Christmas Eve Ham and Potato Casserole

Ingredients

1 (30 ounce) package frozen shredded hash brown potatoes, thawed
2 1/2 cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese (or cheese of choice), (divided)
3 cups Ham, (cooked and diced)
1 onion, chopped
1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 (8 ounce) container sour cream
½ cup butter, melted
salt and ground black pepper to taste

Optional:
1 small Green or red pepper, chopped

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.

Stir hash browns, ham, cheese, onion, condensed soup, sour cream, and butter in a large bowl; season with salt and pepper. Optionally add chopped pepper.

Transfer mixture to the prepared baking dish and cover with aluminum foil.

Bake until bubbly and cheese is melted, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Remove foil top with reserved cheese and continue baking until brown, about 15 minutes more.