I love the cheesy Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole, and it’s a must-have anytime I go there. So do many other people, and there are numerous versions of this casserole online. I’ve always felt that it was missing something though. I’ve combined what I like most about this casserole with what I loved about a mainstay Dutch Oven breakfast we used to make called the Mountain Man. When I make this delicious cheesy breakfast, I add bacon! And of course, I make it in my favorite cast-iron skillet.
Cook the bacon first, and dump out the excess grease. But leave a good coating of bacon grease in the pan. Then throw in the ingredients for the casserole. That’s the secret, and it’s right at the top of this recipe post without making you scroll forever to find it. Enjoy!!
If you like this breakfast, you may also want to try our Maple Sausage Breakfast patties. For tips on cleaning your skillet when you’re done with this breakfast, see how I clean a cast-iron skillet.
If you need a good cast iron skillet for this recipe, here are a few options. These are Amazon affiliate links, and if you order products through these links, I will get a commission. The high-end option, is the Finex 12″ skillet. It is a very nice and modern skillet. There is also the basic Lodge 12″ skillet, a solid heirloom skillet. And Lodge also offers an enameled skillet. Check out these and other options.
Here is my Improved Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole, with Bacon!
Improved Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole
Equipment
- 1 Dutch Oven or 12" Skillet
Ingredients
- 32 oz frozen hashbrowns (shredded) these should be defrosted
- 1 lb bacon
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 1 10 ¼ oz can cream of chicken soup can also use cream of cheddar
- 1 pint sour cream
- 2 cups shredded colby-jack cheese Use the cheese of your choice, but I prefer the colby jack!
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°
- In a large (12") cast iron skillet, fry your bacon. Make it crispy enough to crumble it up with the hashbrowns.
- Mix the hashbrowns with the rest of the ingredients in a large bowl, but hold back around ½ cup of your cheese to put on top of the casserole before baking.
- When you are done cooking the bacon, pour the majority of the grease out of your skillet. Leave a coating of bacon grease on the skillet.
- Break of the bacon into small pieces, and mix in with the rest of the ingredients in the mixing bowl.
- Place everything in your skillet and spread evenly. Top with the remaining cheese.
- Put it in the oven and bake for 45 minutes, or until it's hot and bubbly!