Waffle House Hash Browns

Waffle House Hash Browns are a popular breakfast dish and can be enjoyed plain or smothered in toppings. These crispy hashbrowns pair deliciously with eggs, bacon, sausage, and so much more. DIY hash browns will satisfy your craving in the comfort of your own kitchen.

Copycat Waffle House hash browns and a fork on a napkin.


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What makes Waffle House hash browns so good? 

If you have ever stumbled hungry and half-asleep into a Waffle House, you know the food may not be fine dining, but it sure tastes mighty delicious. Although everything on the menu is good, the hash browns are truly legendary.

Crispier than french fries and easy to customize, Waffle House’s iconic hash browns go with just about anything. Whether you have a favorite seat at your local Waffle House or have never been to one, if you like potatoes, you need to try this Waffle House Hash Browns recipe.

Why you’ll love this recipe 

It’s true. Anyone can make hash browns, but if you want to make yours as good as the ones they serve at Waffle House, you need to learn a few recipe tips and tricks.

Since this recipe utilizes pre-shredded potatoes, you don’t have to get out the box grater to grate russet potatoes, soak and drain the potatoes to get rid of the excess start, par-cook the grated potatoes, or any of the lengthy steps typically involved with making homemade hash browns.

Don’t worry. This copycat Waffle House Hash Browns recipe shows you how you can enjoy some of the best hash browns without needing to make a trip to the restaurant. 

Classic Waffle House Hash Brown ingredients

To make these hash browns, you’ll need: 

  • Warm water 
  • Waffle House Hashbrown Potatoes 
  • Unsalted butter (see note below)
  • Vegetable oil (see note below)
Copycat Waffle House hash browns ingredients on a tray.

Ingredient notes

You need shredded and dehydrated potatoes for this recipe, and you can buy the exact product Waffle House uses online from the company. Don’t want to wait? Try similar products from Hungry Jack, Idaho Spuds, and Idahoan that are available at your local store. 

A mixture of butter and vegetable oil will work, but one of the reasons Waffle House Hash Browns taste so good at the restaurant is because of what they fry them in. Recreate the same flavor at home by replacing the regular butter and vegetable oil with Crisco Butter Flavor All Vegetable Shortening.

How to make hash browns like Waffle House

To prepare the copycat version of Waffle House classic hash browns:

  1. Heat water until it reaches at least 120°F. If you don’t have a thermometer, heat the water until the first bubbles appear on the side of the pot, and then switch off the heat.
  2. Carefully pour enough water into the carton of dehydrated hash brown potatoes until it reaches the fill line. Close the carton and wait for about 12 minutes. Drain any extra liquid from the carton. 
  3. Place a large non-stick skillet, cast iron skillet, or flat grill over medium-high heat. 
  4. Add the unsalted butter and vegetable oil or butter-flavored Crisco to the cooking surface. 
  5. Sprinkle on the rehydrated potato shreds and form into thin patties in a round shape. 
  6. Press the top of the hash brown patties lightly with a spatula and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Flip the hash browns and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes until lightly brown and crispy. 
Collage of making copycat Waffle House hash browns.

Recipe variations 

One of the best things about ordering hash browns at Waffle House is the sheer number of ways you can customize them. While you won’t need to be fluent in Waffle House hash browns lingo to make your favorite version at home, below are just some of the Waffle House hash browns options restaurant customers can’t get enough of:

  • Waffle House Hash Browns Scattered. The shredded potatoes are sprinkled over the cooking surface to cook. This ensures extra crispy hash browns. 
  • Waffle House Smothered Hash Browns Dice onions and saute them in a bit of butter. Sprinkle the sauteed onions over the hash browns.
  • Waffle House Covered Hash Browns After flipping the hash browns, cover them with a slice of American cheese and let it melt. 
  • Waffle House Topped Hash Browns A ladle of chili turns these hash browns into a lunch or light dinner. 
  • Waffle House Loaded Hash Browns Another name for All the Way Hash Browns, this belly buster comes with all the possible toppings, including sauteed onions, American cheese, chopped ham, diced tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, mushrooms, chili and country gravy.

Or sprinkle your favorite toppings to make your own perfect hash browns creation.

Copycat Waffle House hashbrowns on a plate.

What to serve with hash browns

Although you could make a meal out of the Hash Browns All the Way Waffle House serves, they’re better when you pair them with a couple of other breakfast favorites or even use them in more creative ways, like:

  • Eggs. Any style of eggs goes great with hash browns, but one of the best combos is poached eggs served on top of a pile of extra-crisp scattered hash browns and plenty of hot sauce. 
  • Steak. Skip the fries, and make it steak and hash browns instead. Grilled hangar or skirt steak is inexpensive, easy to cook, and will taste great when paired with crunchy hash browns. 
  • Casserole. Replace the breadcrumb crust of your favorite casserole with these hash browns. 

How to store hash browns

Cool the leftovers and put them in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer. They will last in the refrigerator for two to three days and in the freezer for up to a month.

If you are freezing the hash browns, flash-freeze them on a parchment-lined baking tray for two hours before transferring them to a freezer-safe container. You can reheat the hash browns from frozen, but they will take longer.

What is the best way to reheat Waffle House hash browns? 

The quickest and easiest method to heat up hash browns is in a skillet:

  1. Warm a non-stick skillet over medium heat. 
  2. When the skillet is hot, add some oil and start reheating the hash browns.
  3. Cook the hash browns for 4 to 6 minutes per side until hot. 
Copycat Waffle House hash browns on a plate and a fork next to it.

More hash brown recipes

Favorite breakfast recipes

Check out more of my easy breakfast recipes and the best copycat restaurant recipes on CopyKat!

Copycat Waffle House hash browns on a plate and a fork next to it.

Waffle House Hash Browns

You can make crispy hash browns like Waffle House with this easy copycat recipe.
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Waffle House Recipes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Resting: 12 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 213kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 4.2-ounce package Hungry Jack Original Hashbrown Potatoes
  • hot water minimum 120°F
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Instructions

  • Open the Hungry Jack carton and add hot tap water to the level of fill line. Close the carton and let stand for 12 minutes. Open the carton and drain any excess liquid.
  • Place the butter and vegetable oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Spread the hashbrowns evenly in the skillet and pat down with a spatula. Cook on one side for 3 to 4 minutes until crispy. Flip and cook for an additional 3 to 4 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 213kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 460mg | Potassium: 246mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 0.003g | Vitamin A: 87IU | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 0.3mg

About Stephanie Manley

I recreate your favorite restaurant recipes, so you can prepare these dishes at home. I help you cook dinner, and serve up dishes you know your family will love. You can find most of the ingredients for all of the recipes in your local grocery store.

Stephanie is the author of CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home, and CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home 2.

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