Making food for showers and events can be trying, especially when it comes to creating just the right portion size. If you want an unexpected finger food to serve at your next party, try these cheesy hash brown cups. They’re a twist on the tater tots you might have been fed in school as a young kid, but they definitely have better flavor and some more sophistication. Once you’ve gathered the ingredients, these small treats can be created in about an hour and are a perfect portion for an appetizer.
Gathering Ingredients
To make cheesy hash brown cups, you will need: 1 (20 oz) bag McCain Hash Browns, 3 chopped green onions (about 1/3 cup total), 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and 2 tablespoons olive oil. You should also preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Combining Ingredients
To begin your recipe, chop the green onions – include both the white and green parts. Next, add the shredded potatoes to the bowl and mix them with the onions. You can then add the remaining ingredients in any order and toss everything with a spoon or fork until the mixture is well combined.
Dishing Portions
To make sure that your hash brown treats are equally sized, it’s best to use a pre-formed mold like a muffin pan to bake them. Spray your muffin pan with cooking spray to prevent the hash browns from sticking to the pan, and then dish out an appropriate portion into each spot in the tin with a spoon. Bear in mind that the cups will shrink slightly in size when baked.
Baking
Bake the hash brown cups for 60 to 75 minutes at 350 degrees. For the best browning, bake them on a rack near the bottom of your oven. When you pull them out, the tops won’t appear brown, but don’t worry – the top of each cup will soon become the bottom so they don’t need to be browned.
Serving
Let your hash brown cups cool for at least 5 minutes before you try to remove them from the pan. If you serve them too quickly, they may fall apart slightly. Place a baking sheet or foil under your muffin pan and turn the pan over. The hash browns will fall out upside down, which is the way they should be served. If you have a difficult time getting the hash browns to fall out of the pan, simply run a knife around the edge of each one and then flip the pan again.
Tips
These treats can be prepared in advance to save time on the day they will be served. Just mix the ingredients in a bowl and refrigerate until 30 minutes before they need to be baked. Prepare at least two hash brown cups for each guest. If you need to reheat these appetizers, keep in mind that they will lose some of their crispiness so they are best prepared just before served.
Hash brown cups are not only good for events, such as baby or bridal showers. They also make a good potato side for your family brunch or as a low calorie side for dinner.
Harry Davis is a retired chef of many years. He loves to write about cooking on various blogs sites. To find out what you can do with McCain’s hash browns, visit this page.
