If you're a fan of the famous Southern restaurant, then you have to learn how to make this Copycat Cracker Barrel Broccoli Cheese Casserole recipe. You're going to love this easy, hearty recipe once you've tried making it at home!
Cracker Barrel is popular for its mouth-watering comfort food. But their Broccoli Cheese Casserole is one side dish that always steals the show for me. It’s creamy, cheesy, and packed with all the goodness. The only bad part is that this delicious side dish is pretty hard to come by since it's usually only available on seasonal menus.
But now you don't have to wait for it to come around anymore! With this easy casserole recipe, you can make a delicious and comforting dish that is bound to become the new family favorite. Get ready to dig into the epitome of pure Southern comfort!
What is this casserole made of?
This version stays true to everything you love about the Cracker Barrel original. It’s made with tender broccoli, fluffy rice, and a buttery Ritz cracker crust to go on top of the creamy filling. Once you learn how to make the comforting flavors of Cracker Barrel Broccoli Cheese Casserole, you’ll never stop!
The best part is how incredibly easy it is to whip this up! With just a few simple steps, you’ll have this creamy, cheesy, and bubbling casserole dish fresh from your very own oven. If you’re planning a Cracker Barrel-inspired dinner, try my Cracker Barrel Copycat Meatloaf and Banana Pudding as well.
Ingredients for this Cracker Barrel Broccoli Cheese Casserole recipe
Here’s what you’ll need to make this comforting Copycat Cracker Barrel Broccoli Cheese Casserole. Scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the page for the detailed ingredient measurements.
- Cooked white rice: that’s freshly cooked or day old both work great. Start with about 2 cups of uncooked rice for this recipe.
- Broccoli florets: that are fresh or frozen are both fine. Just make sure they’re thawed and chopped into bite-sized pieces.
- Cream of chicken soup: brings creamy texture and savory flavor to the base.
- Sour cream: adds tanginess and extra creaminess to the cheese sauce.
- Whole milk: helps bind the casserole and makes it perfectly luscious.
- Shredded cheddar cheese: is perfect for that melty, gooey goodness. I like using sharp white cheddar and its yellow counterpart.
- Garlic powder: adds just the right hint of savory depth to this broccoli rice casserole recipe.
- Black pepper: is the seasoning that gives a good little kick.
- Ritz crackers: will be crushed to make that buttery, crispy topping everyone loves.
- Melted butter: goes with the crushed Ritz crackers to achieve that golden crust.
Want something without rice? Try this broccoli and cauliflower casserole with cheese
How to Make this Cracker Barrel Broccoli Cheese Casserole recipe
Here's how to make a copycat Cracker Barrel Broccoli Cheese Casserole. Scroll down to the recipe card at the end of this post for the full step-by-step instructions.
Preheat Oven and Prep Baking Dish. Preheat your oven and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter and set it aside.
Cook the Broccoli. If using fresh broccoli, steam or microwave the florets for about 2 minutes until it’s slightly tender, but is still vibrant green.
Mix the Base. In a large bowl, combine the cream of chicken soup, cooked white rice, sour cream, black pepper, garlic powder, and shredded cheddar cheese. Stir everything together until you have a well-blended mixture.
Fold in the Broccoli. Next, gently stir in the broccoli into the cheesy rice mixture. Make sure everything is evenly distributed until you have a mixture of fresh broccoli and creamy, cheesy rice.
Assemble the Casserole. Afterwards, spread the mixture in the prepared baking dish.
Add the Topping. Once you have the casserole mixture evenly spread out in the baking dish, liberally sprinkle the crushed Ritz crackers on top.
Bake. Bake casserole until the casserole is hot, bubbly, and the topping is beautiful, golden brown perfection.
Let it Rest. Finally, let the casserole sit for about 5 minutes before serving it. This will help it set. Then, serve and enjoy!
Tips and Tricks to Make the Perfect Broccoli and Cheese Casserole
- Use freshly shredded cheese: Shredding your own cheese makes the casserole extra gooey. It’s because you’re guaranteed that you get cheese without the additives that pre-shredded cheese has, which prevents it from melting.
- Don’t overcook the broccoli: You’ll want your broccoli to be slightly tender, but still have a little bite.
- Make it ahead: You can assemble the casserole up to a day in advance. Just make sure to cover it tightly with aluminum foil, and then refrigerate. Add the crushed crackers before baking.
- Make it cheesier. Sprinkle an extra ½ cup of sharp cheddar cheese on top, just before the Ritz Cracker crumbs!
Why You Need to Make This Recipe
This broccoli rice casserole recipe checks all the boxes: it’s easy, comforting, cheesy, and feeds a crowd. Additionally, it’s one of those easy casserole recipes that’s great for meal prep. If you can’t be bothered to cook on busy days, just reheat this and you’ll have a satisfying meal in no time, any night of the week.
You can even enjoy this casserole as a main dish because it's THAT filling. Even picky eaters love the combination of cheesy rice and broccoli with that buttery cracker topping. You’ll keep this recipe handy for life once you taste it!
Frequently Asked Questions - FAQ's
Yes, you can. Just make sure it’s thawed and patted dry before adding to the casserole.
You can use either cream of broccoli or cream of mushroom soup if you want to make this vegetarian.
In case of leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Absolutely. Diced juicy white meat chicken or even ham can be added to the mix to make this casserole even more substantial.
Yes, but take note of some minor differences in preparation. Assemble the casserole and spread evenly in the baking dish. Do not top it with crushed crackers nor bake it just yet. Then, wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and freeze. Bake straight from the oven at 350°F, adding an extra 10–15 minutes.
Substitute with Colby cheese, Monterey Jack, American cheese, or even cheddar blend for the cheese toppings. Try swapping a portion of the cheese with Pepper Jack for a spicy kick.
You can turn this Copycat Cracker Barrel Broccoli Cheese Casserole into a Broccoli Cheddar Rice Soup. Stir together the milk, condensed soup mixture and broccoli florets. Next, allow this to simmer in medium low heat, adding the cooked rice last. Finally, add shredded cheddar cheese to the soup.
Try adding a pinch of cayenne pepper, onion powder, or even a handful of crispy bacon bits. You can also add green beans aside from the broccoli florets.
The Best Cracker Barrel Broccoli Cheese Casserole Recipe
Homemade Cracker Barrel Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole
Ingredients
- 4 cups cooked white rice about 2 cups uncooked
- 4 cups broccoli florets fresh or frozen, thawed and cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 can cream of chicken soup 10.5 oz can
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- 2 & 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 36 Ritz crackers about 3 small packs
- 3 tablespoons melted butter more for greasing the pan
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with some butter then set aside.
- If using fresh, steam or microwave for 2 minutes until slightly tender.4 cups broccoli florets
- In a large bowl, stir together cooked rice, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, whole milk, shredded cheddar, garlic powder, and black pepper until well combined. Fold in the broccoli and mix evenly. Spread the mixture into the prepared baking dish.4 cups cooked white rice, 1 can cream of chicken soup, 1/2 cup sour cream, 3/4 cup whole milk, 2 & 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Mix crushed crackers with melted butter and sprinkle over the top.36 Ritz crackers, 3 tablespoons melted butter
- Bake for 30-35 minutes until hot and bubbly with a golden-brown topping.
- Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.
leave a comment