These Whole30 Hash Brown or Cauliflower Waffles are a savory gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free twist on a waffle that is easy and fast. These are a great simple go-to for a busy morning or breakfast for dinner and I love that I can sneak in some frozen veggies. I prefer to make these for my family with half hash browns and half cauliflower in the batter because my boys don’t mind the cauliflower that way. If it’s just going to be me and my hubby enjoying them, we love them with only cauliflower (no hash browns) for a delicious, nutrient-dense way to start the day. I love that they are freezer-friendly so we double batch and freeze to eat throughout the week.
Plus, these are budget-friendly! Using ingredients I purchased at my local NorCal Walmart, it cost me $2.82 per batch, or $0.70 per serving to make these. Check out my cookbook for an entire book of recipes that are easy, budget- and family friendly!
Where can I find Whole30 compatible hash browns?
I often get the question of what frozen hash browns are Whole30 compatible. I love the Cascadian Farm brand I can find on the West Coast, as the ingredients are just potatoes. This Alexia brand is also compatible. I heard there is a compatible Sprouts brand. However, I don’t have a Sprouts near me so I can’t personally confirm. Drop a comment below if you find other brands that are compatible and where you found them!
Are these actually allowed on Whole30?
Whole30 has what’s call the Pancake Rule, meaning no baked good recreations like pancakes, muffins, or tortillas on a Whole30 with compatible ingredients. So how are cooking these waffles allowed? These are not sweet waffle recreations that you would want to put syrup on. They are basically a veggie fritter cooked in a waffle iron instead of a pan. If you find them in a waffle shape triggering, cook them in a pan instead. But, I took this recipe all the way to the top, Whole30 co-creator Melissa Urban. She approved to mark this Whole30 compatible in my cookbook – so, yes, it is compatible!
What waffle iron do you use?
I have two I love – both a large double sided Belgian waffle iron that helps me keep up with feeding a large family of 7 and a small mini Dash waffle iron that I adore and plan on sending all my kids to college with one. The Dash mini waffle iron makes the perfect size to create these into a “bun” of sorts which I have used for Whole30 Sloppy Joes or even a Whole30 burger “bun.”
This recipe is a sample from my cookbook Whole Food for Your Family, which has 100+ budget- and family-friendly recipes. You can learn more or grab a copy of my cookbook HERE!
Whole30 Hash Brown or Cauliflower Waffles
Ingredients
- 3 cups store-bought frozen shredded hash browns or frozen riced cauliflower (or a mixture of both)
- 3 large eggs
- 1/4 cup olive or avocado oil
- 1/4 cup tapioca or arrowroot flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Optional toppings: salsa, dairy-free sour cream, bacon, green onion, ketchup or sauce of choice
Instructions
- Preheat a nonstick waffle iron.
- In a medium bowl, combine the hash browns, cauliflower or a mixture of both. Add the eggs, oil flour, garlic salt, and onion powder. Stir until the mixture is well combined.
- Fill the preheated waffle iron with the batter; the exact amount will vary based on the size of your waffle iron. Keep in mind that this batter doesn't rise or spread like regular waffle batter does, so you will probably need more batter than normal. In my 7-inch Belgian waffle iron, I use 1 1/2 packed cups. If your batter is cauliflower only, really pack the cup so your waffles hold together. If your waffles are sticking, spray your waffle iron with cooking spray before making the next batch.
- Close the waffle iron and cook until the waffle is crispy or your waffle iron indicates they are done. Timing will vary by iron.
- Top with toppings of choice and enjoy!
- TO FREEZE: Leftover waffles can be frozen in a single layer then stored in a sealed container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat the frozen waffles in a waffle iron, microwave, oven or air fryer.
Absolutely love these during a Whole 30 and after! Family favorite as well 🙂 They are a blank canvas… you can top them with so many things, I’ve even thrown in different flavors right into the batter. Thank you!
WOOT WOOT that these are enjoyed by your family! I love it. And I agree – so many possibilities with this one. Thank you!
Are the hasbrowns supposed to be thawed? Mine left liquid all over the sides and even with
Cooking spray it’s sticking to the waffle plates
Maybe I’m missing a step?
Great question. NO, the hashbrowns should still be frozen. I do that to keep them from being too liquidy and because it just saves time. Hope that helps!
These were delicious and so quick to make. My toddler loved them too!
I’m so happy you found them easy and delicious! And WAHOO – toddler wins are the best!
These are so delicious! I’ve only made them with half cauliflower and half hash browns, but they are great. I like them for a quick whole30 sandwich, topped with scramled eggs and even good for burgers.
So glad you enjoy them! I also love them half and half with cauliflower and hash browns. Thanks for the review!
If I can’t find compatible hash browns, could I just shred regular potato or sweet potato?
Possibly, but I haven’t tried it. They would have to have the moisture really squeezed out of them though to make sure the result is still crispy. Let us know if you try it!
So..I absolutely agree with everyone. I did try fresh shredded potatoes and sweet potatoes…after I shredded them I actually put them in the oven to dry a bit…then followed the rest of the recipe… they required a bit more time on the waffle iron but really yummy
Made these today using Trader Joe’s frozen hash browns. I didn’t have garlic salt so I added 1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic and 1 teaspoon kosher salt to the mix and they came out amazing. Definitely adding these to permanent rotation in my house.
So happy you loved them! And thank you for letting me know that swap worked well for you with the garlic salt. WOOT WOOT that they are going on the permanent rotation!
These waffles are delicious and easy to make. I am a big fan of making extra food and freezing for later. These reheat well in the toaster. I have made these several times with great results every time. Autumn’s recipes are consistently delicious and are loved by my entire family!
So thrilled to hear these have been enjoyed on the regular in your family! Thank you!
These are the bomb! I am in love. I did the mix of both. I am not a fan of reheating in the microwave, lost the nice crispiness, I would recommend oven, waffle iron or air fryer. I topped mine with a avocado cream sauce (using a little coconut cream with a small avocado). Thank you Autumn, I love your cookbook.
WOOT WOOT! I’m so happy you loved these and that avocado cream sauce sounds delicious. Thank you for the love and review!