When imagining what would be delicious to enjoy in a post-holiday food coma, a hash brown dish came to mind. But instead of basic hash browns, I wanted a more indulgent twist. Enter: cheese sauce.
This dish is adapted from the lovely High Carb Hannah (who, if you don’t follow on YouTube, you absolutely should). Her version uses frozen hash browns and a low-fat cheese sauce. My version uses fresh grated potatoes and a quick cashew-carrot queso.
The result is an incredibly comforting, cheesy, salty, garlicky potato dish (with some greens!) that’s tender on the inside and crispy on the edges. Mmmmm, let’s make cheesy hash browns!
This 10-ingredient cheesy hashbrown bake strikes the perfect balance between comfort and veggies with a base of potatoes and broccoli.
The veggies are seasoned liberally with sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and nutritional yeast.
Then the magic comes in from the cheesy, carrot-infused sauce.
Cashews provide a creamy base, carrot adds beautiful color (& nutrients), garlic lends zing, and nutritional yeast adds that “cheesy” flavor (without the cheese). Lastly, sea salt enhances all the flavors and dairy-free milk thins it to a pourable texture.
Look at that cheesy goodness!
The sauce gets poured over the veggies, smoothed out with a spoon, and into the oven it goes. And the result? A crispy, golden brown hashbrown bake!
We hope you LOVE this hashbrown bake! It’s:
Cheesy
Carby
Garlicky
Tender
Crispy on the edges
& SO delicious!
This is the perfect comforting side dish with breakfast or dinner. It would pair especially well with our Easy Vegan Sausage, Crispy Portobello Mushroom “Bacon”, or Fluffy Vegan Scrambled Eggs. Or, if not vegan, a perfect fried egg!
More “Cheesy” Vegan Recipes
- Cheesy Spaghetti Squash Pasta
- Cheesy Vegan Spinach & Artichoke Dip
- Cheesy Cauliflower Rice & Broccoli Bake
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!
Cheesy Broccoli Hashbrown Bake (Oil-Free)
Ingredients
SAUCE
- 1/2 cup raw cashews (if nut-free, try subbing sunflower seeds)
- 1/2 cup sliced carrot (could also sub red or orange bell pepper)
- 5-6 cloves garlic
- 5-6 Tbsp nutritional yeast
- 3/4 tsp sea salt, plus more to taste
- 1 ¼ cups unsweetened plain dairy-free milk (e.g. almond, rice, or oat milk)
VEGETABLES
- 5 cups packed shredded golden potatoes (or sub frozen hash browns, but they will be a bit more wet when baked)
- 5 cups chopped broccoli (bite-size pieces)
- 3/4 tsp each sea salt and black pepper, plus more to taste
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 4 Tbsp nutritional yeast
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (204 C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch (or similar) size baking dish (adjust number/size of pan if altering batch size).
- Soak cashews and carrots in very hot water for 20 minutes. Then drain the water and add them to a high-speed blender.
- If using a box grater, grate potatoes using the side with medium-sized holes. If using a food processor, cut into small pieces and use the grater attachment to grate the potatoes. Place the grated potatoes in a thin dish towel (or nut milk bag) and squeeze out the extra liquid (this prevents a soggy hashbrown bake).
- Add grated, drained potatoes and chopped broccoli to the prepared baking dish and top with sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and nutritional yeast. Toss to combine.
- To the blender, add garlic, nutritional yeast, salt, and almond milk and blend until smooth and creamy. Adjust flavor as needed, adding more garlic for zing, nutritional yeast for cheesy flavor, and salt for saltiness. It should be quite garlicky, cheesy, and salty, so don’t be shy.
- Pour the sauce over the potatoes and broccoli and toss to combine. Then use the back of a spoon to smooth out the top.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown and slightly crispy on the edges. Bake slightly longer for crispier edges. Optionally, for an even crispier surface, turn the oven to broil in the last few minutes.
- Best when fresh. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Not freezer friendly. Reheat in a 350 degree F (176 C) oven until warm.
Vivian says
I made this recipe exactly as posted above. I do NOT use non-stick pans so I oiled it. When mixing all the ingredients together in the pan I think the oil mixed itself into the potato mixture so mine stuck to the pan. I am going to make it for a group tomorrow so at least I now know to mix everything together in a bowl and then pour it into the greased pan. I think that should solve the problem. It is delicious!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks for sharing your experience, Vivian!
Erika says
Delicious! Thanks
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
xoxo!
Jessica says
Is there a substitute for nutritional yeast? It does not settle well with my stomach. Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Jessica, some chickpea, yellow, or white miso paste could be a good option. Maybe 1-2 Tbsp? We’d suggest making the sauce without the nutritional yeast and then tasting to see if you like it as is!
Debra says
Excellent! I followed the recipe as presented and it turned out great. Thanks.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks so much for the great review, Debra!
Samantha says
This recipe was really easy to make, having a food processor to make quick work of shredding the potatoes is a great bonus! I added dried chili flakes before getting the casserole in the oven to bake. My fiancé’s critique was that the broccoli flavor was a little pronounced for his taste but I loved it! We enjoyed this as a dinner side dish and will certainly make again.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Lovely! We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Samantha! Thank you for sharing! xo
Kim says
Hi could you premix it the night before and then just bake in the morning?
Also could you do a mix of kumara and potato ? Thanks
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Kim, That should work! But the potatoes will likely turn darker in color. We aren’t familiar with kumara, but it looks like maybe it’s the same thing as sweet potato? If so, that should work too. Let us know how it goes!
Anna says
This was so good! Definitely a keeper! Thank you for this recipe!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks so much, Anna!
Emily says
I’ve just tried this recipe and the potatoes are still raw. I tried another twenty minutes in the over and no dice. I’m not really sure how this would work unless you pre-boiled them.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Oh no! So sorry this didn’t work out for you, Emily. Did you make any modifications such as the size of your pan or the type of potato?
Brenda says
Can I use frozen broccoli?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Brenda, we think that might add too much moisture. If you try it, we’d suggest letting it defrost, then patting dry with a kitchen towel and perhaps baking a little longer. Let us know if you try it!
missy says
Nuts are not oil free
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Missy, sorry for any confusion here. We’re referring to no added oil.
Teresa says
Even vegetables have oils in them. When someone says oil free, they mean no added processed oil.
Mary says
Can this be made a day ahead and then baked?
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
That should work!
Josie says
This is so delicious. Will be making it again very soon. No modifications except I didn’t squeeze out the grated potatoes.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for sharing, Josie!
Nancy Steed says
Big problem with this dish is that the fresh grated potatoes were not cooked enough. I could cook the ahead of time that is time intensive. Very disappointed. I have had much success with your ither recipes but not this one
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
So interesting. Did you modify anything? Such as use a smaller pan? Sounds like it just needed a bit more time in the oven until it was all browned and tender.
Heather says
I didn’t have quite enough potatoes for the recipe, so I added kale. Absolutely loved the end result. We ate it as a main dish and there were no leftovers. Everyone thought it tasted great and had no idea it was diary free. Thank you, thank you!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
So great! Thanks for sharing, Heather!
Claudia says
This dish is so delicious! I made it with sweet potatoes and it was perfect!
Thank you Dana.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! We’re so glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing, Claudia!
Christina says
Made this today – big & rare snow day in Seattle. It is the perfect comfort food. Cheese sauce slightly missing something but I would definitely make this again and try some tweaks to the sauce.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks for sharing, Christina! Perhaps a squeeze of lemon would help? Hope you’re staying warm!
Cathryn Asp says
Could I add silken tofu to the sauce for protien?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We haven’t tried that, but think it would work well. Let us know how it goes!
Elizabeth says
This was my first time trying a vegan cheese sauce. I followed the recipe. I was neutral about the dish, it didn’t taste good, it didn’t taste bad. I wouldn’t make it again.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Elizabeth, we’re so sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy this one! Did you make any modifications? Since it’s your first time making a vegan cheese sauce, we wonder if it could be the brand of nutritional yeast since some taste better than others. Have you tried it with other recipes?
Lindsay says
This was delish! My partner loved it. I didn’t realize it was a side dish, though I should have realized that from the name and the ingredients. So we had this as a main. I think next time I will add some lemon to the sauce. I would have liked it to be a little cheesier but this was still amazing.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you both enjoyed it! It could also be enjoyed as a main =)
Emily says
This one was a miss, unfortunately. There are a lot of really good vegan cheese sauces out there, and for me, this one did not quite measure up. I think one of the cheese sauces made of potato (which makes it super creamy) would’ve been much better than the cashews. Next time, I would also add something to make it more interesting, like cayenne.
It also tasted dry, even though there was plenty of sauce. I’m not really sure how to get around that problem. Maybe cover with foil initially?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Emily, we’re sorry to hear this one didn’t turn out as hoped for! Did you make any modifications? If using less broccoli we could see it being a bit more dry. But your suggestion of using foil also sounds like a good one!
Sarah says
I used frozen hash browns and accidentally left it in the oven 10 minutes too long but it was extra crispy and super yummy. No leftovers in my house!
Was so happy to keep eating seconds because it’s plant based and not a gut buster like if you used real cheese. Thanks for the recipe!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad it still turned out well! Thanks so much for sharing, Sarah! xo
SS says
This was excellent! I used organic vegetable broth in place of the almond milk and added a little ACV to the cheese sauce. Very tasty!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Lovely! Thanks for sharing! xo
Alison says
This dish was very tasty indeed. I used loads of garlic, fresh and granules, salt, nutritional yeast, and I topped the dish with a good drizzle of Olive oil before placing it in the oven. I used a mix of full fat organic coconut milk from a tin and almond milk. I also substituted cashew nuts with sunflower seeds. And I served it with a simple salad dressed with lemon juice, olive oil and sesame butter. This truly had the winter comfort factor. But could be equally as satisfying all year round.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad it turned out well! Thanks so much for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications, Alison! xo
Manpreet Kaur says
What are your thoughts on using cauliflower instead of broccoli in this dish? Do you think that can be substituted as-is?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
That should work! Check out this recipe for inspiration.
Aimee says
Could you use russet potatoes instead of golden?
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
You can, we just prefer golden for texture and color!
Samantha Hart says
Yummy! I made this today am enjoying eating it. I would recommend it and make again. Thanks for the recipe!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Samantha! xo
Carrie says
I made this for dinner tonight, using red bell pepper instead of carrots only because I had some I needed to use up. It was perfectly cheesy and the broccoli was just the right degree of tender and not mushy. We topped ours with a fried egg for a little non-vegan extra yum. I would definitely make again!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Lovely! We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Carrie. Thanks so much for sharing! xo
Leah says
Hi there!! Do you have any sub recommendations for nutritional yeast? Unfourtanetly, I can’t eat it and I see it used in many of your recipes. Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Leah, you can try leaving it out and adding a little lemon juice. It won’t be quite as “cheesy” but should still taste good. Hope that helps!
Anna says
Love this recipe! Made it this afternoon and tasted delicious. My mum tried it and was in disbelief that it didnt have any cream in it. Didn’t have enough broccoli on hand so I added bits of kale and worked just as well. Other than that, I didn’t change anything from the recipe. Perfect! Definitely making this for my next potluck dinner :)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! We’re so glad you both enjoyed it, Anna! Thanks so much for sharing! xo
MS says
This was delish! I used my own cauliflower- based cheese sauce that I happened to already have leftovers of, and it worked perfectly and the saved time was welcome. I used a bit more than 2 cups and should’ve used less, it was too wet inside but still great. I baked closer to an hour (I like things very well browned) and will take the suggestion of someone who tossed after 40 min and baked an additional 20 minutes. I served with the vegan egg (which was fantastic) from Epicurious’s Best Vegan Breakfast Sandwich, homemade ketchup and hot sauce. Leftovers were superb because they were even more crusty from the second bake. Thank you for this, such a great idea and so easy!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Lovely! Thanks so much for sharing! xo
Holly says
This was so good! Thank you for the recipe! I expanded on this and turned it into a breakfast casserole by adding onions, red bell pepper, and tempeh that I seasoned to give a sausage flavor. I also used a little less nutritional yeast in the sauce and added a squeeze of lemon to help neutralize the cashew flavor. Everything else was the same. I’ve been wanting a savory vegan breakfast idea and this hit the spot!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
OMG amazing idea! Thanks for sharing, Holly!!
Jenny says
I made this for dinner tonight and added a can of drained (and microwaved for blendability) to the sauce. I would’ve liked it to be a little crispier, but it was still good!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks for sharing, Jenny! We’re not sure what was added from a can, but wonder if that impacted the crispiness?
Jenny says
Ha! Oops – a can of drained white beans. My bad!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Ah, gotcha! It’s possible that made a difference. But love the creativity =)
max louse says
very amazing!! Going to make it again. Thankyou for sharing.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing, Max!
Beans says
Made this. Was good. Need to add more garlic next time. Went with 5. Made sauce great though. Made cashew milk with extra cashews after soaking. Soaked carrot. Soaked potatoes and squeezed them before cooking. All soaking was for 18 hours. 410 for 30 mins, toss, cook 20, toss, cook 5 then boriled for 2 min. Should have cooked longer. The best parts weee the toasted ends. Should try to cook longer for more toasted next time. Boyfriend will let me try again. He did eat 2 plate fulls And salad.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks for sharing!
Sarah says
A carrot in cashew “cheese” sauce?! Who knew. Very wonderful recipe. Thanks!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Adds color and a little sweetness! Glad you enjoyed it, Sarah!
MS says
Hi! What would you say the yield of the sauce is? I have a premade sauce already and I can eyeball it but if you know how much sauce your recipe makes, that would be great. Thanks! (I have my eye on this for New Year’s Day breakfast!)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi! We’d estimate ~2 cups. Let us know if you try it!
Suzanne Harris says
I made this with broccoli only, no potatoes. It’s very delicious!!
My question is, does removing the potatoes make it freezer friendly?
Thank you!
I love your recipes!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Lovely! Thanks for sharing, Suzanne. Hmm, we don’t think it would would, but haven’t tried. Let us know if you give it a try.
Janet W says
I will be making again. I used rice milk. I tossed casserole over after 40 and baked for additional 20 min for extra crispiness.
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks for sharing, Janet!
Veronica says
Looks delicious! Could I cut the potatoes into cubes instead of shredding them?
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
You probably could but it won’t get as crispy!
Corinne says
Would rinsing the potatoes be beneficial? Thank you!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Yes! We don’t state it in our instructions, but rinse all of your vegetables before use!
Janet says
Ingredients modified – made with peas and onion because I had leftover peas and I put onion in every dish. Also cut the recipe by 1/3 and baked in a glass bowl in my air fryer. Thanks!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! Thanks for sharing, Janet!
Alexa says
Are the baking instructions the same for using frozen hash browns? Should I thaw them? This recipe is perfect I purchased some frozen hash browns for Christmas brunch. So excited to make it.
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
You can use them frozen! Just bake slightly longer.
Collazos says
Sound delicious, great recipe! Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks so much!
Linsey says
I’m not a fan of Nutritional Yeast – would this dish be completely lacking without it? Any recommendations on what else to add to make up for leaving it out? Many thanks! This looks delicious!!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
If you don’t like it, I’d say you’ll need to use more garlic and perhaps some garlic powder?
Jordan says
Would red potatoes or sweet potatoes be an okay substitute if you don’t have gold around?
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Red would be great! And for a sweeter casserole use sweet potatoes!
Kristin Rapert says
This just changed my plans for Christmas Morning, but, to make it a Christmas gift to ME…would I be able to make it tonight and throw it in the fridge to bake tomorrow morning?
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Yes! Bake it tomorrow!
Amanda says
Do you have an approximation on how many potatoes and how many heads of broccoli you used. Even just a range would be helpful, so that I dont purchase way too much or not enough. Thank you! Cant wait to make this recipe, my mouth is watering already!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Yeah, it was ~1 large bundle broccoli (~3 heads), and ~4-5 golden yellow potatoes!
Deanna Taus says
Hello -made this for dinner and we def liked the flavor. So nice to find a veg recipe that didn’t have beans or cumin! Love both but not every night. Ours was a bit dry. I used leftover thawed frozen hash browns that I really rung out. The sauce was pretty liquid when i put it over veggies – i wonder if i wrung out taters too much? If I add more milk to sauce than it might not taste quite so garlicky and cheesy. Thoughts? I’d love to make again it was so easy and so good.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Deanna, we wouldn’t think that would be an issue, but it’s possible! You could increase the other ingredients in the sauce to prevent diluting the flavors. Or use slightly less of the vegetables. Hope that helps for next time!
Tracy says
I am considering doubling the sauce to have extra for other recipes. Do you think I should add 10 garlic cloves or will that be overkill?! I make a similar cheese sauce often but with less garlic and some miso.
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Tracy! I’d recommend adding 5-7 cloves first then adding more to taste! Miso would be a tasty addition as well!