Cracker Barrel's Corn Casserole Recipe: a Taste of the South in Your Home

There are indeed countless casserole recipes to choose from. Still, this copycat version of Cracker Barrel's corn casserole is exceptional and stands out, thanks to its distinctive and delicious combination of ingredients. This dish makes for an easy weeknight side dish, appetizer, or Sunday brunch dish that pairs well with any protein.

Whether you need a comforting meal to get you through the colder months or a crowd-pleasing dish, this easy and delightful casserole is undoubtedly what you were looking for. It is time to heat the oven, gather the ingredients, and get cooking!

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Substitutions
• Variations
• Equipment
• Storage
• Pro Tips
• My Cracker Barrel's Corn Casserole Recipe
• Comments

Ingredients

• Cooking oil spray — 1 tbsp.
• Whole kernel corn — 1 can (15 oz.), drained and rinsed
• Creamed corn — 1 can (14 oz.), drained
• Sour cream — 1 cup
• Unsalted butter — 4 oz., at room temperature
• Eggs — 2 pcs., beaten
• Corn muffin mix — 1 package (8 ½ oz.)
• Cheddar cheese — 1 ½ cups, grated and divided
• Dried thyme — ½ tsp.
• Ground black pepper — to taste

Instructions

Substitutions

• Creamed corn — Creamed corn is a crucial ingredient that should not be omitted as it provides essential moisture and a much-needed creamy texture. However, if it is unavailable in your pantry, you can achieve a close creamy texture by mixing 1 can of canned corn kernels with ¼ of heavy cream.

• Sour cream — When I don’t have sour cream in the refrigerator but still want to bring creaminess to the casserole, I usually replace it with heavy cream. Greek yogurt is another much healthier alternative, especially if you aim to lower the fat and calorie content of the dish.

• Corn muffin mix — My go-to choice for corn muffin mix is Jiffy because it is so tasty and incredibly effortless to use. Cornmeal can be used as a substitution to add the same savory touch to the dish. Remember that cornmeal tends to absorb more liquid, so you may adjust the amount of liquid ingredients in the recipe to achieve the desired texture.

• Cheddar cheese — If you do not have cheddar cheese or simply want to experiment with other types of cheese, why not try Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, or a combination of the two? They will melt nicely and add a tangy flavor to the dish. There is nothing wrong with getting creative and trying other cheeses you like most to achieve an original and delicious corn casserole.

Variations

• Mexican-style — To make a Mexican-style variation, I add some diced green chilies, a bit of Jalapeño, and shredded Mexican cheese when preparing the mixture. To make this even better, I like to top it with salsa and a drizzle of sour cream before serving.

• Southwest-style — Give your corn casserole a Southwestern twist, and incorporate black beans and diced tomatoes into the mixture, along with seasonings such as ground cumin and chili powder.

• Italian-style — Another variation that I use that elevates the corn casserole is the Italian one. Add sun-dried tomatoes, grated Parmesan cheese, dried basil, and dried oregano when making the mixture to give an authentic Italian flavor.

Equipment

• Measuring spoons and cups

• Oven

• Baking dish

• Large bowl

• Whisk

Storage

• Before storage, allow your corn casserole to reach room temperature.

• To preserve the dish's freshness, store it in a food container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.

• If you want to freeze the casserole, you can tightly wrap it with plastic wrap or transfer it to a freezer-safe bag or container. Consume it within 3 months.

Pro Tips

• Prevent over-browning — If the top of the casserole is getting too brown before the center is cooked, cover it with foil to prevent it from over-browning.

• Crock-pot method — To simplify the cooking process, making Cracker Barrel corn casserole in a crockpot is a great option. Combine all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl, just as you would for the oven-baked version, and then transfer the mixture to a slow cooker coated with cooking spray. Cook the casserole for 2-3 hours. For a crispy golden top, don’t forget to sprinkle grated cheese before cooking.