If you’ve ever wondered what meat goes with hash brown casserole, you’re not alone. The answer may not be what you expect.
Hash brown casserole is a classic American dish made by frying potatoes and then adding other ingredients such as cheese, green onions and bacon.
The result is a dish that’s crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside.
A popular side dish at breakfast, lunch and dinner, hash brown casserole can be a bit of a mystery. Many people think that you can’t add meat to it or that meat will make it taste gamy.
The good news is that you can add meat to it. The bad news is that many people think that you can’t add meat to it or that meat will make it taste gamy.
But, you don’t have to choose between meat and potato. You can have both by using meat that goes well with potatoes and by choosing meat that doesn’t overpower the overall flavor of the dish.
What Meat Goes Well with Hash Brown Casserole?
For the best flavor with your hash brown casserole, you’ll want to use a good, quality cut of meat. Ground beef, ground pork, turkey sausage, veal sausage and fresh ham are all good options.
If you want a vegetarian dish, you could also use extra crumbled tofu, an egg and some cheese.
Bacon
If you want to take your hash brown casserole to the next level, pour some bacon grease into the bottom of your casserole dish and put the bacon into the refrigerator to chill. When you’re ready to prepare the casserole, put the bacon into a kitchen towel and gently squeeze the bacon grease from the bacon into the casserole dish.
You’ll get better flavor and a richer color from the potatoes with bacon added.
Ham
You might be surprised to learn that ham goes well with potatoes. Try adding sliced, precooked ham to your hash brown casserole to add flavor while cutting the fat content.
If you’re not a ham person, you could also use precooked bacon, fresh sausage or even precooked ground beef.
Sausage
Sausage is a good addition to a hash brown casserole dish because it’s both protein- and fiber-rich. If you’re looking for more fiber, precooked fresh green beans can be added to the dish.
For a meatier flavor, pair your sausage with some fresh ground beef or add some fresh vegetables such as bell peppers, corn, carrots or broccoli.
Fresh Turkey
Turkey is a good choice for a protein in a hash brown casserole because it’s mild in flavor and combines well with the other flavors in the dish. You can either use fresh ground turkey or use the light version of the same thing and cut down on the fat.
Fried Egg
The flavor of the fried egg balances out the strong flavors in the casserole and gives it a rich, homestyle flavor. You can either use the egg from a carton or make your own using a couple of eggs, milk and salt or pepper.
Eggs are a good source of protein and minerals such as vitamin B-12 and vitamin D, as well as being a good source of protein.
Other Meat Ideas
Sliced steak, ground beef, roast beef or pork loin can all be added to your hash brown casserole for a change of pace. If you want to add more vegetables, try adding chopped broccoli, diced tomatoes, corn, green peas or carrots.
For a vegan or gluten-free version, replace the bacon with vegetable oil and use tamari or soy sauce in place of the salt.
Frozen Meat Ideas
If you’re short on time, you can use a pre-frozen meat product. Just make sure that it’s thoroughly frozen and pulverize it in a food processor or use a handheld blender to get it as fine as possible.
Conclusion
Hash brown casserole is a classic American dish made by frying potatoes and then adding other ingredients such as cheese, green onions and bacon.
The result is a dish that’s crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. A popular side dish at breakfast, lunch and dinner, hash brown casserole can be a bit of a mystery. Many people think that you can’t add meat to it or that meat will make it taste gamy.
The good news is that you can add meat to it. The bad news is that many people think that you can’t add meat to it or that meat will make it taste gamy.
But, you don’t have to choose between meat and potato. You can have both by using meat that goes well with veggies like potatoes and by choosing meat that doesn’t overpower the overall flavor of the dish.
