If crispy edges, melty cheese, and golden shredded potatoes sound like breakfast heaven, these cheddar hash brown waffles are for you! Cooked in a waffle iron until crunchy and golden, they’re the perfect blend of a waffle and a hash brown patty, without the mess of deep-frying. Top with a fried egg or sour cream for the ultimate savory breakfast.
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Have you used your waffle iron to make non-traditional foods yet? I love to make hash browns in a waffle maker because it makes them super crispy, almost like latkes, without the greasy mess you would get from frying in hot oil.
Can you imagine a fried egg on top? Your whole family will want to devour these waffle iron hash browns. You can top your savory waffles any way you like. You may also like these Paleo Banana Flour Waffles. If you need more breakfast inspiration, I have lots of delicious gluten-free breakfast recipes waiting to be made.
A Note From My Kitchen
This was a really fun recipe to test. I tested it using freshly grated potatoes and frozen hash browns. Both were delicious, though I enjoyed the ones with fresh potatoes because they had a richer flavor. I also tested this recipe, kicking up the spice by using Pepper Jack cheese. You can have fun and experiment with different flavor combinations.
Ingredient Notes:
For the full list of ingredients and amounts, please go to the recipe card below.
- Potatoes – Use russet potatoes for better texture and flavor.
- Cheddar Cheese – Use mild or sharp cheddar depending on your taste. Pepper Jack or Monterey Jack is great for a spicier twist.
- Gluten-Free Panko or Bread Crumbs – Use Alexia or another store-bought brand. You can also make homemade gluten-free bread crumbs at a fraction of the cost.
- Egg – Use a large egg to help bind everything together. For egg-free, use Just Egg liquid egg replacer.
How to Make Hash Brown Waffles (Step-By-Step)
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Step 1: Wash the potatoes. Use a box shredder to shred the potatoes. The secret to getting your potatoes crispy is patting the shredded potatoes dry with a paper towel after shredding. Potatoes can release a lot of water when they are shredded, and blotting up that moisture helps make your potatoes nice and crispy.
👀 Sandi Says: To save time, you can also use frozen hash browns to make these hash brown waffles. Simply thaw them and blot with a paper towel to dry.
Add shredded potatoes, cheddar cheese, gluten-free breadcrumbs, scallions, an egg, and seasoning to a bowl and mix well.
Plug in your waffle maker to preheat. Ensure the waffle iron is hot before adding your hash brown potato mixture.
Step 3: Spray the waffle iron with olive or avocado oil to simulate it frying in oil. I like this easy-to-use oil mister for this purpose. Add a medium-sized dollop of the shredded potato mixture onto the waffle iron.
Cooking time varies by brand and depends on the temperature of the waffle iron. These hash brown waffles took about 5 minutes to cook. (Don’t forget, you can always lift the lid and check on your hash browns easily to see if they are ready.)
How to make them in a skillet:
- Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Scoop small piles of the potato mixture into the pan.
- Flatten with a spatula and cook until the bottom is golden.
- Flip and cook the other side until crispy.
- Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb any excess oil.
Hash Browns Toppings Ideas:
Sour cream, scallions, guacamole, or even a fried egg with a runny yolk!
Frequently Asked Questions:
I use an Oster waffle maker; it gets hot enough to crisp the edges. However, it can be tricky to clean. For easier cleanup, look for one with removable plates.
Egg and cheese help bind the mixture. Make sure the potatoes are dry and the waffle iron is hot before adding the mixture.
Yes! Use your favorite dairy-free shredded cheese. I’ve had good results with VioLife.
Absolutely. Let them cool completely, then store in a freezer-safe container for up to 4 months. Reheat in a toaster oven or air fryer for best texture.
More Gluten-Free Breakfast Ideas:
We love having a savory breakfast. Here are some of my family’s favorite savory breakfast recipes:
Love This Recipe?
If you made and enjoyed this recipe, I would be incredibly grateful if you could leave a comment below. This will help others know this recipe is delicious. Thank you!
Easy Waffle Iron Hash Browns (Cheesy and Crisp)
Equipment
- waffle iron
Ingredients
- 3 cups shredded russet potatoes or thawed hash browns
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup cheddar cheese
- ⅓ cup gluten free panko
- ¼ cup chopped scallions
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon olive oil spray
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Instructions
- Preheat your waffle iron.
- Shred the potatoes using a box grater, then use a paper towel to blot away as much moisture as possible. This is the secret to crispiness. Wet potatoes will steam instead of crisp!
- Add 1 large egg, 1 cup cheddar cheese, 1/3 cup gluten free panko, 1/4 cup chopped scallions, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper to the 3 cups shredded russet potatoes and mix well.
- Open the waffle maker and spray with 1 teaspoon olive oil.
- Preheat your waffle maker and lightly spray it with olive or avocado oil. Add a generous scoop of the mixture to the center and press the lid down. Cook for about 5 minutes, or until golden and crispy. Cooking time may vary depending on your waffle iron.
- Serve with sour cream, a fried egg, or any topping you like.
Notes
- You can use gluten free bread crumbs or panko in this recipe.
- If you don’t want to shred your own potatoes, you can thaw frozen hash browns and use those.
- These are delicious fried in a waffle maker, but you can cook them on the stovetop if you don’t have a waffle maker.
- Store leftover waffles in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep fresh for up to 4 days.
- Reheat leftovers in a toaster oven or air fryer.
SPECIAL NOTE
Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn’t test, my rule of thumb is to add more flour if your dough or batter is wet and add more liquid if the dough or batter is too dry!
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
This post was updated from an older April 2018 post with more recipe details.
I truly hope you enjoy this recipe. I have been testing and creating gluten-free recipes for over 15 years. Creating gluten-free recipes that do not taste gluten-free is my goal for every recipe. Sometimes I only have to test a new recipe a couple of times, and others it takes multiple times. I do this so you get reliable, delicious results every time!
Hash brown perfection. I used the food processor to hash. Rinsed and squeezed out moisture using a cup towel lined colander. It was the waffle for our chicken and waffles. Added a little maple syrup on the waffles and topped my husbands excellent chicken fry with scratch country gravy. Great recipe!
I love the idea of using the food processor. You are a genius!
These waffle hashbrowns were a great side with our eggs and bacon last night. We used the ones you find in the refrigerated section of the store (a bag is 4 cups,we adjusted the ingredients accordingly). Are waffle maker is a Waring professional after some trial and error we determined a full 1/3 cup cooked the best..at 4 min. set at level 5. They were nice and crispy.
I am so glad you loved these!!
I am a potato lover!
I am a cheese lover!
I am definitely a lover of food I can cook without splattering my kitchen with oil!!!
THESE ARE A WINNER!!!
Thank you for sharing!!!
I am so glad you like this Claire :-). Thank you so much for stopping by.