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Jason took me to Cracker Barrel on our way back from a road trip one year.
I ate at a Cracker Barrel in my college town with my family for graduation years ago and I don’t really remember what I had but I wasn’t exactly thrilled with it so I never really wanted to go back to Cracker Barrel again (gasp!).
Jason was determined to change my mind about this and he raved about their cheesy hashbrowns.
Reluctantly, I agreed to go to Cracker Barrel for dinner because I was starving and there was nothing around for miles.
Ummm yeah…the cheesy hashbrowns are legit and I had to recreate it with this cheesy hashbrown casserole.
I mean, I’m sure it’s not the greatest for you but oh man, I wanted more after I ate my portion!
It’s a copycat from Cracker Barrel and it’s pretty darn close!
The perfect casserole to feed a large crowd
This cheesy hashbrown casserole recipe is one of the most popular recipes during the holiday season.
I can see why because it makes a lot and it feed a crowd.
It’s the perfect breakfast to feed a large crowd.
Absolutely delicious and the perfect side dish to any brunch!
Can you prepare this the night before?
Yes! This is a great recipe to prep ahead of time.
Keep it wrapped up in the fridge then bring it to room temperature the morning of before you pop it in the oven.
Can you use tater tots instead of hashbrowns?
I haven’t tried it that way but it would work similarly, honestly.
Just mix everything together!
Can you freeze this for later?
Yes.
Can you add sausage to this?
Yes! I’d personally use fresh breakfast sausage and break it up into small pieces and mix in.
Can you use fresh shredded potatoes?
Yes! They’d work the same way as the frozen potatoes.
Do I have to use cream of mushroom?
You can use cream of anything, really. Cream of chicken, cream of celery, etc.
If you aren’t a fan of the canned stuff, you can make your own (google homemade cream of mushroom soup).
Why should I use kosher salt instead of table salt?
It will be entirely too salty if you use table salt.
Salt density is different in table salt and kosher salt.
Here is a great blog post on the difference and what you should be using when you cook.
Can you make this in the slow cooker?
I haven’t done it that way before so I can’t give specific instructions
Other potato recipes you may love:
Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons (84 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt, some have noted it's a bit salty so I would start with 1 teaspoon..also keep in mind KOSHER SALT [which is coarser], not table salt!
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 large onion, finely chopped (white or yellow onion works)
- 10.5 ounce (326 g) can of cream of chicken condensed soup
- 16 ounces (454 g) freshly grated Colby Jack cheese
- 1 pound (454 g) frozen shredded hash browns, lightly thawed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 °F (191 °C)
- Spray a 3 quart casserole dish with cooking spray.
- In a very large bowl, stir together butter, salt, pepper, onion, cream of chicken soup, and cheese. Gently toss the hashbrowns in the mixture until it's all coated with the mixture.
- Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes or until mixture is bubbly and cooked through.
- To get a nice crust on top, place the casserole under a broiler for 5 minutes – watch it carefully!!
Notes
Nutrition
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I was really hoping you would mention Cracker Barrel in this post because I’ve been looking for a recipe to re-create their hashbrown “crack”erole ;). Needless to say, I’M PUMPED.
Dang girl this looks amazingly good and cheesy. We always eat at Cracker barrel when we have family in town and now I can make this cheesy hash brown casserole instead of going to the restaurant. You know thats what we all want.
Sooooooo good! Cheesy fabulous!
I cannot wait to see the movie!! I am *thisclose* to finishing the book so I am holding out until I do! I’ll probably be one of those people ugly crying too..haha. This cheesy hasbrown casserole looks insane…all that CHEESE!! So much yum!
I love this cheesy potato casserole. You’ll have to see Maleficent. It was awesome. And I’ll have to check out the book The Fault In Our Stars before I see the movie. I usually try to read the books before watching the movie. They aren’t always the same. The book is usually way better.
The perfect dish for a summer brunch. Love this!
All that cheese! This must be irresistible!
I love this dish-so much goodness!
All the cheese! LOVE it! My MIL makes something similar and I have not been able to recreate it. I can’t wait to try this recipe! Pinned!
I’m loving the cheese strands! Yum! I just read the book. If the movie is anything like the book, I can imagine it’s a tear jerker.