Who doesn't love a good Old-Fashioned dinner from Cracker Barrel? There are so many classic menu items that are equal parts nostalgic and delicious! Now you can get that classic farmhouse dinner table feeling at home with this first Recipe Challenge by recreating a copycat or home version of one of their menu classics - their Country Ham Dinner!
The thing I LOVE about Ham Steaks are how QUICK they are to make. If you are struggling for a quick, homemade dinner… ham steaks are hands down your answer! They don't take long to thaw and are even quicker to cook.
For this challenge I am giving you the directions to cook the ham steak (super simple!) and two copycat recipes I have found and tested for two classic Cracker Barrel sides - hashbrown casserole and green beans! Feel free to put your own spin on it if you would like and choose your two favorite Cracker Barrel sides.
Have fun and enjoy this first week's recipe!
About the Cut
Smoked Ham Steak
Ham Steak
About:
“Want ham without the hassle? Try a steak. A slab of salty ham is lean; we cook steaks quickly over mediu7m-high heat in butter or incorporate them into dishes to add sweet-smoky flavor. We prefer bone-in steaks, cut crosswise from the ham. These are superior to individual (processed) steaks, although you may choose these ham steaks if a recipe calls for a small amount to be cut up." - Meat illustrated: A foolproof guide to understanding and cooking with cuts of all kinds. (2020). America's Test Kitchen.
Optimal Cooking Methods:
Sear, Slow Cook
Temperatures:
Our ham steaks are fully smoked, so they only need to be warmed up. No need to cook them to a specific temperature.
Smoked Ham Steak Cooking Directions
Remove the ham steak from the packaging and place in a frying pan. I love my cast iron pan for this. If the ham steak is too big, just cut it in half and cook in batches. Heat the ham steak on medium-high heat until heated through, turning once during the cooking process to heat both sides.
Really it's that easy!!!
Cracker Barrel Sides Recipe links
Copycat Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole
Ingredients needed:
- 1 bag (30 oz) frozen hash browns, thawed
- 8 tbsp (1 stick) butter, melted
- 1 can (10 ¾ oz.) condensed cream of chicken soup;
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded, divided
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
Cracker Barrel Copycat Country Style Green Beans
Ingredients needed:
- 4 slices of thick cut bacon, chopped into pieces
- 3-14.5 ounce cans of cut green beans in water (I used Del Monte®), DO NOT DRAIN
- 1/2 cup finely diced sweet onion
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- salt and pepper, to taste