¼ c. margarine or butter
¼ cup all purpose flour
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp pepper
2 cups milk
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded (8 oz)
1 package frozen hash browns (28-30 oz)
1 Tbsp. dry onion flakes OR 1/2 onion (chopped and sautéed)
salt/pepper
Preheat oven to 350°.
In the microwave oven, melt butter in 2 quart microwaveable dish (I use glass measuring pitcher). Stir in flour, salt, pepper, onion flakes, and milk. (Use a whisk.) Microwave uncovered 2-3 minutes, stirring every minute with wire whisk or fork, until thickened. Stir in cheese.
(If you want to use fresh onion instead, chop and sauté while sauce is cooking, and mix in with cheese.)
Spray 9x13 casserole dish with cooking spray. Mix together frozen hashbrowns with cheese sauce (I mix in dish since the hashbrowns take up so much room before they’re cooked.) Bake uncovered for about 45 minutes. Let sit about 15 minutes before serving.
*Today I substituted 6 cups reconstituted hashbrowns (3 cups dry) for the hashbrowns and reconstituted powdered milk for the milk...only b/c I was out of both! (yea for food storage)
