Vegetables & Aromatics
06 - 1/4 cup finely chopped green onions
→ Seasonings & Pantry
07 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ Egg
11 - 1 large egg
# How To:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Coat a 24-cup mini muffin tin generously 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 each cup of the prepared mini muffin tin, pressing down gently to compact the filling.
04 - Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the tops and 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 chopped green onions on top.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- They come together in one bowl with zero fancy techniques, which means you can make them half asleep and still impress everyone.
- The crispy edges and gooey cheese center are basically the texture equivalent of a warm hug.
- They freeze beautifully, so you can stash a batch and reheat them on chaotic weekday mornings.
02 -
- If you skip patting the hashbrowns dry, your bites will steam instead of crisp and you will end up with soggy disappointment.
- Letting them cool those few minutes in the pan is not optional because they fall apart if you try to scoop them out too hot.
03 -
- Use a small cookie scoop to portion the mixture into the muffin tin for even sizing and less mess on your hands.
- Line your muffin tin with silicone cupcake liners for the easiest cleanup and perfectly shaped bites every single time.