Hashbrown Casserole is easy, cheesy and totally delicious!  This simple casserole is made easy with frozen hashbrowns! 

Copy Cat Cracker Barrel Hashbrown casserole needs just 5 minutes of prep making it the a great side or potluck dish! The perfect breakfast casserole!

Serving spoon of Hashbrown Casserole in a casserole dish

The Hashbrowns, That’s Why

I love Cracker Barrel but the truth is… I only show up for the hashbrown casserole.  That’s it. Just the hashbrowns people.

My friend shared her version of that yummy, oh so creamy and cheesy easy Hashbrown Casserole with me and WOW!  Tender shredded hash browns in a rich and creamy cheese sauce, topped with more cheese and baked until hot and bubbly!

This is a perfect breakfast casserole for any holiday morning or just when you’re getting the family together for a delicious breakfast or brunch.  It also makes a perfect side dish for Crispy Oven Parmesan Chicken or even served alongside a Ranch 7 Layer Salad for lunch!

Close up of cheesy baked hashbrown casserole in a white casserole dish

Better Than the Original

There are lots of recipes out there for this cheesy casserole but this is the one I’ve found to be the closest! This hashbrown casserole is made with condensed cream of chicken soup.  I’ve also made it with cream of cheddar soup if you can find it.  Both work perfectly in this recipe! While I’ve had a version of hashbrown casserole without sour cream, I definitely prefer it with, it adds a little bit of creaminess and tang to the recipe. Since this is a copy cat hashbrown casserole recipe, my list of ingredients is inevitably different than the original but the flavor is just like my favorite Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole (in fact, it’s even BETTER in my opinion)!

How to Make Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole

One of the best things about hashbrown casserole is that it’s super quick to prepare (5 minutes). I literally cannot stop eating it; dinner, bedtime snack and then breakfast if there is any left!

  1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
  2. Spread into a 9×13 dish.
  3. Top with cheese and bake. Voila!

It’s that easy!  If you’d like you can add leftover chicken, ham or ground beef to this easy recipe. Stir in your favorite veggies as well, Steamed Broccoli, peas or frozen veggies work well too!

Cheesy hashbrown casserole on a stack of white plates.

Toppings

I like to top it with cheese to keep it close to the version I’ve had at Cracker Barrel but if you prefer a nice crunchy topping on your hashbrown casserole, this is also great with cornflakes.  Gently crush 2 cups of cornflakes and toss with 1/4 cup of melted butter, sprinkle over the casserole before baking.

How to Freeze Hashbrown Casserole

This easy cheesy hashbrown casserole can easily be frozen. We usually prepare as directed and freeze any leftovers in individual servings making them the perfect lunch or quick dinner.

More Potato Dishes You’ll Love

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Hashbrown Casserole topped with cheese and parsley
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Copy Cat Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole Recipe

This is my favorite casserole ever! Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole needs just 5 minutes of prep and is absolutely cheesy and delicious! The perfect breakfast casserole!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 10 servings
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Ingredients  

  • 32 ounces frozen shredded hash browns thawed
  • ½ cup melted butter
  • 10.5 ounces condensed cream of chicken soup 1 can, or cream of cheddar
  • 16 ounces sour cream
  • ½ cup finely diced onion
  • 2 cups shredded Colby cheese divided, or cheddar cheese
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish.
  • In a large bowl, combine thawed hashbrowns, melted butter, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, onion, 1 ½ cups of cheese, and pepper.
  • Spread the mixture into the prepared baking dish and top with the reserved ½ cup of cheese.
  • Bake for 45-55 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Video

4.96 from 2342 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 355 | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 503mg | Potassium: 418mg | Fiber: 1g | Vitamin A: 755IU | Vitamin C: 8.5mg | Calcium: 265mg | Iron: 1.4mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Casserole
Cuisine American
Note:  This recipe originally appeared on SpendWithPennies.com April, 2013. 

More Must Try Cheesy Casseroles

Creamy Macaroni and Cheese CasseroleCreamy Macaroni and Cheese Casserole

Broccoli Cheese Casserole with HamBroccoli Cheese Macaroni with Ham

Cheesy Beef & Macaroni Casserole

top image - a serving of hashbrown casserole. Bottom image - hadhbrown casserole being served.
close up of hashbrown casserole with a scoop missing.

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About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. With a passion for nostalgic flavors and simplified techniques, Holly helps busy home cooks create delicious meals that always work. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
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Comments

  1. This taste nothing like it and I’m really disappointed. It’s missing some kind of “sharp” or “tangy” flavor the Cracker Barrel version has.2 stars

  2. hiya, I made this dish last year around this time. May I please I have the original measurements to the cracker barrel hashbrowns? My family preferred the original recipe you came up with.5 stars

  3. OMG! Delicious doesn’t even begin to describe this dish! I made one last night for my husband’s potluck for today and of course I had to taste a little corner of it to make sure it was good and warm, I wanted to keep going but I knew that wasn’t right lol. I was going to make one dish of it tomorrow for Thanksgiving but I just pulled out my mega lasagna dish and I’m doubling the recipe I love cracker barrel’s hash brown casserole but this one in my opinion is so much tastier and you get a lot more for your buck 5 stars

    1. Yes, this can be prepped ahead and baked the next day. Remove it from the fridge for at least 30 minutes before baking, you may need to add a little bit of extra cooking time—you’ll want to ensure it’s heated all of the way through.

  4. Hi
    Can I bake this tonight and then put it in the fridge and reheat it the next day and will it taste just as good.

    1. Hi Merissa, yes this can be cooked in the crockpot but I would suggest cooking it at the lowest temperature for 3 hours and keeping an eye on it as dairy can sometimes curdle or separate at higher temperatures.

    1. If using two 9×13-inch dishes, the cooking time will remain close to the same—you may need to add about 10 to 15 minutes.

    1. Yes, this recipe can be prepared and frozen. Thaw in the fridge overnight and bake as directed, adding about 15 to 20 minutes to the cooking time. If the top begins to brown too much, lightly cover with foil.