When it comes to roadside comfort food, nobody beats Cracker Barrel. The down-home restaurant
might be rooted in the South, but can be found along highways and byways from coast to coast.
Order up one of the items on our list and you're pretty much guaranteed a great meal.
If you're homesick for mama's cooking, few things satisfy your craving more than chicken
fried steak. When it comes to fried food, chicken seems to get all the golden brown
glory, but chicken fried steak is the dark horse that deserves our attention.
The history of the dish offers much debate, but according to The Culture Trip, we can
likely thank the European settlers who came to America. When German and Austrian expats
landed in Texas, they brought along with them recipes from their homeland, including wiener
schnitzel. Based on affordability and availability, it's thought that they likely grabbed cheap
cuts of beef for frying, resulting in what we now know as chicken fried steak.
What stands out about Cracker Barrel's version, is they've really nailed the meat to breading
ratio. The tender but affordable USDA Choice steak is coated in a perfect blend of flour,
egg, and just the right amount of seasoning. This dish may push your maximum sodium count
for the day, but it's so worth it. Stretchy pants are not included.
While on the topic of poultry, it's been reported that Cracker Barrel sells over 11 million
orders each year of another popular dish, their Chicken n' Dumplins. What is now affordable
fare found on nearly every menu that celebrates Southern cooking, the dish did not start out
that way.
According to Wide Open Eats, when it first made its way to dining tables across the United
States in the latter half of the 1800s, it would be what we would now describe as a delicacy.
During this time, the pre-industrialized farming era, chicken was pricey and often passed over
for cheaper cuts of meat, such as veal and chuck roast.
Thanks to availability and affordability, these little pillows of goodness now have
us fondly recalling trips to our Grandma's house, not financial hardships. Cracker Barrel's
version is slow-cooked and hearty, with tender chunks of all-white meat chicken. While you
may be familiar with some recipes that call for an almost biscuit-like dumpling, theirs
features a flat version of the carb that almost mimics a noodle. The two items are married
together in holy matrimony within creamy, rich chicken broth.
At only 40 calories a serving, Cracker Barrel’s broccoli side dish will let you leave room
for the true stars of the show, their delectable main dish options, like roast beef and hamburger
steak. Other sides clock in well beyond this, such as the 300 calories you’ll consume
for cornbread dressing.
This delight for the calorie conscious is also featured in the chain's popular Wednesday-only
offering, Broccoli Cheddar Chicken. Upon scouring the internet, we were even able to track down
a fantastic copycat version of the recipe thanks to the Spicy Southern Kitchen, perfect
for evenings Thursday through Tuesday. We never thought we'd be saying this, but...
please pass the broccoli.
Ham has been a staple in mankind's diet for at least a couple thousand years, in the dry-cured
European pork dishes of Italy, Spain, and elsewhere. Be it a holiday ham on Easter or
Christmas, a classic playground-friendly ham and cheese sandwich, or a beautifully curated
charcuterie board, where would we be without the fatty goodness?
In the early 1600s, adventurous colonists arrived in North America, bringing along with
them both practical and cherished items. Lucky for us, pigs also happened to be one of those
beloved items.
Now, you'll never have to choose between salty and sweet again, thanks to Cracker Barrel's
Sugar Cured Ham. The age-old battle of sugar versus sodium comes to rest here with perfect
balance. While country ham tends to rely heavily on the salt in its curing process, sugar cured
ham has a hint of salt while leaning toward the sweeter side of the spectrum. It's a winner,
winner ham dinner for us, whatever the case.
Universally known, yet often poorly executed, macaroni and cheese is really the pinnacle
of comfort food. We're talking perfectly al dente noodles, butter, and cheese coming together
in creamy baked bliss.
Cracker Barrel's version features elbow macaroni noodles and their signature, yet undisclosed,
cheese blend. The combo is baked together just long enough for an extra creamy product,
with the perfect amount of crispy cheese patches on top. Nothing fancy here. In this day and
age where you could indulge in a shaved truffle topped aged white cheddar mac and cheese that
will set you back a mortgage payment, we'll gladly accept this near-perfect presentation
of the iconic American dish in its most basic and natural form.
No two words have ever sounded less appealing together than meat and loaf, but, alas, the
dish has become a staple in many homes. According to Bon Appetit, this culinary wonder may date
back to Medieval times, when peasants found a successful way to prevent meat scraps from
going to waste. It has since made its way to the forefront of the American palette alongside
the greats, like hamburgers and hot dogs. The savory dish may even be to thank for full
bellies during one of America's toughest times The Great Depression.
The combination of ground meat and bread lives on as a menu staple at Cracker Barrel restaurants.
What makes their version so unique is the use of one common household item in place
of breadcrumbs: Ritz Crackers. Made fresh in-house each day and finished off with a
ketchup topping just before baking, the result is both tender and moist, making it one of
the most sought after items. It's so popular, in fact, it's even known to sell out.
If you have a hankering for pancakes in the late afternoon, you are in luck. Cracker Barrel
offers up its full breakfast menu all day long. While they serve over 50 million of
those hot cakes a year, you might want something more than a stack of steaming pancakes. Let
us introduce you to the breakfast version of the meat and three, Cracker Barrel's Sunrise
Sampler.
Two farm fresh eggs are served with their signature hashbrown casserole, fried apples,
grits, and a meat sampler. This is not just any meat sampler; it’s your opportunity
to try thick-sliced bacon, smoked sausage, and country ham. It doesn't end there: your
breakfast adventure also comes with buttermilk biscuits, sawmill gravy, butter, and jam.
They are even known to carry a special seasonal version, called the Holiday Sunrise Sampler.
This limited run item, usually available around Christmas, comes with double-glazed cinnamon
drop biscuits. Clearly with this favorite, we prefer to not count our calories for the
day.
“At Cracker Barrel, we’re cooking up warm feelings of home this season.”
Unlike the aforementioned broccoli and meatloaf, we probably won’t have to sell you on the
double chocolate fudge Coca-Cola cake. The fudgy dessert begins with a handmade-daily
double chocolate fudge cake. This isn't your ordinary boxed chocolate cake. Cracker Barrel's
cake is the creme de la creme of all versions and after it’s baked.
According to Yahoo, both cake and ice cream top the list of America's favorite desserts,
making this unique pairing a sure-fire winner on your next visit to Cracker Barrel. We won't
judge you if you'd like to skip over the chicken pot pie and head right for the dessert.
While we've scoured the internet for the perfect recipe, there's really nothing quite like
the Hashbrown Casserole from Cracker Barrel. Readily available as a soggy breakfast option
at most fast food spots, their version offers just the right amount of crunch. Thanks to
Cracker Barrel's all-day breakfast, be it morning, noon, or night,you can enjoy the
combination of shredded potatoes, chopped onions, colby cheese, and their signature
seasoning blend baked together in joyous harmony. It's even available in a bacon n' egg combo,
or in a sweet potato variety with pecans and brown sugar.
We're going to fill you in a little secret for your next visit, when you should order
their Loaded Hashbrown Casserole. What exactly does “loaded” mean? In this next-level
interpretation of the classic dish, they will finish it off on the grill, top it with crispy
bacon, and even throw on some more ooey, gooey melted colby cheese.
Whether from the East or West Coast, and any point in between, Sunday dinners are a cherished,
American tradition. While in Italian-American homes it's all about the sauce, at Cracker
Barrel, Sunday Homestyle Chicken is the name of the game.
According to The Daily Meal, we have Scotland to thank for inventing this deep-fried chicken
method. Once reserved in America for special occasions, fried chicken is now a global favorite.
Cracker Barrel offers two versions, with one being only available on Sunday. A variation
of the classic southern fried chicken, Cracker Barrel's Sunday Homestyle Chicken is made
with boneless chicken breasts. The chicken is hand-dipped in Cracker Barrel's secret
buttermilk batter and fried, resulting in super juicy deep-fried perfection.
If Cracker Barrel does one thing right, it has got to be their biscuits. They've even
dedicated an entirely new restaurant chain concept to the flaky pastry. Their signature
biscuits come complimentary alongside nearly every option on their menu. And what’s a
biscuit without something spread across it? You can dip, dunk, and drench away with your
choice of sawmill gravy, preserves, jam, and butter.
“Making biscuits from scratch. That’s how we try to put a little gravy on top.”
Our favorite take on this perfect Southern pastry is the Country Ham N' Biscuit. Available
as part of their Breakfast All Day menu, you can up the ante of your meal, or just enjoy
it as a light snack.
A fresh, buttermilk biscuit is halved and filled with a nice slap of Country Ham. Differing
from their sugar-cured ham, this one is hickory-smoked and hand-rubbed with their special curing
mixture. The resulting slice of ham adds a bite of salt to balance out the buttery-ness
of the biscuit. The Country Ham has become so popular you can even order a whole ham
off of their website and have it shipped directly to your door.
Maybe we have Forrest Gump to thank for it, but Americans can't get enough of shrimp.
Broiled, steamed, blackened, and butterflied, there are never-ending possibilities when
it comes to whipping up our favorite crustacean. In fact, we have been known to occasionally
indulge in literally never-ending shrimp thanks to Red Lobster's Endless Shrimp promotions.
According to Slate, once shrimp-farming became a thing around the world in the 20th century,
rising production led to more affordable prices, hence the popularity. What was once a luxury,
can now be purchased for a meager several bucks a pound and we are certainly not complaining.
What happens when you combine our favorite under the sea treat with America's preferred
method of cooking? Introducing Cracker Barrel's Country Fried Shrimp. A copious amount of
shrimp is coated in sweet buttermilk breading and deep-fried to a golden brown. Completing
the meal are a steaming portion of hushpuppies. We're talking a literal boatload of food with
this one.
What’s up with the South and sweet tea? It's just water, tea, and sugar, right? Wrong.
According to Food Network, tea became super popular when Prohibition took effect in the
South. No longer able to grab for a glass of the stiff stuff, people sought comfort
in a sobering, yet delicious glass of iced tea, and the obsession persists to this day.
Freshly brewed in-house since 1969, Cracker Barrel's Sweet Tea is stored refrigerated
at all times and then iced, never poured over ice while hot, which would result in a watered-down
beverage. Beloved by customers, it is available as you dine in by the refillable glass, or
in half gallons to-go. Looking for a little variety to spice up your life? Try one of
their thirst-quenching flavors, like a blackberry tea that's blended with a fruit puree. Southern
charm and sweet tea are pretty much the epitome of a visit to Cracker Barrel.
Check out one of our newest videos right here! Plus, even more Mashed videos about your favorite
restaurants are coming soon. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and hit the bell so you
don't miss a single one.