Creamy Cashew Potato Casserole {Whole30}
This Creamy Cashew Potato Casserole just happens to be Whole30 compliant… and also happens to have been inspired by something that is just about the opposite of Whole30. I was getting my nails done a month or so ago and on the TV was the OG food blogger herself, The Pioneer Woman, telling me how to make something called Funeral Potatoes. Her recipe was basically a cheese sauce (milk, flour, chicken broth, LOTS of cheese) mixed with hash browns and topped with crushed potato chips. Now I was salivating at this point because… YUM, and thought I wonder If I can come anywhere close to this but make it dairy free, grain free and still super delicious. So of course my first thought was making a cashew cheese sauce because they are always delish. Then I mixed that with hash browns and topped it with crispy hash browns for a crunch. When Matt – the potato king – couldn’t stop eating it, I knew we had a winner! So go, run don’t walk to the store and make this Creamy Cashew Potato Casserole NOW!!
After you have made this casserole, come back and try these others:
Balsamic and Gorgonzola Vegetable Casserole
Salsa Verde Chicken and Cauliflower Bake
Chicken Bacon Ranch Spaghetti Squash Casserole
Nutrition for this Whole30 Creamy Cashew Potato Casserole:
Did you know that cashews grow on trees? They actually grow inside a fruit that looks very similar to a bell pepper and is referred to as a cashew apple. When you break it open there is a pit-like nut pod at the top and inside is the cashew. Each apple produces only one cashew. When you think about everything that goes into it you can see why nuts in general are pretty pricey and the reason is the processing labor that goes into actually getting to the end product. Cashews are a great energy source and are considered a whole protein. Per 1 ounce, cashews have 157 calories and 5 g protein. This recipe is packed with nutrients and is a great option for a whole 30 or just a non-dairy eater!
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Creamy Cashew Potato Casserole {Whole30}
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups cashews (soaked for 1–8 hours)
- 1 cup water
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- ½ cup nutritional yeast
- Salt & pepper
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 5 cups frozen hash browns (separated)
- ½ onion, chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, chopped
- 3 tablespoons oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a blender combine soaked and drained cashews, water, lemon juice, and nutritional yeast. Blend on high until smooth and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Place a large skillet over medium heat and add oil to the pan. Then add in 4 ½ cups of the hash browns and cook stirring occasionally for 5-7 minutes or just until they are tender. Place them in a bowl then add the onion and garlic to the pan. Cook onion and garlic for 5 minutes until tender and add them to the bowl with the potatoes.
- Then pour the cashew cheese mixture over the potatoes and toss to coat. Pour that into a 8×8 pyrex dish. Bake for 15 minutes. While that bakes, place a skillet over medium high heat and add remaining 3 tablespoons of oil to the pan. Then add in remaining ½ cup of hash browns to the pan in separate pieces and fry them for a few minutes of each side until golden brown.
- When casserole is done, add crispy potatoes on top and enjoy!
Hi Kelsey, What compliant frozen hash browns did you use? TY
Sprouts has some with no additives!
How long as I supposed to soak the cashews before using?
1-8 hours!
Hey Kelsey! What nutritional yeast do you use Whole30 compliant? Thanks!
All of them are Whole30 as far as I have seen!
If you had a brain fart at the grocery story and didn’t buy more cashews… any guesses on subs?
Ah cashews are pretty much the only thing that works well!
They don’t have frozen hash browns where I live. Grate potatoes and us those?
Yes that should work!
WOnder if French’s crispy onions are compliant… ?? I’m sure not, but those would be a delish addition to the top as well!
They are not compliant but would be delish!
Hi, I would like to replace the potatoes with shredded parsnips a d white sweet potatoes to be night shade free. What could I add to cut back on the sweetness?
★★★★★
Hmm you can add a dash more lemon juice to taste and salt and pepper well!
Does it matter if the cashews are salted? I have a hard time finding raw cashews in the small town I live in. Can’t wait to try this recipe – I love all of your creations!
They can be salted, just taste before salting the dish to make sure you don’t over salt!
This recipe is so tasty even for my dairy loving/non-whole30 family The hardest part is remembering to soak the cashews
★★★★★
So glad you love it!!
These are AMAZING!!!!!! so quick and easy and DELICIOUS!!!! Thank you!!!
You are welcome!!!
This was soo delicious!! Even my husband, who is against anything healthy, liked this! I will definitely make it again!
★★★★★
Love when we get a picky husband approval!