Copycat Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole Recipe

This Copycat Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole is so easy to make with 8 affordable ingredients. Ideal for serving a crowd, we promise it tastes exactly like the restaurant’s recipe and is simple to make in the comfort of your own home.

Whenever we are on a road trip (and we go on many!) Cracker Barrel is always one of our favorite places to eat. I’m a huge fan of their breakfast, we always get an order of the hashbrown casserole for the table. So I knew it was time for me to create my own version of their famous casserole at home.

After multiple recipe tests, it turned out to be a hit, even my kids’ told me it tasted just like the restaurant. When developing the recipe I wanted to make sure it was easy to shop for, not expensive, and used minimal equipment. This cheesy hashbrown casserole checks all of those boxes.

I’m definitely planning to serve it to my family and friends during the holidays for an easy breakfast for a crowd at home. If you love a great casserole recipe, we do too. Be sure to also try our Baked Apple French Toast or Croissant Breakfast Casserole.

Why you’ll love this recipe

• 8-ingredient breakfast recipe. It’s an affordable bake and super simple for anyone to successfully make.
• Perfect casserole for serving a crowd. During the holidays and really any time of the year when we are hosting family and friends, this Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole is easy to assemble for breakfast or brunch.
• Customize to your liking. While the classic recipe is so delicious and tastes identical to the restaurant version, you can also customize with cheeses, meat, and spices.

ingredients

Scroll down for specific ingredient amounts in the recipe card. 

• Frozen shredded hashbrowns: You’ll want to thaw these before making the casserole. They’re the base of this delicious recipe.
• Shredded sharp cheddar cheese: Adds cheesy, gooey goodness.
• Melted butter: Fat that helps keep things moist and flavorful.
• Can of cream of cheddar soup: A creamy condensed soup that helps to thicken the sauce and also makes it the perfect texture.
• Sour cream: Adds tang and creaminess in every bite.
• Dried minced onion: Infuses the sauce with onion flavor.
• Chicken Better than Bouillon: We love to add this in for it’s comforting and rich taste.
• Garlic powder: We love garlic powder in this hashbrown casserole since it will add lots of flavor to the sauce.

Tools You’ll Need

• 13”x9” Baking Dish
• Large Mixing Bowl
• Spatula
• Liquid Measuring Cups
• Dry Measuring Cups and Spoons

how to make copycat cracker barrel hashbrown casserole

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 13X9-inch baking dish.
2. In a large bowl, combine 1 1/4 cups of the shredded sharp cheddar cheese, melted butter, cream of cheddar soup, sour cream, dried minced onion, chicken Better than Bouillon, garlic powder, and seasoning salt.

3. Fold the thawed hashbrowns into the mixture.

4. Spread the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top with the remaining cheese.

5. Bake for 50-55 minutes or until the top is slightly browned and it’s bubbling at the edges of the pan.

Expert tips

• Make sure you thaw the hashbrowns in advance. This prevents the casserole from becoming watery in texture and also helps it to bake evenly.
• Grate the cheese yourself. When you use some brands of pre-shredded cheese, they’ll have a powder on it that prevents it from melting as nicely. Grating the cheese from the block takes an extra minute of time and is so worth it.
• Add a protein. You can customize this to your liking, add cooked and chopped bacon or cooked and crumbled breakfast sausage if desired.
• If you want to lighten this hashbrown casserole up a little bit, you could use low-fat cheese or sour cream You could also substitute sour cream with Greek yogurt. It has a similar flavor, but more protein and less fat.
• Substitute for Cheddar Cheese Soup. In a sauce pan, melt 3 tablespoon salted butter over low heat. Whisk in 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, and cook for a minute. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard, and 1 cup of milk. Once smooth and bubbles start to appear at the edges of the pan, add 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese. Once smooth and thickened, it’s done.

storage

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days. Reheat in the microwave or oven until warmed through. It’s also great slightly microwaved then finished off in the air fryer.

You can freeze the leftovers as well for up to 2 months, just be sure to thaw and reheat. They may be a little bit softer in texture after reheating.

When it comes to prepping this casserole in advance, you can mix the ingredients together in advance and keep in the fridge. While the oven preheats, allow the casserole to sit at room temperature, then bake. It might need a few extra minutes of bake time.

Frequently Asked Questions

more delicious casserole recipes

• Baked Apple French Toast Casserole
• Croissant Breakfast Casserole
• Chicken Fajita Casserole
• Broccoli Cheddar Casserole