Easy Hash Brown Frittata with Pesto and Goat Cheese

5 from 3 votes
1 hour
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Easy Hash Brown Frittata with Pesto and Goat Cheese is impressive and comes together quickly for the perfect summer breakfast, brunch or light dinner!

Photo of Easy Hash Brown Frittata with Pesto and Goat Cheese on white platter, cut into wedges, garnished with arugula and grape tomatoes.

The inspiration behind this recipe:

Many of the meals I make to share with you here at From A Chef’s Kitchen get frozen.  It’s just my husband and me and we just can’t eat everything I make.  So, we eat what we can, I give some away to a neighbor and then freeze as much as possible.

Several weeks ago before heading up to Wisconsin, I bought a bag of hash browns to make a breakfast casserole to take with us.  We’re the perfect guests because we bring a cooler full of food with us!

Photo of Easy Hash Brown Frittata with Pesto and Goat Cheese in round white pan.

It works out perfectly!  Our families don’t have to worry about feeding us and the food doesn’t go to waste.  We purchased a huge cooler to transport the food and the food stays completely frozen for a couple of days if it’s not opened.  Check it out in the recommended products section.  It’s been worth every penny and it’s perfect if you need to transport a lot of food safely.

I wasn’t able to get the breakfast casserole done before we left so I needed to use them.  I don’t buy many convenience products but the refrigerated hash browns from Simply Potatoes are good and easy to use.  (This is not a sponsored post, I just like their product!)

How to make Easy Hash Brown Frittata with Pesto and Goat Cheese:

  • Potatoes have a lot of water, therefore, if using raw potatoes, you have to extract as much water as possible.  Here’s a tutorial from Serious Eats on how to prepare potatoes for hash browns:  Serious Eats Hash Brown Tutorial
  • If I were making actual hash browns, I’d use Russet potatoes and make them from scratch.  However, for a breakfast casserole or frittata such as this, refrigerated hash browns work beautifully and all the water has already been extracted.

Close-up photo of Easy Hash Brown Frittata with Pesto and Goat Cheese in round white baking dish garnished with fresh basil.

  • This frittata is ridiculously easy!  Making the pesto will take you the longest.  However, if you have pesto in the freezer from last summer you’d love to use, this is the perfect way to use it.
  • For a small batch of pesto, here’s a basic recipe that’s super-simple to make in a food processor:
    • Approximately 2 cups of packed fresh basil leaves
    • ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
    • Approximately ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
    • ¼ cup lightly toasted pine nuts or walnuts
    • 3 cloves chopped garlic
    • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Photo of pesto Sauce in glass jar.

Generally, frittatas get started in an oven-safe skillet on the stovetop, then placed in the oven to finish cooking.  This frittata simply bakes in the oven.

  • Combine ready-to-use refrigerated hash browns with pesto and goat cheese.
  • Add a little salt and pepper if needed.
  • Whisk together eggs and half-and-half
  • Pour over the potatoes
  • Bake!

Photo of Easy Hash Brown Frittata with Pesto and Goat Cheese on white oval platter garnished with grape tomatoes and arugula.

How crazy simple is that?  Serve with a green salad or tomato salad and you’ve got a lovely, elegant breakfast or brunch!

Close-up photo of slice of frittata on white platter with silver pie server garnished with tomatoes and fresh basil.

Be sure to check out my other recipes with delicious ways to use pesto!

Easy Hash Brown Frittata with Pesto and Goat Cheese - On white platter, cut into wedges, garnished with arugula and tomatoes

Easy Hash Brown Frittata with Pesto and Goat Cheese

5 from 3 votes

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By: Carol | From A Chef's Kitchen
Easy Hash Brown Frittata with Pesto and Goat Cheese is impressive and comes together quickly for the perfect summer breakfast or brunch!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Breakfast and Brunch
Cuisine Italian
Servings 8 Servings
Calories 182 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • Cooking spray - or olive oil
  • 1 bag (20-ounce) refrigerated hash browns
  • 1 log (4-ounce) goat cheese - cut into approximately 1/2-inch pieces
  • 3/4 cup prepared pesto
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 8 large eggs - beaten
  • 1/2 cup half-and-half

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a deep, round 10 to 11-inch baking dish with cooking spray or brush with olive oil.
  • Combine hash browns, goat cheese and pesto in a bowl. Season with salt and black pepper. Pour into prepared baking dish.
  • Whisk together eggs and half-and-half. Pour over potato-egg mixture.
  • Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until eggs are set. Let stand 5 minutes then cut into wedges.

Notes

MAKE AHEAD:  May be assembled 24 hours in advance.  Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before baking to take the chill off.
FREEZER-FRIENDLY:  Bake, cool and remove from the baking dish.  Cut into smaller pieces (quarters or individual pieces) and place in an airtight container.  Freeze up to 2-3 months.
REHEATING:  Reheat individual wedges in the microwave on HIGH for 1-2 minutes or in the oven at 350 degrees for 15-18 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 182kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 194mg | Sodium: 295mg | Potassium: 89mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 794IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 82mg | Iron: 1mg

These are estimated values generated from a nutritional database using unbranded products. Please do your own research with the products you're using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.

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7 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Wow I have honestly never heard of a hash brown frittata! Mixed with pesto and goat cheese? Amazing! So looking forward to trying this recipe 🙂 Btw your photography is simply stunning 😀

  2. Interesting! I’ve never purchased frozen hash browns, but now I see the benefit. The ingredients in this frittata are lovely – especially the addition of pesto. And I just made another huge batch this morning!

    1. Hi, Mimi, I use the “refrigerated” hash browns. I’ve purchased the frozen kind in the past and because they’ve been frozen, there is still a fair amount of water in them. Thanks so much!

  3. 5 stars
    Okay, you just made me super hungry Carol. I love that you include directions to extract water from the potatoes…this is very helpful!

    1. Thanks so much, Sandi! Yes, if you want to go that route with raw potatoes you certainly can. To make life a little easier, I suggest the refrigerated hash browns. All the moisture has been extracted already. Thanks again!