Amish 4-ingredient holiday potato casserole

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.

If your hash browns are still very icy, spread them out on a tray and let them sit at room temperature for 10–15 minutes to thaw slightly. This helps the casserole bake more evenly.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the sour cream and condensed cream of chicken soup. Stir until the mixture is smooth and fully blended.

Add the thawed shredded hash brown potatoes to the bowl and stir gently to coat them evenly with the sour cream–soup mixture.

Fold in 1½ cups of the shredded Cheddar cheese, reserving the remaining ½ cup for the top. Mix just until the cheese is evenly distributed.

Transfer the potato mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading it into an even layer and smoothing the top lightly with a spatula.

Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup shredded Cheddar cheese evenly over the surface of the casserole.

Bake, uncovered, for 45–55 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbling around the edges and the top is melted, golden, and lightly crisp in spots. If your oven runs cool, you may need the full time.

Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for at least 10 minutes before serving. This brief rest helps the potatoes set up so they slice and serve more neatly.

Because this recipe is so minimal, it’s an easy canvas for small tweaks while still honoring its Amish-style simplicity. If you’d like a bit more texture, you can scatter 1–1½ cups of lightly crushed cornflakes or buttered bread crumbs over the top along with the final layer of cheese for a more pronounced crust. For a vegetarian version, substitute condensed cream of mushroom or cream of celery soup for the cream of chicken. If you prefer a slightly tangier flavor, use half sour cream and half plain Greek yogurt. You can also change the cheese profile: try Colby Jack for a milder, meltier finish, or add a small handful of grated Parmesan to the cheese layer for extra savoriness. To make it ahead, assemble the casserole, cover tightly, and refrigerate up to 24 hours; you may need to add 5–10 minutes to the baking time if it goes into the oven cold. Leftovers reheat well, covered, in a 325°F (165°C) oven until warmed through, which makes this an excellent dish for stretching into the day after a big holiday meal.