Get your Waffle House hash brown fix at home. These extra crispy loaded hash browns are topped with a variety of ingredients and are hearty enough for a meal.

Copycat Waffle House hash browns: Extra crispy hash browns are topped with a variety of delicious ingredients.

For the most part, I love living in Minnesota. The four distinct seasons; the Minnesota State Fair; the 10,000+ lakes; the state parks.

But there is nothing like the feeling of driving south (or hopping on a plane and heading south) and seeing the first glimpse of a Waffle House sign.

It makes me so happy.

If you’re from the south, this probably isn’t a big deal to you. But for many of us northerners, the 24-hour, affordable, breakfast-anytime allure of Waffle Houses draws us south.

So what’s a northern-living, Waffle House-loving girl to do?

Make her own Waffle House copycat recipes at home, of course!

First up: Waffle House hash browns. 

Ingredients for copycat Waffle House hash browns: Choose your own favorite toppings and enjoy!

Recreate Waffle House’s Hash Browns At Home

If you’re not familiar, you can order hash browns at Waffle House any of the following ways:

  • Smothered (sautéed onions)
  • Covered (topped with melted cheese)
  • Chunked (smoked ham)
  • Diced (grilled tomatoes)
  • Peppered (jalapeno peppers)
  • Capped (grilled mushrooms)
  • Topped (chili)
  • Country (sausage gravy)

They’re loaded hash browns – and you get to pick the toppings.

My usual Waffle House hash brown order is this: smothered, covered, chunked, diced, peppered, and capped.

The concept is simple and easy to recreate at home: Make hash browns (extra crispy, of course), prepare toppings, pile toppings on the fried hash browns, and serve.

Recipe tip: Do not fry the potatoes and the toppings together. Frying them separately will ensure the hash browns are crispy and the toppings are perfectly cooked.

Toppings for copycat Waffle House hash browns: Onions, green pepper, ham, and more.

Hash Brown Topping Options

There are so many hash brown topping options – more than what’s on the menu at Waffle House. Here are some ideas:

  • Leftover ham
  • Bacon
  • Sausage
  • Chorizo sausage
  • Brisket
  • Onion
  • Bell peppers
  • Jalapeno peppers
  • Mushrooms
  • Tomatoes
  • Chili
  • Black beans
  • Sausage gravy
  • Cheese (cheddar, Mexican blend, Feta, etc.)
  • Uncooked toppings:
    • Salsa or pico de gallo
    • Green onion
    • Chives
    • Sour cream
    • Avocado
    • Hot sauce

What are your favorite kind of toppings to put on loaded hash browns?

Try this similar hash brown recipe in casserole form: Cheesy breakfast potatoes

Fully loaded hash browns: A Waffle House copycat recipe!

Copycat Waffle House hash browns: Extra crispy hash browns are topped with a variety of delicious ingredients.

Loaded Hash Browns (A Waffle House Copycat Recipe)

Yield: 6 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

The topping options for these loaded hash browns are endless! Use recommended toppings, below, or use what you have on hand to save money.

Ingredients

  • 30-ounce package frozen hash browns
  • 6 tablespoons cooking oil, divided
  • 1 yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 large green bell pepper, seeded and diced
  • 1 ham steak, cubed
  • 1 Roma tomato, diced
  • 2 green onions, chopped
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Garlic powder

Instructions

  1. For hash browns: Heat 4 tablespoons cooking oil over medium-high heat in a large frying pan. Once oil is hot, add hash browns. Cook according to package directions (which will probably say leave the hash browns to cook without stirring or disturbing, for 15 minutes, until browned on the bottom and hot on the top). Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
  2. For toppings: Heat remaining 2 tablespoons cooking oil over medium-high heat in a large frying pan. Add onion and cook until they begin to soften. Add green pepper and cook for about 2 minutes. Add ham and cook until browned. Place toppings into a bowl and set aside.
  3. Transfer hash browns to 2nd frying pan, so browned side is up. Place over low heat. Top with American cheese slices and allow to melt for a couple of minutes. Add toppings.
  4. Top with tomatoes and green onion. Serve.

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