Cracker Barrel Broccoli Cheese Casserole

Indulge in the comforting flavors of Cracker Barrel Broccoli Cheese Casserole. A mixture of fresh broccoli, cream of chicken soup, and American cheese sauce is poured over rice, topped with Colby cheese and a buttery Ritz cracker crust, and baked to perfection. An easy and delicious side dish to enjoy on any night of the week.

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What Makes the Cracker Barrel Broccoli Cheese Casserole So Special? 

Nothing is more comforting than a hot casserole straight out of the oven, and this Cracker Barrel Broccoli and Cheese Casserole won’t disappoint! When you combine the creamy, cheesy sauce with broccoli and rice, then top it with crispy butter crackers, you have something extraordinary.

If you have ever ordered this dish at Cracker Barrel and wished you could make it yourself, now you can, and anyone who has never tried it at the restaurant is in for a real treat! 

Why You’ll Love This Recipe 

This Cracker Barrel Broccoli Cheese Casserole recipe is a real crowd-pleaser that is easy and inexpensive to prepare. It works equally well as a weekday family dinner or a bring-along to a potluck or church supper.

Since most ingredients are pantry staples, you can whip this casserole up whenever you feel like having a hearty, satisfying meal. As a bonus, this copycat Cracker Barrel casserole freezes and reheats beautifully, allowing you to stock your freezer for those days when you don’t feel like cooking from scratch.

Cracker Barrel Broccoli Rice Cheese Casserole Ingredients

To make this casserole, you’ll need:

• White rice
• Cream of chicken soup, canned
• Whole milk 
• American cheese 
• Broccoli 
• Colby cheese, shredded
• Ritz crackers
• Unsalted butter 

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

Fresh broccoli is best, but you can use frozen broccoli in a pinch. 

Feel free to use another brand of butter cracker, like Club Crackers.

Make it extra cheesy by using cheddar cheese soup instead of cream of chicken soup.

Cook a couple of boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut them into bite-sized pieces, and add them to the casserole to transform it from a side to an entree.

How to Make the Casserole

To prep a Cracker Barrel Broccoli Rice Cheese Casserole:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. 
2. Cook the rice according to the package. For convenience, use a rice cooker if you have one.
3. While the rice is cooking, wash and shake dry the head of broccoli. Divide the broccoli into individual florets and cut larger florets in half—reserve for later. 
4. Add the cream of chicken soup, whole milk, and American cheese to a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir continuously until the cheese melts. 
5. Once the American cheese melts, stir in the broccoli florets and cook for about 8 minutes or until the broccoli softens. 
6. Remove the broccoli sauce from the heat and cover the saucepan to keep warm. 
7. Spread the cooked white rice in an even layer on the bottom of a 9×13 casserole dish. Allow the rice to cool in the baking dish for about five minutes.
8. Pour the broccoli sauce over the top of the rice. Use a spatula to smooth the top, but try not to mix the rice and broccoli sauce. 

9. Sprinkle the shredded Colby cheese over the top. At this point, you can bake immediately or let the casserole cool entirely and store it.
10. Heat a saucepan over medium-low heat, and add the butter. 
11. While the butter is melting, crush the crackers into crumbs. Crush the crackers while still in the sleeve, or put them in a plastic bag to avoid making a mess. 
12. Remove the saucepan from the heat and dump the cracker crumbs into it. Gently stir to coat with melted butter thoroughly.  
13. Sprinkle the buttered cracker crumbs over the top of the casserole and bake in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until the cracker crumbs brown lightly. 
14. Let the casserole slightly cool on a wire rack, and then serve. 

What to Serve With a Cracker Barrel Broccoli and Cheese Casserole

A great thing about casseroles is that they are one-dish meals. But you can add a few sides if you want. Here are three good options:

• Bread. Flaky biscuits or fluffy dinner rolls are a great addition to this casserole. 
• Asparagus. Add a side of grilled, oven-roasted, or air-fried with your favorite seasonings. 
• Spinach Salad. Be sure to get your greens with a nice light spinach salad. 

How to Make It Ahead 

If you plan on making this Cracker Barrel Broccoli Cheese Casserole recipe beforehand, it is best to let the rice and broccoli sauce cool completely before assembling the casserole. Stop after adding the shredded cheese and cover the casserole dish with plastic wrap. See the section below for storage tips. 

How to Store the Casserole

Let the casserole cool down completely in the baking dish. To save the leftovers for up to three days, wrap the entire dish in plastic wrap or transfer it to an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator.

To keep the dish for up to a month, add a layer of aluminum foil to the plastic wrap and freeze. Allow the frozen casserole to thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating. 

What Is the Best Way to Reheat It

To warm up a thawed casserole:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. 
2. Remove the plastic wrap and cover the top of the casserole with aluminum foil. 
3. Bake in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until the center of the casserole is hot. You can remove the aluminum foil for a few minutes at the end of the cooking time to help crisp up the cracker crumb topping. 

More Cracker Barrel Copycat Recipes

• Cracker Barrel Biscuits
• Cracker Barrel Fried Apples
• Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole
• Cracker Barrel Meatloaf Recipe
• Cracker Barrel Pot Roast

Favorite Casserole Recipes

• Cabbage Roll Casserole
• Cheeseburger Casserole
• Chicken Noodle Casserole
• Chili Relleno Casserole
• Creamed Corn Casserole
• Easy Taco Casserole
• Hamburger Green Bean Casserole
• Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole

Check out more of my easy casserole recipes and the best copycat Cracker Barrel recipes on CopyKat!