Copycat: Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole

If there is one thing that it seems like everyone likes at Cracker Barrel, it would be the hashbrown casserole. There is something about that hash brown casserole, the potatoes, the cheese, the onions, just all of it.

So the goal was to set out and recreate this. First off, onion. Now, Initially I was going to dice the onion up with my knife, but then I decided to get my food processor out and let it do the work for me. In hindsight, I might have stuck with the knife.

Using the food processor is kind of a newer concept for me. Back when I was in college, my parents had satellite tv. I would come home on breaks and I got really into watching Rachael Ray’s 30 minute meals. She made Pesto all the time. At the time, this was back in the early 2000’s, I wasn’t real sure even what Pesto was. It was a new concept for me, but I sure knew I wanted to try it! So glad I did too! Anyway, that year for Christmas I wanted a Food Processor. I got one and then it sat in a box for a while because I didn’t have my own kitchen.

It came with all these attachments I didn’t know how to use. One day I sat out to hand grate cheese and Mark was like, why don’t you just use your food process. I’ll tell you… my life was forever changed.

The next thing that is needed for this recipe is potatoes.

After I peeled them, it was time to grate them.

Oh wait NO! Food Processor! It’s time for the food processor and this thing is frigging awesome! In a matter of no time I had all 6 potatoes grated and ready to go. If I’d have hand grated them it would have taken me every bit of 30 minutes…. this was done in like 5 minutes or something.

So I threw the potatoes, cheese, and onions into the bowl and time to mix. It is easiest to mix by hand.

Now comes time to mix the milk, melted butter, and seasonings. In hindsight (it’s always a learning curve when you cook) I would mix my seasonings in with the potatoes, cheese, and onions instead of the liquid. You get a better distribution of seasonings that way.

Then it’s time to bake.

It bakes for an hour, at 30 minutes yank that puppy out of the oven and stir it. That helps distribute and get a more even cooking.

Finally, the masterpiece is finished. Now this is a picture of this recipe tripled. In a normal helping you get an 8×8 pan of this deliciousness. Triple the ingredients though and you need the big thick lasagna pan to hold all this deliciousness.

Cracker Barrel Hash brown Casserole
Ingredients:
2 large potatoes, peeled and grated
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
2 tbsp butter, melted
1 cup milk
1/2 cup beef broth
1 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 425˚F.

In a large bowl combine the potatoes, cheese, onion, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

Lightly coat an 8×8 inch square baking dish with butter (because everything is better with butter!)
Spread the potato mixture into the prepared baking dish.

In a separate bowl, stir together the milk, melted butter, and broth. Pour the liquid mixture over the potato mixture.

Bake for 1 hour, stirring after 30 minutes.

Cool a couple minutes to allow the potatoes to firm up. Serve and enjoy! You’ll be thankful you did!