This Farmer’s Casserole recipe is a very popular breakfast recipe. It’s the perfect recipe to serve when you have a house full of guests or relatives. Watch the short video showing you how to make Farmer’s Casserole, then scroll to the end of this post to print out the recipe so you can make it at home.
What is a Farmer’s Casserole?
Farmer’s casserole is a delicious breakfast casserole that is made up of a few simple “farm-friendly” ingredients. It calls for hash browns, eggs, cheese, ham, green onions and evaporated milk. It’s all baked together to create a baked breakfast casserole.
I have made this recipe many times for Thanksgiving morning, Christmas morning, Easter brunch, kid sleepovers, family gatherings and more. It’s the kind of recipe that everyone enjoys so much, and it’s a very popular recipe here on the RecipeGirl site!
Change things up by adding in a tablespoon of Dijon mustard, mixing in sauteed bell peppers and using a combination of cheeses.
Some of my readers have mentioned that they also enjoy making this for dinner. Leftovers eaten the next day are delicious!
Is Farmer’s Casserole Gluten Free?
Since my Mom has to eat gluten-free these days, I was super happy to find that I could make this breakfast casserole completely gluten free.
I use Ore-Ida shredded hash browns for this recipe if I need to make it gluten-free. If you don’t need to worry about that, just use whatever hash browns you can find! Evaporated milk is naturally gluten-free, so you don’t have to worry about that. Check the label on the ham you buy to make sure it’s gluten-free.
Can you use regular milk instead of evaporated milk in Farmer’s Casserole?
I don’t recommend using regular milk. Evaporated milk is more concentrated and creamy. It works best in this recipe. You can locate evaporated milk in your market’s baking aisle. Those who have used regular milk find that the casserole turns out too watery.
Can you use fresh potatoes instead of frozen hash browns in Farmer’s Casserole?
I don’t recommend using fresh potatoes for this recipe. When you grate the fresh potatoes, they will immediately begin to oxidize and turn an unappetizing grey color. Frozen hash browns work great for this recipe!
If you are looking for more recipes to serve with this recipe, you might enjoy adding Banana Coffee Cake and Fruit Salad with Lime Syrup to the menu. Champagne Brunch Punch also looks very good!
Farmer’s Casserole
Recipe Details
Ingredients
- 6 cups frozen, shredded hash brown potatoes
- 1½ cups shredded Jalapeno Monterey Jack Cheese (can sub cheddar or Swiss)
- 2 cups diced, cooked ham (or Canadian bacon)
- ½ cup sliced green onions
- 8 large eggs, beaten (or 2 cups egg substitute)
- Two 12-ounce cans evaporated milk (can use whole, 2% or fat free)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
Instructions
- Grease a 3-quart rectangular baking dish. Arrange potatoes evenly in the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle with cheese, ham, and green onion. In a large mixing bowl, combine eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Pour egg mixture over potato mixture in dish.
- At this point, you can cover and refrigerate until ready to bake (several hours or overnight). When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350°F. Bake, uncovered, for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until the center appears set. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving. If baking after casserole has been chilled, you will need to increase baking time to 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Video
Notes
- Add Tabasco for a bit of a kick.
- Serve with a good dollop of sour cream.
Can this Farmer’s Casserole be put together and go directly into a freezer and baked later?
I have not tried freezing it, but it can certainly be prepared the night before and then baked the next morning.
Lori-just want to verify the evaporated milk is 2- 12 ounce cans. It seems like a lot more milk than most egg recipes I have tried. I am in a quest to find a great egg casserole and am looking forward to trying this one!
Yes! My recipe calls for more eggs and hash browns than other recipes you’ll find for Farmer’s Casserole.
Awesome for breakfast, brunch or dinner! I love that you list recipes to pair with main dishes! Sometimes the hardest thing is finding a side!
What a great classic to have when family and friends are coming over! I love how easy this is too!
Question on the “6 cups”…. Do you just use the whole bag of shredded hashbrowns? I think the OrIda bags are around 30 ounces. Thanks!
I’m not sure as bag sizes vary- to be safe, I’d measure out the 6 cups!
I want to make this because it sounds delicious. I am wondering if you can make it in a casserole style crockpot like overnight or maybe in the morning before leaving the house & having it ready for dinner that night. What would you think?
I’ve never tried making a breakfast casserole in the crockpot, so I’m not sure!
What about replacing ham with bacon and sausage?
sure!
This is such a hearty breakfast – perfect for lazy weekend mornings!
I can’t wait to make it again! Really delicious!
I love this for when I have a house full of people – always a hit!
A great way to feed a crowd.
I love this farmer’s casserole! Easy to make, so comforting too.
This looks so good, YUMMY
This casserole is so cheesy and family pleasing!
My family will love this!
Wow. It looks absolutely perfect and delicious
Hi Just a question about the evaporated milk. When you wrote you can use whole or 2% or free, did you mean regular milk that comes in the containers or is there evaporated milk 2% etc. Thanks
Good question. Evaporated milk is sold as either whole, 2% or fat free. You can use any of those. Don’t use regular milk 🙂
I’m making this for Christmas morning, tomorrow! I just saw the question in the comments about evaporated milk and your answer to NOT use regular milk!!! I wish that was clear up front because I bought regular milk thinking that’s what you meant as an option! Great. I hope breakfast isn’t ruined! 😩
This dish was great! Everyone loved it! For those concerned that it was too runny – you just may need to bake it longer. After taking it out of the refrigerator, I had to bake mine for 1 hr and 40 minutes – then it was perfect!! Cut it down the middle – if it is runny – leave it in longer until it is baked through.
Hi Lori,
I have a question about the farmer’s casserole. I made it before and LOVED it. My brother and his family were coming in tonight late tonight so I made this today almost all the way done so that I can pop it in the over tomorrow quickly before we head to the beach early tomorrow morning. BUT now, he is not coming till tomorrow so we are not going to the beach until Sunday. Will this be ok in the Frig until Sunday morning, almost fully cooked?
Thanks, Denise
Hmmm, I’ve never partially cooked it… so I would be a little weary about advising that it will be ok. No idea. Sorry!
Can you use dried hashbrowns in a box?
I have never done that, so I’m not sure!
does it have to be evaporated milk?? or can I use 2%
I would use evaporated milk… it is more concentrated than regular milk.
I made this and it was runny in the middle and was burning on top. I cut into the middle, put foil on top and cooked for another 20 minutes. 80 minutes total and it was still a little runny. Next time I will only use 12 ounces of evaporated milk and 6 eggs. I used southwest frozen hash browns and added additional spices so it wouldn’t be bland. Added bacon, mushrooms, green pepper too. Great with salsa on top.
Made it with O’BRIAN potatoes and sharp chedder…one pan with ham the other with jimmy dean hot sausage….now I’m getting demands too mKe it all the time instead of special occasions LOL….Nope it’s just for Thanksgiving and Christmas mornings….maybe New Years with the Rose Parade????
great idea!
Has anyone tried freezing this to save for later?? Thanks!
I haven’t tried freezing this…
I’m looking for a recipe to make in a large roaster, not regular oven or crock pot. I was unsure of temp and times for the roaster, and if I could double the recipe?
I’ve never cooked with a roaster before, so I don’t think I’ll be much help!
I would love to make this, it looks so good, but I can’t eat eggs, can you make this without the egg?
Well, it’s an egg casserole… so I think I’d try another recipe because leaving out the egg will not work.