An object recognition apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus includes a processor configured to verify a target image using an object model and based on reference intermediate data extracted by a partial layer of the object model as used in an object recognition of an input image, in response to a failure of a verification of the input image after a success of the object recognition of the input image, and perform an additional verification of the target image in response to the target image being verified in the verifying of the target image.