A trip to Cracker Barrel for lunch or dinner is sure to please. With countless homestyle dishes on the menu (like this famous Hash Brown Casserole), everyone at the table will find something they love.
The broccoli cheddar chicken is one of the most popular items on the menu, and for good reason. But it’s also one of the weekly specials, meaning you can’t order it any day you please.
That’s why we created a copycat Cracker Barrel broccoli cheddar chicken recipe, so we can all indulge in this cheesy broccoli chicken delight any time the craving strikes!
Psst: For more broccoli-cheese goodness, try this Cheesy Broccoli Soup in a Bread Bowl.
How to Make Copycat Cracker Barrel Broccoli Cheddar Chicken
This recipe makes 4 servings.
Ingredients
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
- 3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 pounds total)
- Salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup white onion, minced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed cheddar cheese soup
- 1/2 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup milk (we used whole milk for extra creaminess)
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 8 ounces broccoli florets, roughly chopped (fresh or frozen, thawed)
- 2 cups Ritz crackers, coarsely crushed
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Directions
Step 1: Preheat
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 13-by-9-inch baking dish (it’s not the same thing as a baking pan) with butter or olive oil. Set aside.
Step 2: Saute
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
In a saucepan over medium heat, saute the onions and minced garlic in 2 tablespoons of the butter until softened; about 4-6 minutes.
Step 3: Make the sauce
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
Reduce the heat to low, then add the cheddar cheese soup, sour cream, milk and Parmesan cheese to the sauteed onions and garlic. Stir to combine, then bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. Remove from the heat.
Step 4: Layer
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
Season both sides of the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Then, add the chicken breasts to the prepared baking dish in a single layer. Mound the chopped broccoli florets on top of the chicken breasts and then top with the cheddar cheese sauce. Sprinkle the crushed Ritz crackers over the top of the cheese sauce, followed by 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese.
Step 5: Bake
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
Bake for 35-45 minutes until the chicken breasts are cooked through. The chicken is ready to remove from the oven when an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken registers 160°.
Step 6: Rest
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
Remove the baking dish from the oven and let stand for 5-10 minutes. During this time, the sauce will thicken slightly as it cools, and the chicken will finish cooking (and reach an internal temp of 165°). Serve warm.
Tips for Making Copycat Cracker Barrel Broccoli Cheddar Chicken
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
Here are our top tips and tricks for making a broccoli cheddar chicken exactly like Cracker Barrel.
Can you use other cuts of chicken to make copycat Cracker Barrel broccoli cheddar chicken?
Sure! If you prefer dark meat, you can make this recipe with boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Prepare the recipe as directed, removing the baking dish from the oven when the chicken thighs reach 165°.
Editor’s Tip: Keep in mind that, generally, chicken thighs take a little longer to bake in the oven than chicken breasts. Keep a close eye on the chicken as it cooks and test it for doneness using an instant-read thermometer for best results.
How can you make the topping crunchier?
If you would like your Ritz cracker topping to be a little crispier (like on this best-ever mac and cheese recipe), toss the crushed crackers in 2 tablespoons of melted butter prior to topping the casserole. Then bake as directed.
How should you store broccoli cheddar chicken?
Cracker Barrel broccoli cheddar chicken can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days in an airtight container. You may also store leftovers of this broccoli cheddar chicken casserole for up to 3 months in the freezer. Let it defrost in the refrigerator overnight before baking.
How should you reheat broccoli cheddar chicken?
Cracker Barrel broccoli cheddar chicken can be reheated in the microwave, covered, until steaming. If you would like your leftovers to have a crispy topping, reheat in a 350° oven for 12-15 minutes until heated through.
What can you serve with copycat Cracker Barrel broccoli cheddar chicken?
Serve the chicken with old-fashioned side dishes from our collection of Cracker Barrel copycat recipes!
All of Our Cracker Barrel Copycat Recipes
Taste of Home
To make this classic Southern recipe, look for cube steaks in the supermarket. You'll dredge them in milk and flour, fry until golden brown, and then smother them in a rich and creamy
white gravy.
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Cracker Barrel Country Ham CopycatA side of crispy browned potatoes is a perfect complement for a simple slice of Cracker Barrel-inspired country ham. By frying them in ham drippings, the potatoes not only fry up ultra-crisp, but also pick up a ton of extra flavor.
Cracker Barrel Hash Brown Casserole CopycatThere's never a bad time of day for
hash brown casserole! Serve it alongside steak and eggs for breakfast, with a slice of
quiche for brunch, a bowl of soup for lunch or in the evening with
fried chicken and
green beans.
Cracker Barrel Chicken n' Dumplins CopycatThis is one of those old-fashioned, simmer-on-the-stove-all-day recipes that sticks to your ribs and is well worth the wait. Serve alongside something light, like a
simple side salad, or a bowl of
steamed carrots.
Cracker Barrel Fried Apples CopycatIn the mood for apple pie but don't feel like baking? Scoop some vanilla ice cream over a warm bowl of these cinnamon spiced apples, then sprinkle with crushed graham crackers. These apples also make a great topping for
homemade pancakes and are a delicious addition to
breakfast yogurt parfaits.
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This has to be one of our best
restaurant copycat recipes! You
probably won't have leftovers when you make Cracker Barrel-inspired meat loaf. But if there are a few slices left, use them to make meat loaf sandwiches the next day.
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Cracker Barrel Turkey n' Stuffing CopycatHave you ever struggled to roast a turkey that's moist and juicy throughout? Try this recipe, which uses an
oven bag to prevent the white meat from drying out while the dark meat cooks to the
correct temperature.
Cracker Barrel Biscuits n' Gravy CopycatHomemade sausage gravy served atop a warm bed of
homemade biscuits is a classic, hearty breakfast. It takes you on a trip to the South every time it's served! This recipe uses bulk pork sausage, but
breakfast sausage works just as well.
Cracker Barrel Coleslaw CopycatAll 50 states have their own
special kind of sandwich, and Southern-style coleslaw goes perfectly with
all of them. Serve this slaw alongside everything from
Kentucky-style Root Beer Pulled Pork Sandwiches to
Pennsylvania Cola Burgers to Virginia's
Bavarian Meatball Hoagies.
Cracker Barrel Biscuit Beignets CopycatBeignets are powdered sugar-coated puffs of fried dough that are at their absolute best when served hot and fresh. If you're skittish about deep-frying at home, check out our guide on
how to deep-fry with confidence as well as our guide to the
best oils for frying.
LAUREN HABERMEHL FOR TASTE OF HOME
The broccoli cheddar chicken is one of the most popular items on Cracker Barrel's menu. Since it's a weekly special, though, you can't order it every single day. You can, however, make this copycat restaurant recipe at home any day of the week!
Go to Recipe
Cracker Barrel Roast Beef CopycatThis roast beef recipe uses a surprising cooking method. Instead of roasting in the oven, it browns it on the stovetop in a Dutch oven, then simmers slowly in a rich brown gravy (with an unexpected secret ingredient) until fork tender.
Cracker Barrel Fruit Cobbler CopycatCracker Barrel's fruit cobbler changes with the seasons. This recipe works with just about any kind of fruit, so your fruit cobbler can change with the seasons, too! Try strawberries and rhubarb in the spring, fresh berries or peaches in the summer, apples or pears in the fall, and frozen fruit in the winter.
Cracker Barrel Mashed Potatoes CopycatFor mashed potatoes just like Cracker Barrel, use
starchy Russet potatoes in this recipe, then simmer them in a flavorful broth before mashing with creamy buttermilk and thinly sliced green onions.
Cracker Barrel Buttermilk Pancakes CopycatThere's nothing quite like a sky-high stack of fluffy, tangy buttermilk pancakes, and there's no bad time of day to enjoy them! With this recipe you can enjoy
breakfast for dinner, just like at Cracker Barrel.
Cracker Barrel 'The Barrel Cheeseburger' CopycatWhen it comes to replicating "The Barrel Cheeseburger" at home, this all-American cheeseburger recipe is the way to go. You can use any cheese you wish, but to make it a perfect Cracker Barrel copycat recipe, go with Colby cheese.
Cracker Barrel Macaroni n' Cheese CopycatThis amazing mac starts with a sauce loaded with three different cheeses: sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack and Velveeta. The sauce is tossed with al dente elbow noodles, then baked with a crunchy crumb crust that includes lots of Parmesan. It's simply oozing with melty, cheesy goodness.
Cracker Barrel Corn Muffins CopycatIf you think there's no way a warm basket of corn muffins can possibly get better, try smothering them in honey butter! These
muffins freeze well in a large zip-top freezer bag, so you can make a big batch on Sunday and enjoy them for breakfast all week long.
Cracker Barrel Chicken Potpie CopycatThis chicken potpie recipe saves time by using mixed frozen vegetables and leftover cooked chicken instead of starting from scratch. Use shredded rotisserie if you don't have leftovers, or
use one of these methods to quickly cook up some chicken breasts or thighs.
Cracker Barrel U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish CopycatThere's a good chance you already have most of the ingredients to make this quick and easy catfish. Simply mix flour and cornmeal with a slew of common spices, dredge your catfish fillets to coat and pan-sear in melted butter. If you're missing any of the spices in this recipe, leave them out or swap them for a premade spice blend, like Old Bay or Cajun blackening spice.
Cracker Barrel Steak Fries CopycatSeasoned to perfection, these herbed steak fries from our Test Kitchen make a quick and tasty side dish for casual suppers—and they're ready in a flash! The secret: starting with
frozen french fries, then tossing them in olive oil, dried herbs and grated cheese.
Cracker Barrel Baked Apple Dumplin' CopycatInstead of making homemade pie or biscuit dough for these easy apple dumplings, wedges of tart Granny Smith apples are wrapped in canned crescent rolls, then sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and baked with a secret ingredient you definitely won't expect.
Cracker Barrel Pinto Beans CopycatThere are lots of ingredients in this pinto bean recipe that add tons of flavor—like spicy chopped green chile peppers, sweet brown sugar and smoky
chili powder—but outside of the beans themselves, the true star of this dish is chopped, thick-cut bacon. If you're a bacon fanatic, feel free to add more than the recipe calls for!
Cracker Barrel Chicken Fried Chicken CopycatInstead of using seasoned flour to make this fried chicken, this recipe mixes pulverized corn flake crumbs with a blend of herbs and spices to make a crispier, crunchier coating that holds up when smothered in gravy.
Cracker Barrel Breaded Fried Okra CopycatCooking okra quickly and over high heat helps prevent the okra from becoming too slimy. When you're
preparing the okra, slice it into bigger chunks instead of thin slices. The smaller you slice, the slimier the okra will get.
Cracker Barrel Turnip Greens CopycatHearty turnip greens become meltingly tender when they're sauteed in
bacon grease and slowly simmered. For a more authentic Cracker Barrel copycat recipe, use salty country ham in place of the bacon. (Or better yet, use both!)
Cracker Barrel Buttermilk Biscuits CopycatWho doesn't love the bread basket at Cracker Barrel? No one can resist a warm basket of freshly-baked buttermilk biscuits, which go well with every single item on the menu. Use these biscuits to mop up every last drop of gravy, sauce, syrup or whatever else is on your plate.
Updated: Jul. 25, 2022
