If comfort food is the name of the game, then pull up your favorite rocking chair and check
out these 10 Absolute Best Things To Order At Cracker Barrel.
Macaroni N’ Cheese Mac n’ Cheese is one of the most popular
and argument-inducing dishes. When it comes to mac n’ cheese, people have very specific
ideas about which is the best and also what is allowed to go on top of it (try putting
ketchup on your Kraft Mac and Cheese and see how angry it makes some people). With that
being said, the macaroni and cheese at Cracker Barrel is one of the greats. One thing that
makes their version so good is their blend of cheeses. We would love to tell you what
those cheeses are, but we can’t. Not because we aren’t allowed, we just don’t know.
The restaurant has kept it a secret, so all we can do is enjoy it. Which you should also
do whenever you have a chance. The restaurant finishes off the dish in the oven, which provides
some nice crunchy cheese bits on top - without losing any of the yummy creamy goodness you
need with mac and cheese. And that’s pretty much it. This isn’t a super fancy dish with
lots of crazy toppings. This is a simple macaroni and cheese dish, and it’s just what we needed.
Cracker Barrel offers a whole lot of side dishes, and many of them are really good.
However, when given a choice, it’s very hard not to make the mac n’ cheese a top
selection.
Country Fried Shrimp Sheldon Cooper can’t eat shrimp if they
are all the same size because there’s “no logical order to eat them in.” However,
even he might make an exception to this rule were he given a plate of Cracker Barrel’s
Country Fried Shrimp (provided he was able to eat them while sitting in HIS SPOT, of
course). If you thought that Red Lobster was the only big restaurant chain to get some
good shrimp… it's probably time to think again. The Cracker Barrel Country Fried Shrimp
deserves your attention and is one of the more popular items according to various customer
rankings. The shrimp are first dipped in buttermilk, then breaded and fried. But if you thought
that half a pound of battered shrimp was enough, well, prepare to be shocked because you get
even more than that. You also get hushpuppies - small, savory, deep-fried round balls
made from cornmeal-based batter - your choice of two sides (see the rest of this list for
a few recommendations on that front) as well as either buttermilk biscuits or corn muffins
- again, your choice. At 900 calories, we definitely aren’t saying that this is a
diet-friendly choice, but given what everyone's been going through, don’t we deserve a reward?
Yes. Yes we do!
Maple Jam n' Bacon Burger Cracker Barrel might not be best-known for
its burgers, but it really should be. After all, burgers are part of the big "comfort
food" family, so it would only be fitting to give them a try. All of their burgers
have juicy, grilled-to-order patties, seasoned and seared on the flat top grill, and usually
topped with their signature, yummy melted Colby cheese. What's not to love about that?
But the Maple Jam n' Bacon Burger is an even bigger surprise and contains even more delicious
things. Along with the traditional toppings like lettuce and tomato stacked on a bun,
it's completed with crispy, peppered bacon and a sweet maple onion jam. Not only does
it have a delightful taste, but it's also extremely unique. And if that maple onion
jam just isn't your thing, well, just try any of the burgers, and you won't be disappointed.
You get to choose how your meat is cooked, select your type of cheese, and customize
it according to your heart's desire. You also get to choose a side or a soup, but the Steak
Fries are highly recommended. Either way, burgers at Cracker Barrel should be given
a fair chance to prove their worth!
Hashbrown Casserole Hash Browns are a staple of any self-respecting
breakfast menu, but Cracker Barrel takes them one delicious step further with their hashbrown
casserole. While many casserole dishes can suffer from a soggy texture, that isn’t
the case with this offering from The Barrel. The ingredients are simple: Shredded potatoes,
Colby cheese, chopped onions, their signature seasoning blend, salt, and pepper. This all
gets baked together in the oven and comes out crispy and wonderfully hashbrowny (yes,
that’s a word). And with the restaurant offering breakfast all day, this menu item
is yours to order in the a.m. or the p.m. Even though the original version is exquisite, the
chain has a few variations that are well worth trying as well. Imagine a sweet potato version
with pecans and brown sugar. Yes, that’s really a thing. As is the loaded hashbrown
casserole. It gets its "loaded" name since the classic gets finished off on the grill,
topped with bacon, and loaded up with even more cheese. For those that don’t have a
Cracker Barrel nearby or don't plan on hitting the road anytime soon, a quick Google search
will bring up lots of “copycat” recipes claiming to replicate the popular dish. Let
us know if you find one that comes close to this superb menu selection.
Meatloaf Meatloaf has had a bit of a resurgence recently.
What once was seen as the lesser of meat dishes and one of the most unsophisticated meals
possible has found its way into more and more restaurants over the last decade or so. Fans
of the Food Network will no doubt have noticed it turning up on various cooking shows and
in restaurants visited by some of the network’s most popular personalities. Elevated versions
of this classic dish are becoming more and more common - with chefs using fancy meats
and spices as well as secret ingredients to differentiate their meatloaf from the rest.
Well, at Cracker Barrel, they stand out by replacing the standard breadcrumbs with Ritz
Crackers. And we would like to give the person who thought of this a small award because
it’s a great idea. One thing they don’t mess around with, though, is the ketchup topping.
Slathered on just before cooking, for many folks, this is one of the most important parts
of any meatloaf recipe. This moist meat offering is one of the chain's best sellers. So much
so that it has even been known to sell out! But don’t worry, if it is, there are nine
other great choices on this list for you to choose from.
Sunday Homestyle Chicken Back in the day, you used to only be able
to get fried chicken at fast-food joints like KFC, Popeye's, and the like. But, times have
changed, and it's definitely no longer the case as the uber-popular dish became a staple
on many restaurant menus. However, while the expanded reach of the dish has been welcomed
by fried chicken lovers all over - we also know that not all fried chicken is worth the
calories. But thankfully, if you are going to cheat on your diet, Cracker Barrel is a
good place to do it. Especially on Sundays. You see, Sunday Homestyle Chicken is actually
only available on that seventh day of every week. Sunday dinners are a big deal in many
families, and now you can all gather at your closest Cracker Barrel for a great fried chicken
dinner. The meal consists of a couple of breaded, dipped in buttermilk, and fried boneless breasts.
But that’s only the beginning. You can also choose between corn muffins or buttermilk
biscuits and select two country sides (steak fries, loaded sweet potato, dumplings, coleslaw,
mashed potatoes, mac n’ cheese, etc.). Sunday nights can often be difficult, with the knowledge
that we are starting another long work week the following morning. But going to bed with
a belly full of Sunday Homestyle Chicken could make Sundays a day to look forward to.
Fresh Steamed Broccoli Yes, we will admit, we wanted to get at least
one healthy option on this list. But we also wanted to do it without compromising the taste.
And Cracker Barrel’s broccoli is the perfect way to do just that. For those of you who
would never be caught ordering broccoli, let alone eating it, just trust us on this one
and give it a try. Not only is the green veggie full of vitamins and nutrients, but Cracker
Barrel uses a proprietary blend of herbs and spices that make this healthy appetizer a
must-order - and a very tasty one at that (when’s the last time you heard anyone use
the words “broccoli” and “tasty” in the same sentence). Former President George
W. H. Bush famously disliked broccoli, but maybe even he would have enjoyed this version
of it. Also, on a menu with plenty of appetizers clocking in at 100 to over 400 calories, starting
off your meal with this 40-calorie-per-serving choice gives you more leeway when it comes
to all of those delicious menu items that will have you loosening your belt. This menu
item may just be the best thing to happen to broccoli since Dana Carvey sang about “Choppin’
Broccoli” on SNL.
Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola Cake Yes, you heard that right. It is a double
chocolate fudge Coca-Cola cake! And yes, it does sound kooky, but oh, so delicious. This
one has made mouths water and waists expand. Since we advised you to begin your Cracker
Barrel with some steamed broccoli, and your parents always said that after you eat your
greens, you get dessert, here it is! And what an amazing dessert it is! Allow us to
quote the description from their menu: a rich, warm double chocolate fudge cake made with
real Coca-Cola. Not only do they make it using real Coke and not some store brand knock-off,
but they also make it daily, by hand, and serve it warm with rich, creamy vanilla ice cream. And
you don’t just have to take our word for it as to how good this dessert is. Yahoo has
done some investigating and surveying, and the results are in: both the cake and the
accompanying ice cream are right at the top of the list for America’s favorite desserts. With
all of the sweet menu items out there across the country, we think this is a pretty high
honor. Next time you're at Cracker Barrel, find out if the polls are right! And we totally
understand if you need to go back a few extra times to really make sure.
Sunrise Sampler For some of us, breakfast is the most gluttonous
meal of the day. Especially if we happen to be road tripping. There’s something just
so satisfying about grabbing a ridiculously huge (in size and calorie count) meal and
then getting in the car and letting the meal digest while you listen to podcasts, audiobooks,
or that one awful radio station that your car picks up in each town you drive through.
Well, if you agree, then there’s no denying the absolute awesomeness of Cracker Barrel’s
Sunrise Sampler. Just listen to everything you get: Two farm fresh eggs, their signature
hashbrown casserole, fried apples, grits, and a meat sampler. What is the meat sampler,
you ask? Well, how does this sound? Thick-sliced bacon, smoked sausage, and country ham. But
wait, there’s more: your breakfast also comes with buttermilk biscuits, sawmill gravy,
butter, and jam. So, if you're in need of a full, gigantic, and delicious breakfast,
then you don't need to look any further. That is a whole lotta food and a whole lot of calories.
But it’s totally worth it. And there’s even more good news. Cracker Barrel serves
breakfast all day long, so you can get there long after sunrise and still partake in the
Sunrise Sampler. And if you happen to be stopping by around Christmas time, you might find the
Holiday Sunrise Sampler on the menu. This festive version includes double-glazed cinnamon
drop biscuits. And you thought it couldn’t get any better!
Country Ham n’ Biscuit You may have noticed that the Cracker Barrel
biscuits have been mentioned quite a bit on this list as they do come as an option with
most of the restaurant’s main dishes. However, we felt that as good as they are, they deserve
a little more star recognition. So, here they are as one half of the Country Ham n’ Biscuit.
If you were to ask people what's the one food item they most associate with Cracker Barrel,
we have no doubt that a good number of those folks would say the biscuits. They are a true
classic of southern cuisine, and Cracker Barrel does them right. Now take that awesome-on-its-own
biscuit, slice it in half and put a slice of their country ham right in there. Their
country ham is hickory-smoked and rubbed with the restaurant’s special curing mixture.
And just as the biscuit is excellent all on its own, so too is the ham. So much so that
the chain’s website offers you the ability to order a whole ham and have it shipped right
to your front door. And in case you forgot, Cracker Barrel offers an all-day breakfast.
Meaning that this typically morning meal is available at all times of the day. And with
most main dishes offering customers the choice of at least two sides, you can always make
this Country Ham n’ Biscuit one of those choices - or make it both. The only thing
better than a serving of Country Ham n’ Biscuit is two servings!
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