There’s nothing quite like biting into a crispy and flavourful hash brown, and let’s face it, you really can’t beat a McDonald’s hash brown. Here, I’ve created a step-by-step process to creating your very own copycat McDonald’s hash browns from scratch!

This recipe is suitable for vegans (just like the original!), and contain minimal ingredients so you can enjoy that crispy potato goodness in its purest form. While the process may seem daunting at first, making your own hash browns from scratch is actually quite simple and will be well worth the effort. Here’s what you’ll need and how to make them.

These copycat McDonald’s hash browns go perfectly with this spicy tofu scramble plus grilled tomatoes and mushrooms! You could also buy your own English muffins and make a hash brown and cheese muffin!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

• Easy: These hash browns are insanely easy to make at home using just a few simple ingredients.
• Crispy: Deliciously crispy and golden brown on the outside, and tender and fluffy on the inside.
• Adaptable: This recipe is easily customised to your liking with different seasonings and spices.
• Freezable: Perfect for meal prep or quick breakfasts on-the-go.
• Cost-effective: Perfect for satisfying your fast food cravings without leaving the house or spending money on takeaways!

Ingredients

Here are all the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe (scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the page for the full quantities and instructions!)

• White starchy potatoes: Russet potatoes are great for this recipe but to be honest, any large potato will work!
• Plain flour: This helps to bind the hash browns to keep the potato together when frying. Use a gluten-free blend to make this recipe gluten-free.
• Vegetable oil: Another neutral oil such as canola oil, rapeseed oil, or even peanut oil could also work.
• Salt
• Black pepper
• 2-3 cups vegetable oil (for frying)

Equipment You’ll Need

You’ll need the following equipment/tools for making this recipe – don’t worry, it’s everyday items most people already have to hand! Gather all your equipment before you start cooking.

• Box grater
• Muslin cloth or cheesecloth
• Large mixing bowl
• Baking tray
• Rolling pin
• Cookie cutter
• Food thermometer (optional)

How to Make Homemade McDonald’s Hash Browns: Step by Step

Step 1: Soak and Grate Your Potatoes

Fill a bowl with ice-cold water and peel your potatoes, keeping them in the water as much as possible. Discard the skins. Hold a box grater over the bowl of water and grate the potatoes into the water.

Leave the grated potatoes to soak in the water for about 30 minutes (minimum) to two hours.

Top tip: when the potato gets too difficult to hold while grating, use a fork to hold it in place!

Step 2: Strain and Mix Your Potatoes

After soaking, place the potato shreds in a muslin cloth or cheesecloth and strain all the water out – as much as you can! Tip the dry potato shreds into a large mixing bowl and add the flour, vegetable oil, and seasoning. Stir to combine – the potato mix should lightly stick together into a ball.

Step 3: Shape and Freeze Your Hash Browns

Line a baking tray with baking paper, and then tip the hash brown mix onto the paper. Cover with a second piece of paper and then use a rolling pin to roll the potato mix flat, about 0.5 cm thick.

Take a cookie cutter and cut the hash browns into circles. You could either leave them like this or use your fingers to gently then shape the circles into a more oval shape like a traditional McDonald’s hash brown.

This step can be a bit time-consuming if you want really perfectly shaped hash browns! Cover the hash browns with the second sheet of baking paper again and then freeze for a minimum of three hours, although I find it easiest just to do the above steps in the evening and freeze the hash browns overnight!

Step 4: Fry Your Hash Browns

Once frozen, add enough vegetable or sunflower oil to a large saucepan so that the hash browns would be submerged (about 1/3 full). Do not fill your pot more than halfway with oil. Preheat your oil and use a food thermometer to check when the oil gets up to 190 °C / 375 °F and 225 °C / 440 °F (that’s hot, so be careful!). If you don’t have a thermometer, you can wait until you think it’s hot enough and drop a small amount of potato in the pot – if it sizzles and starts frying, you should be good to go.

Gently add one or two hash browns at a time and fry for 4 – 6 minutes until golden brown. Be sure to monitor the heat to prevent the oil from getting too hot or cool. Use a slotted spoon or spider strainer to remove the hash browns from the oil and place them on a wire rack to cool. Pat the hash browns dry with paper towels to remove any excess oil.

Repeat the frying process for as many hash browns as you need.

Baking or Air Frying
Alternatively, you could try cooking this recipe in the air fryer if you have one. To do this, place the hash browns in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook at 400°F for 10-12 minutes, flipping them halfway through.

You could also try baking your McDonald’s hash browns instead of frying them, although you won’t get that perfectly crispy texture. Spray the hash browns with a little cooking oil and bake from frozen for 25 minutes.

Expert Tips

• The ice water also helps to remove a lot of starch from the potatoes to ensure that crucially crispy texture once fried, so don’t skip this step! The ice water also helps ensure the potatoes don’t oxidize and turn brown.
• Strain the potatoes as much as possible to ensure crispy hash browns. Make sure the grated potato is as dry as possible – this is key.
• Use a cookie cutter and then your thumbs to gently press the hash brown mixture into the classic oval shape of McDonald’s hash browns.
• Freeze the hash browns before frying them for the best texture.
• Fry the hash browns in small batches to prevent the oil from getting too cool and to ensure even frying.
• Let the hash browns cool on a wire rack to prevent them from getting soggy.
• If you don’t have a cookie cutter to shape the hash browns, you can also use a small glass or jar with a round rim to cut them into circles.

Storage

These homemade McDonald’s hash browns are best served fresh and hot, but you can store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. To reheat them, place them in a preheated oven at 375°F for 10-12 minutes or until heated through.

My recommendation would be to follow all the steps up until you freeze your McDonald’s hash brown mix, then place the frozen hash browns in a food storage bag or container in the freezer until you need them. This saves a lot of time in the future, too!

Serving Suggestions

Enjoy these hash browns as a side dish to your favorite breakfast items, such as eggs, bacon, or toast. They also make a great snack or appetizer served with ketchup or your favorite dipping sauce.

• For a different flavor twist, try adding in some finely chopped onion, chives, or garlic to the potato mix before frying.
• To make this recipe more healthy, you could try swapping out the vegetable oil for a healthier oil, such as olive oil or coconut oil, and baking the hash browns in the oven instead of frying them.
• You can also experiment with different seasonings and spices to create your own custom flavor profile. Consider adding in smoked paprika, cumin, or even a dash of hot sauce for a little extra kick.

Other Recipes You Might Like

If you love this copycat McDonald’s hash brown recipe, be sure to check out some of our other tasty breakfast recipes:

• Fluffy Banana Pancakes
• Spicy Tofu Scramble
• Easy Black Bean Burritos with Crispy Potato
• Protein Oatmeal with Stewed Berries

For more potato goodness, I think you’ll love these crispy potato tacos or these copycat Five Guys cajun fries!

FAQ

This homemade McDonald’s hash brown recipe is an easy and delicious way to enjoy one of your favourite fast food breakfast items at home. With just a few simple ingredients and some basic kitchen tools, you can whip up a batch of these crispy, golden brown hash browns in no time – saving on takeout costs for a win-win!