This version of the famous Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole will satisfy your potato craving and fool your entire family. I frequently make potato dishes with cauliflower and my husband still could not believe this wasn't actually potatoes! This easy recipe is low carb, keto, gluten-free, grain-free, sugar-free, and Trim Healthy Mama friendly.
Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole. That might be my favorite 4-word phrase ever. Anytime we are on a road trip and pop into a Cracker Barrel with the kids I have a hard time resisting a heaping side of cheesy, potato goodness. My kids have grown to love it too so I've made a few copycat recipes over the years using shredded potatoes and cream of chicken soup.
It is a great make-ahead for brunches. Whenever my kids have had a celebration like a Baptism or First Communion my favorite (and the easiest) meal to feed our guests is always brunch. I make egg bakes, some coffee cakes, and a copycat Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole. It is delicious but is definitely not the healthiest option.
Therefore, a remake of this has been on my recipe list for YEARS. Every few months I would think about how could I possibly make the delicious, carb-loaded, fattening Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole healthy?
Ingredients
The rest of the ingredients in my remake of the Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole Recipe were easier. I can do cheese, and onion, and more cheese. Who doesn't love cheese? I chose to use a blend of shredded cheddar and Monterey jack but you can use whatever your family's favorite cheese is.
Butter - I like to use salted butter.
Shredded cauliflower stalks - Use your food processor to make this fast and simple.
Sour cream - You can use regular sour cream or any version that works.
Mayo - Helps to add creaminess to the texture.
Shredded cheese - Have fun and change up the blends.
Minced onion - Adds some texture and flavor.
Bouillon powder - Gives a boost of salt to the mixture.
Salt and pepper - To taste.
How to make Keto Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole
You're going to love the ease of this low carb hashbrown casserole! Simple and delicious!
Step One: Preheat oven to 350. Spray an 8 x 8 baking dish with cooking spray.
Step Two: Set aside â…“ cup of the shredded cheese to use as a topping.
Stir together the remaining ingredients.
Spread in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with the reserved cheese.
Step Three: Bake for 50-60 minutes until the casserole is golden and bubbly.
Variations
Add toppings - Gravy and parsley are always delicious to add to the top. You can also top it with even more cheddar cheese!
Add meat - If you want to add ground beef, cook it up well and then add. This makes this casserole dish hearty!
Common Questions
What is the Best Low Carb Potato Substitute?
First, I thought over the different potato subs. Should I use jicama? Should I use radishes? What about cauliflower? And how on earth do I replicate cream of chicken soup? The more I thought about it the more my plan became solid in my mind.
My favorite potato sub is cauliflower so I decided I would just use cauliflower. But I would only use the stalks of fresh cauliflower because I wanted a shredded texture, not the texture of the florets which is more rice-like.
How do I make Keto Cream of Chicken Soup?
To make the cream of chicken soup I needed a few creamy ingredients and some chicken bouillon. You can use canned chicken broth concentrate paste or homemade powdered bouillon. The bouillon paste ends up being â…› tsp per serving so it has a negligible impact on the nutrition facts.
There is a link in the recipe card to a recipe to make your own version if you prefer to do so. My powdered chicken bouillon does also work. I make one using nutritional yeast that was amazing. I could not believe how much nutritional yeast plus some salt and spices could taste like chicken.
Can I use frozen cauliflower for this dish?
If you want to use up some of the things that you have in your freezer, frozen cauliflower will work! Just thaw it and then chop or shred it as the directions say.
When should you serve this cracker barrel hash brown casserole?
It's perfect for a weekend meal, weeknight dinner, Sunday brunch, or great for Thanksgiving or Christmas as well! It feeds a crowd!
How much cauliflower do I need?
This was the biggest part of disguising the cauliflower as a potato substitute. My family knows mashed cauliflower. And they know cauliflower rice. But shredded cauliflower? That is a new one. To do this I cut off the florets trying to leave as much of the stalk as possible. Then, I put them through the food processor with a shredding disc.
One medium head of cauliflower had enough stalks for me to have the 3 cups of shredded cauliflower I needed for this recipe. I put the florets in a large plastic storage bag and roasted them for dinner a few nights later with some roasted garlic paste.
What so serve with Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole
I served this hashbrown casserole recipe along with some baked pork chops. It goes well with breakfast, breakfast for dinner, or just your regular dinner as a side dish. Next on my to-do list is to add shredded chicken to this to make it a one-dish meal. If you try that make sure to let me know how it turns out!
Some of my favorites are:
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Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole
Ingredients
- 3 cups shredded cauliflower stalks (reserve florets for another use)
- 4 tablespoon butter
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ cup mayo
- 1 cup shredded cheddar & Monterey jack cheese, divided
- 1 tablespoon minced onion
- 1 tablespoon bouillon powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350. Spray an 8 x 8 baking dish with cooking spray.
- Set aside â…“ cup of the shredded cheese to use as a topping. Stir together the remaining ingredients. Spread in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with the reserved cheese.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes, until the casserole is golden and bubbly.
Notes
Nutrition
More Cauliflower Sides and Mains:
- Loaded Cauliflower Casserole
- Cheesy Cauliflower Rice
- Dirty Cauliflower Rice Recipe
- Shepherd's Pie Recipe with Cauliflower Topping
- Green Chile Cauliflower Casserole
Originally Published October 9, 2019. Revised and Republished November 14, 2022.
Peggy says
My husband eats whatever I cook for my wacky dietary restrictions without complaining. But this is the first time that he's ever really raved and raved and raved about how much he loves a dish! I can't have potatoes which is heartbreaking at times. While this doesn't really taste like potatoes, it sure does taste SPECIAL. I used the nutritional yeast recipe for the bullion. Great job putting this together and thank you!
Kim says
Sorry but I don’t quite understand, can I just use 1tsp dry chicken bullion?
Taryn says
Yes
Eileen Brown says
Do you think this could be frozen in small batches without intensifying the cauliflower flavor? I am the only keto member of my family.
Taryn says
Yes. This freezes well.
Casey says
This sounds amazing! How do you think it would taste or work if I subbed the cauliflower for turnips?
Taryn says
I'm probably not the person to ask because I'm not a fan a turnips. lol. But hypothetically I think they would work.
Erika says
THANK YOU for this recipe. I made it this weekend, and it tastes just like the real thing! I didn't really make any modifications, but I did thaw out a bag of frozen cauliflower rice and let it dry for about 30 min on some paper towel (instead of shredding my own). I used half sharp cheddar and half guyere/fontina blend from Trader Joe's; and I only had creme fraiche in the fridge. Absolutely delicious!
Gina says
I am excited to try. Thank you for the great recipe. What is the fiber content? I need to track my macros.
Taryn says
0.1 per serving.
Amy says
My question is, texture aside, can you taste the cauliflower? I keep trying cauliflower dishes, but the strong sulfury taste always comes through. I can't disguise it enough for my powerful tastebuds! Do the cheese and sour cream overpower the cauliflower flavor?
Taryn says
I have strong tastebuds too. You can still taste that it's cauliflower. I do think it's less noticeable in this than some other cauliflower potato recipes
Melissa Cain says
Think it would be ok to make this a day ahead, cover and pop in the fridge overnight? Then cook as stated?
Taryn says
Yup!
Robyn Parrott says
This was amazing! I hate thinking about how many cauliflower stems I’ve wasted all these years .My hubby loved it and I have the florets to roast this week. Thank you!
Taryn says
I've wasted a lot too! I've started freezing them and then once I have a good amount I'll make this again. I'll be back to let everyone know how it worked with frozen cauliflower stems.
Melody says
Cheesy hashbrown casserole has always been a fav of mine!! I'm excited to try this!! I always made mine in a crockpot do you think this recipe could be made in a crockpot as well?
Taryn says
Yup! It should work with whatever cooking instructions you've used personally. Please come back and let us know how it turns out in the crockpot!
Eva says
What can I use in place of the concentrated chicken stock paste? Wasn't playing attention and bought everything else I needed for this but got cream of chicken not realizing it. Will that work? Hoping to make this tomorrow
Taryn says
You could use some powdered bouillion. I like to make my own with nutritional yeast.
So, you bought cream of chicken soup? It would work to add it but the nutrition facts would be different. I'd reduce some of the other liquids to make up for it.
Sharon says
How do you make the powdered bullion with nutritional yeast?
Taryn says
Here is the recipe: https://joyfilledeats.com/chicken-broth-substitute/
Melissa says
The industry should offer cauli-slaw (they make broccoli slaw, so why not cauli-slaw?)- my husband and son had no idea it wasn't potatoes!
Taryn says
That's a great idea! And I'm glad you liked the Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole!
Marilee says
Might be good with broccoli slaw too.
Molly Kumar says
Wow, this looks simply amazing !! I’m loving that you made it Keto n will be trying soon.
Wilhelmina Wessel says
I absolutely love that you made this total comfort food low carb and gluten free!!!
Ana says
Loved,it came perfect like in the picture,my husband still thinking that it is made with potatoes
I change the sour cream for Greek yourt ,it worked
Taryn says
Thanks Ana! I'm glad you liked them and that your husband didn't know it was cauliflower 😊
Judy says
Is this gluten free?
Taryn says
Yes! No grains at all.
Karly says
Ooooo, I am all about tricking the fam with cauliflower, because they often try to NOT eat it, saying it's not the same, but man, when you make it like potatoes, it's so good!
Tisha says
Love the idea of a healthier copy cat recipe! This hashbrown casserole looks so perfect!
Mary says
Any tips on how to shred just the stems?
Taryn says
Yes, I give some in the post but can add more. Cut the florets off, leaving as much stem as possible, and then put the stalks through a food processor with a shredding disc. This is one recipe you really do need a food processor for. If you care more about the flavor you could just use finely chopped cauliflower or cauli-rice. You don't get the hashbrown texture but the flavor is the same.
Sheryl Fernandes says
This looks soooo good! Do you think it would affect the flavor too much if I subbed greek yogurt for the sour cream?, maybe add a bit more butter to make up for the loss of fats in the sour cream? Thanks. Also thinking of cooking adding chopped pork chops right into this as well.
Taryn says
Greek yogurt should work. Enjoy!