Whether you’re wandering through their gift shop and vintage candy store or filling your belly with homestyle comfort food, it’s impossible not to enjoy a visit to Cracker Barrel. And while everyone seems to have a go-to order, the hash brown casserole is a best-seller nationwide. Luckily, we know our fast food copycat recipes, and we’re all set to tackle this one so you can make it at home.
It can be enjoyed any time of the day and is always a crowd-pleaser. Serve it alongside steak and eggs for breakfast, with a slice of quiche for brunch or in the evening with fried chicken and green beans. Speaking from experience, plan on making a double batch, because the odds of leftovers are slim.
Keep reading for our step-by-step Cracker Barrel hash brown casserole recipe, along with tips for perfecting this easy and delicious side dish. And don’t forget to check out the rest of our Cracker Barrel copycat recipes!
Copycat Cracker Barrel Hash Brown Casserole Recipe
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup white onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 30-ounce bag of frozen, shredded hash brown potatoes, thawed
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
- Fresh chives, garnish (optional)
Directions
Step 1: Saute onions and garlic
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a medium saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons butter and saute the onions until they soften and become translucent. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant. Transfer the onions and garlic to a large mixing bowl and then return the saucepan to the stovetop.
Step 2: Combine ingredients
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
To the large mixing bowl, with the cooked onions and garlic, add the cream of chicken soup, sour cream, Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, thawed hash browns and 1 cup of the cheddar cheese. Stir until well combined and then spread into a greased 13-by-9-inch baking pan.
Step 3: Top with cheese and bake
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
Top the potatoes with the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese. Bake, uncovered, for 50-60 minutes or until cooked throughout and bubbly. Remove promptly and sprinkle with chives, if using.
Serve warm with your other favorite breakfast foods—or something from Cracker Barrel’s online store.
Tips for Making Cracker Barrel Hash Brown Casserole
Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home
Can I use frozen diced potatoes instead of shredded? What if I want to use fresh potatoes?
Of course! Cracker Barrel uses shredded potatoes in their recipe. However, if you prefer the texture of diced potatoes, you can replace the shredded frozen hash browns for a thawed 32-ounce bag of diced hash brown potatoes.
If your preference is to use fresh potatoes, there are a few extra steps you’ll need to take to achieve great results.
- Wash and peel 6-8 russet potatoes; about 8 cups
- Shred using a box grater or dice finely
- Rinse the potatoes in cold water to remove excess starch
- Soak in a bowl of cold water for 1-2 hours
- Drain and squeeze as much water as possible from the potatoes
Then, prepare casserole as directed above.
What can be used instead of cream of chicken soup?
You can easily use a homemade roux as a substitute. Using a roux would be an easy way to make this recipe vegetarian as well, if you or anyone you’re serving this to prefers to avoid meat.
Editor’s Tip: You can use just about any condensed “cream of” soup in this recipe. Cream of mushroom or cheddar cheese condensed soup are common alternatives and would also make this recipe vegetarian. Cream of bacon would be a delicious option, too, if you don’t mind meat.
What other kinds of cheese can you use in copycat Cracker Barrel hash brown casserole?
Pick a cheese with a good meltability factor and a mild, non-pungent flavor. Monterey Jack would work well. For a spicy variant of Monterey Jack go with Pepper Jack cheese. Colby (or Colby Jack) cheese would also be a great substitute. You can’t go wrong with part-skim mozzarella cheese, either.
Can I add a crunchy topping to Cracker Barrel hash brown casserole?
Yes! While Cracker Barrel simply tops their taters with extra cheese, you can jazz up yours at home with a panko or cornflakes topping like you typically see on funeral potatoes. Here’s how:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1-1/2 cup crushed cornflakes cereal or panko bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chives, optional
To prepare the topping, melt 2 tablespoons of butter and mix with the cornflakes or panko breadcrumbs and garlic powder. Sprinkle evenly over the top of the casserole prior to putting it into the oven and then bake as directed.
Can I make Cracker Barrel hash brown casserole ahead of time?
Yes! Prepare as directed and store the unbaked casserole, covered with foil, in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours before your event. Prior to baking, uncover and bake as directed. Learn how to freeze a casserole the right way, too.
How should leftover casserole be stored?
Store leftover casserole in an airtight container. It can be stored up to 3 days in the refrigerator or for up to 3 months in the freezer.
To reheat, defrost in the refrigerator overnight and then bake at 350° for 30 minutes until bubbly and warmed through.
Want to try out more Cracker Barrel’s recipes? Here’s our copycat Cracker Barrel broccoli cheddar chicken recipe.
Our Best 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.
Go to Recipe
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
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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: Aug. 03, 2023
