Easy Baked Hash Browns - Lower Fat and Minimal Clean Up

Easy Baked Hash Browns are great to prepare when you have a hankering for some hash browns, but don't want to cook them up in a pan, drenched in fat.  If you have nonstick baking pan, it takes little more effort than to clean, shred and season several potatoes and some onion to whip these up.  The rest of the work is done for you, right in the oven.

Potatoes have more health benefits than they are given credit for.  Potatoes are often ranked in surveys as the top most satiating food.   As a great source of fiber, potassium, and many other nutrients outlined in my article, it's no wonder Americans love their spuds!  They are the ultimate healthy comfort food, depending upon how they are prepared, or served.  

While the fat + sodium, or salt combo is considered the most hyper-palatable food combination, we do things differently around here.  We aren't obsessed with avoiding fat, nor all oils, rather, we recommend finding the right balance for individual needs.  

While potatoes are not as commonly consumed among macrobiotic dieters, as they are considered too yin, I believe there's a time and place for spuds in your diet, most specifically when you crave them!  Certainly those following a vegan / whole foods, plant-base diet can enjoy these Easy Baked Hash Browns as a regular breakfast staple, if you so choose to do so!  They are great with Tofu Scramble!  You may also like these easy vegan breakfast options.

Easy Baked Hash Browns Recipe Notes

Considering how SASSY ~ Super Affordable, Simple, Satisfying & Yummy ~ these Easy Baked Hash Browns are, let's just jump right into the recipe, following a few recipe notes.

1. Choose your favorite spuds, or use a variety.  I like using Yukon golds, or yellow potatoes, combined with 1 sweet potato for the color and flavor.  I would not use red skin potatoes for this.
2. A food processor makes this go really quickly.
3. I recently purchased a Faberware, nonstick 9x13 inch baking pan for this, which works very well, and was very affordable.  Clean up is a breeze!  If you don't have, or use, a nonstick baking pan, as some non stick cookware can easily scratch and cause problems depending on the materials used, then prepare your pan as you need to with oil of choice, or possibly use parchment paper.
4. I do not personally make these Easy Baked Potatoes super crispy.  I like some crispy parts, but prefer moister food in general, being a Vata dosha type.  For crispier hash browns, bake a bit longer with the heat cranked up, or finish them in the broiler. Another option is to use a baking sheet versus a deeper baking pan.  I prefer the deeper pan, but having the potatoes in a thinner layer will help them brown up more.
5. I'm thinking as I type this recipe that those who love cooking in iron skillets may be able to still prepare these Easy Baked Hash Browns in a large iron skillet, in the oven.  And if you have two iron skillets, you can mash the hash down for a crispier hash.  But, I digress, as this recipe is for those who want some super easy, minimal fuss hash browns that are not drenched in butter or fat.
6. Vary the seasonings as desired.  I did not list the quantities.   It's not rocket science here!
   

Easy Baked Hash Browns with Yukon Gold Potatoes and a Sweet Potato, with seasonings used above

Easy Baked Hash Browns Recipe

INGREDIENTS

• 4-6 Yukon gold potato, or your choice of potatoes
• 1 small to medium-sized orange-flesh sweet potato
• 1-2 small to medium sweet or yellow onions
• Onion powder, garlic powder 
• Salt / sea salt & pepper
• Paprika
• Dried parsley, optional 
• Nutritional yeast, optional
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil

STEPS

1. Preheat oven to 375º.  Prepare a baking pan with some of the oil if not using nonstick.
2. Clean potatoes, and cut in half or whatever size will fit into your food processor.  If grating with a hand grater, grate them whole.
3. Peel and shred onions.
4. Either place potato and onion in a large bowl, and mix in the seasonings, or put them right into your baking pan.  Generously season with 1-2 tablespoons each of onion and garlic powder, a couple teaspoons of paprika (I use sweet, but use sweet and/or smoked paprika as per your taste preferences), and a little sea salt and pepper.  I also like to add about a tablespoon of dried parsley.  You can use it, omit it, or swap it out for oregano, or any other herb or spice you like.
5. Once the potatoes and onion are evenly coated with the seasonings, spread them in your baking pan.
6. Sprinkle nutritional yeast across the top, if using.  (I probably use around a tablespoon or so, maybe more.)  
7. Drizzle a little oil across the top to help the potatoes brown.  I put my finger on the top of the bottle and drizzle the oil on.  I would try to limit total oil to 1 tablespoon, more or less, keeping in mind that this recipe will be enough for at least 4 servings.
8. Bake for about 30 minutes.  Use a spatula to flip sections of it over, then return to the oven for another 10-15 minutes, depending on desired doneness.  I let my Easy Baked Hash Browns crisp up around the edges, and a little across the top, while letting the rest of the potatoes remain soft and well cooked, without being super crispy.

Breakfast with a special, Chinese Food Therapy Aduki Bean Stock Soup, Easy Baked Hash Browns & Trader Joe's Whole Wheat English Muffin

Easy Baked Tofu & Hash Browns

Weekend Meal of Veggie Burghers, Reheated Easy Baked Hash Browns, Quick Imagine Cumin Carrot Soup & Salad; Reheat Hash Browns in a covered heat-proof oven at 350º for 15-20 minutes

A few more recipe notes about the Easy Baked Hash Browns

1. If you want this to be oil-free, skip the oil.  I use oil judiciously, but have not found valid evidence supporting all the concerns about seed oils ~ especially if using good quality oils, free of hexanes and bleaching agents ~ to warrant avoiding them.  That said, if you have health issues or health goals for which you choose to omit them, then omit the oil.  They can be spritzed with some broth or water as needed to moisten the potatoes.   Or, as mentioned in the recipe notes above, possibly bake them on a thinner baking sheet for easier browning.
   
   
2. To reheat leftovers, simply place in a stainless steel or other heat-proof container and reheat at 350º or lower if you want it to slowly reheat while you get ready.  I prefer to cover it so the hash browns don't dry out.
   

Ways to Serve Easy Baked Hash Browns

Easy Baked Tofu, Hash Browns & Greens (above); Quick Weekend Meal with Veggie Burgers, Reheated Hash Browns, Soup & Salad (center)

Easy Baked Tofu Scramble with Chorizo

• Enjoy Hash Browns with ketchup or salsa.  
• Wrap them in a tortilla with beans, greens & green chilis or salsa for a breakfast burrito.
• Serve with Tofu Scramble or Easy Baked Tofu Scramble with Chorizo and QB Greens or steamed vegetables.
• Have them as a side with Veggie Burgers, a salad and pickles.

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Here are more Easy Vegan / Plant-Based Breakfast Options. 

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Tofu Scramble (3 Versions)  or Easy Baked Tofu Scramble with Chorizo