Hash Brown Pie

We absolutely love traditional hash browns, but I do not enjoy making them at the campsite so instead we enjoy this Hash Brown Pie!

We prefer our hash browns on the crispy side, but I can’t always get them to cooperate while camping. In desperation one time I took the ingredients for our breakfast, mixed them together, and dumped them in our cast iron skillet. Then I cooked it that way and our Hash Brown Pie became a new favorite.

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Cast Iron Goodness

Who doesn’t love food cooked outdoors? Actually, we know a lot of people who don’t, and we just have to feel sorry for them. Because we love to cook outdoors, and our cast iron cookware makes it so easy. We own multiple pieces and this recipe calls for our cast iron skillet.

What we love about Hash Brown Pie:

• Uses easy to find ingredients
• Extremely forgiving
• Allows for substitutions

The Necessary Ingredients for Hash Brown Pie:

• Eggs (for a binder)
• Milk (just a little bit)
• Salt and Pepper (why not?)
• Shredded Hash Browns (not the chunks!)
• Cheese (makes it tasty)

The Optional Ingredients for Hash Brown Pie:

• Bacon or Ham (we love bacon in this)
• Onions (white, green, red)
• Peppers (bell, spicy, etc.)
• Mushrooms (thinly sliced)

The Suggested Toppings for Hash Brown Pie:

• Sour Cream
• Salsa
• Chili
• Gravy

The Process for Making Hash Brown Pie:

1. (Optional) Preheat your cast iron skillet over the camp stove while getting your ingredients ready.
2. If any of your ingredients will be better cooked first (bacon, onion, etc.) go ahead and do that.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together your eggs, milk, salt, and pepper.
4. Stir in the hash browns, cheese, and any additional ingredients. (We typically include precooked bacon to make our kid happy.) Mix thoroughly.
5. Spray your skillet with nonstick cooking spray if you are not confident in your skillet’s seasoning.
6. Dump your hash brown mixture into the skillet and spread it evenly. Cover with the lid.
7. Bake until the edges are crispy, about 30-35 minutes.
8. Place in bowl or on plate and add additional seasonings as you desire.
9. Divide your Hash Brown Pie into as many servings as you need.
10. Provide toppings for your hungry eaters. We enjoy sour cream, salsa, chili, you name it.

FAQ and How to Customize Hash Brown Pie:

Q: What sort of cheese do you suggest for Hash Brown Pie?

A: I typically have a Mexican cheese blend at hand so that is what we tend to use. However, any cheese you are trying to use up and can be shredded or cut into small pieces will work. You will want something that ends up melting into the hash browns while it cooks.

Q: Is there a way to sneak some vegetables into this dish?

A: I’m not sure it can be considered sneaking since the vegetables will be seen, but we have easily included peppers, mushrooms, and even spinach in the Hash Brown Pie with no issues.

Q: I would love to up the protein content. Any suggestions?

A: Why yes, we do have some ideas. If the addition of bacon or chopped ham is not enough, we recommend topping individual slices of the dish with a fried egg.

Suggested Side Dish:

We love to serve this with some fresh fruit whenever possible.

General Tips for Cast Iron Cooking:

• Always  cook low and slow when using cast iron outdoors. It’s easy to overheat cast iron and it takes a long time to cool back down. And waiting for it to cool down enough to make your food can turn your hungry campers into hangry campers which is no fun for anyone.
• When it comes time to clean the cast iron, do not use cold water on a hot piece. It can weaken the metal and allow for stress points.
• If you choose to use soap, make sure it is biodegradable and if you don’t want to use soap, we love our Tawashi Brushes for scrubbing every bit of the cast iron.
• Don’t forget to keep it clean! There is nothing worse than pulling out your cast iron cookware at the campsite to find it was put away dirty.

Equipment Needed:

• Bowl and spoon: We prefer to mix up our ingredients in a large bowl before adding them to the skillet.
• Cutting board and knife: Unless you prep all your ingredients at home, you will need a knife and cutting board.
• Camp Stove: We definitely prefer to make this over our camp stove and not over the campfire.
• Cast iron skillet OR Dutch oven: You want something deep enough to contain your layers.
• Heat resistant gloves: If you are going to be working around a fire, at some point you will probably get burned. These gloves can help prevent that.

More Hash Brown Recipes to Enjoy while Camping:

• Bacon Wrapped Breakfast
• Ham and Cheese Hash Brown Foil Packs
• Pie Iron Egg in a Nest
• Stuffed Hash Browns

If you love hash browns and camping, give our Hash Brown Pie a try!

If you do make it, tag us on Instagram @campinganswer. We would love to know what you think about it and what optional ingredients you suggest we try the next time we make it ourselves.