a clean kitchen towel or paper towels and press firmly to remove as much excess moisture as possible. This step is key to getting that golden, crisp exterior instead of a soggy pie.
In a large mixing bowl, stir together the thawed, well-drained hash browns, sour cream, 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese, and the melted butter. Mix until everything is evenly combined and the potatoes are well coated, but don’t overwork it; you want the shreds to stay distinct for a nice layered texture.
Transfer the potato mixture to the prepared glass pie dish. Gently press it into an even layer, smoothing the top and making sure the mixture reaches all the way to the edges and up the sides just slightly. This helps form that classic pie shape and ensures the edges brown nicely.
Sprinkle the
