Copy Cat - Cracker Barrel Hash Brown Casserole (with BACON!)

Copy Cat - Cracker Barrel Hash Brown Casserole (with BACON!)

I needed something to go with my Ham and Polish Sausage and Sauerkraut I made for Easter dinner this past weekend.  I wanted to do something different.

I made this recipe a LONG time ago, based on my friend, Candi's recommendation.

Candi knows food, she hosts her own food blog called The Devilish Dish.

The last time I made it, I forgot to take a picture.

I ran across the recipe again while looking through potato recipe ideas.

It was good from what I remembered, not that I could compare it to anything?

I have never even been in the door of a Cracker Barrel.

I can't stand preparing for a big meal when my pantry isn't organized.  So the week before Easter, I gave it a good cleaning/organizing.

Why do children leave empty boxes in the pantry?

One of life's great mysteries I guess.

While I was gathering the ingredients to throw the casserole together Easter morning, I was in my well-organized pantry, and saw the bacon on the shelf.  I decided bacon could only make a good thing better.

Copy Cat - Cracker Barrel Hash Brown Casserole 

(with BACON!)

adapted from: food.com

2 pounds frozen shredded hash browns

1 stick butter, melted

1 - 10.25 ounce can cream of chicken soup

3 cups sour cream

2 Tablespoons dried chopped onion (or 1/2 cup fresh)

2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 - 3 ounce jar real bacon pieces

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and prepare a deep 9x13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

In a large bowl combine all of the ingredients.

Pour into baking dish and bake for 45-50 minutes.

Will be slightly brown on top.

Enjoy!

Tuna Tetrazzini Casserole

I know, I know... Tuna Noodles is probably one of the easiest things in the world to make, right?

Well, it seems that every time I think I shouldn't blog about something that seems to boring or simple, I am surprised at the response it gets.

When my kids were little and they asked what was for dinner, and I answered Tuna Casserole, they always asked "Where are you going tonight?" 

It is my usual fall back for making something ahead that is easy, everyone loves, and I can put it in the oven and skedaddle out the door!

So, when they ask, and I am at home they are surprised.

Nice to keep them on their toes.

This is one meal where there is rarely ever leftovers.

My kids (and hubby) LOVE it.

Not sure how you make yours, but this is how I make mine! 

Tuna Tetrazzini Casserole

12 oz Macaroni or other pasta.

4 oz can of mushrooms (I usually use two because we love our 'shrooms around here!)

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1- 7 oz can albacore tuna, drained

1 Tablespoon lemon juice

1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

(about) 2 cups crushed potato chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and prepare your casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.

Cook pasta, drain and rinse.

Combine pasta with all of the ingredients, except chips.

Pour into casserole dish, and top with potato chips.

Bake for 30 minutes uncovered.

*If you like peas or black olives either are GREAT in this.  We are a family divided on these, so I omit them.

Enjoy!

Broccoli, Rice and Cheese Casserole

My Mom makes this every year for Christmas dinner.  

I know there are many variations, but this one is BY FAR my favorite!

I love making this when we have ham, it just accompanies it so well!!

The recipe you see above is a doubled version of the one I am posting.  We had it for a big family dinner and served it with steak and a salad.  Yum!!

Broccoli, Rice and Cheese Casserole

2 boxes of chopped frozen broccoli

1 onion finely chopped

1 8 ounce jar of cheese whiz

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can cream of chicken soup

1/2 soup can of milk

1 cup uncooked minute rice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Heat all of the ingredients over the stove and pour into a greased caserole dish.

Bake for 1 1/2 hours.

Loaded Baked Potato Casserole

I went to the store to buy ingredients for a potato casserole I found in my Church cookbook.

But I am not usually one for following recipes and changed my mind walking through the store.

I started thinking how good a loaded baked potato sounded, but we had just had baked potatoes, and I wanted to switch it up.

I took all of the goodness of a loaded baked potato and whipped up this casserole!

It was FABULOUS!!

We ate it with steaks on the grill, but it's hearty enough, it could be your meal!

Loaded Baked Potato Casserole

1 32 oz frozen hash browns

1 can cream of celery

1 tsp salt

2 cups cheddar cheese

2 Tbls dried minced onion (1/2 cup fresh)

2 cups sour cream

1/2 tsp pepper

2 Tbls fresh chives, chopped

1 package of real bacon pieces

Mix all of ingredients in a 2 quart greased casserole dish.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Chicken and DORITOS Casserole

Every day when my kids get in the car, the first thing they ask me is 

"what's for dinner?"

I am known to be a smartalec once in a while (ok...so a lot of times)

so yesterday, I said 

"DORITOS!!"

They said sure, Mom...what's really for dinner?

I said...ok, DORITOS Casserole.

They still didn't believe me.

When we got home they saw the bag of Doritos on the counter and it was like

"dang...she really meant it!"

EYE POPPING moment!

Now I am going to tell you, this is REALLY good, and it's REALLY easy, but most certainly not one of those "health conscience" foods.

I did however use as much "fat free" stuff as possible, to try and counteract the bag of crunched up Doritos!

Chicken and Doritos Casserole

1 can refried beans

4 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded or cubed

1 (10oz) can of cream of chicken soup

4 cups Mexican shredded cheese

1/2 cup milk

2/3 cup sour cream

1 can Ro-tel tomatoes, drained

1/2 packet of taco seasoning (or use your own!)

1 large bag of Doritos crushed 

Optional Toppings:

Tomatoes

Shredded Lettuce

Sour Cream

Olives

Jalapenos

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

In a small pan, place chicken with a little bit of water and cover.  Cook until chicken is done, and is able to be shredded or cubed.

Spread the refried beans into the bottom of the baking dish, set aside.

In a large bowl combine the soup, milk, sour cream, Ro-tel, 1 1/2 cup of cheese and taco seasoning.  Add chicken, and combine.

Over the bean layer, sprinkle a layer of Doritos.

Top with half of chicken mixture.

Add another layer of Doritos.

Top with the remaining chicken mixture.

Top with remaining cheese and more Doritos.

Cover and bake for 30-35 minutes.

I did bake mine uncovered for the last 5 minutes.  

hot out of the oven!

Chili Rellenos

When planning my Valentine luncheon this year, I didn't take into consideration that it fell on

 a Friday during Lent.

Out of all of my friends attending, only three weren't Catholic, and out of those three, one was a vegetarian!!

I did make some white chicken enchiladas, but everything else was meatless.

I had wanted to try this Chili Relleno recipe for a long time.

a photo of my plate!!

When I moved out, I had sat and copied many of my Mom's recipes.  

(this was a long time ago...)

I have transferred this recipe from book to book my whole adult life, and I have never made it?

(why??)

So when I was telling my Mom that I was going to make these, she said,

 "really? I forgot how much I liked those?" 

She hadn't made them in eons either!

Well, they got RAVE reviews at the party!!

And they were so simple!!

I LOVE green chilies, don't you?

Chili Rellenos

3 - 4ounce cans of WHOLE green chilies

3 eggs

1 cup milk

1/4 cup flour

8 ounce package of Monterey Jack Cheese, shredded

salt, to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 2quart casserole with non-stick cooking spray.

Drain chilies, spread them out flat and remove any seeds.

Whisk the eggs, milk, salt and flour together, set aside.

Line the bottom of the casserole with half of the chilies.

Top with half of the cheese.

Add the other half of the chilies, top with cheese.

Pour egg mixture over the top and bake for 40-45 minutes, until they slightly brown on top and eggs are cooked.