remaining 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the pie. This top layer will melt, bubble, and brown, giving you that old-fashioned, magazine-worthy golden crust when it comes out of the oven.
Place the pie dish on the center rack of the preheated oven and bake for 35–45 minutes, or until the top is deeply golden and crisp, the edges are browned, and you can see a bit of bubbling around the sides through the glass. Ovens vary, so start checking at about 30 minutes and continue until the color looks rich and toasty.
Remove the hash brown pie from the oven and let it rest on a cooling rack for at least 10 minutes. This short rest allows the layers to set up so you can cut clean wedges that show the interior shreds instead of collapsing into a scoop.
