Okay, you’re at Cracker Barrel. You check out the menu, and there sure are lots of options to pick from. To make sure you get the tastiest treats available, check out any of these menu items on our lost of the best:
Country Fried Shrimp
If you’ve ever watched Forrest Gump, you know that you need a whole day to list down all the ways you can cook and serve shrimp. That movie came out in 1994, and people have probably found even newer ways to serve shrimp since then.
But this is one version of shrimp that’s hard to resist. That’s especially true if you’re looking for seafood but you can’t stop thinking of the delicious breading you get with fried chicken. This single order serves both needs.
The Country Fried Shrimp starts with lots of shrimp, which should be more than enough for anyone looking for some lunch. Each shrimp is then fully coated in their sweet buttermilk coating, and then they’re all deep-fried until they get that iconic golden-brown color.
This order also comes with hushpuppies, and these deep-fried balls of batter really shine. The order also comes with either hand-rolled Buttermilk Biscuits or Corn Muffins, along with 2 sides.
This sure is a lot of food for something that’s considered an entrée. You may feel full just thinking about this single order. You pay $13.08 for Country Fried Shrimp, and it’s worth every penny.
Sunday Homestyle Chicken
Not every day’s the same, not when Sunday is concerned. We’re not talking about religion—we’re talking about many households tend to offer great food on Sundays, when it’s most likely that there will be a large family gathering involved.
This dish features 2 chicken breasts, and they’re boneless so there’s less of a mess and kids find it easier to deal with. These are dipped by hand into the brand’s secret buttermilk batter and breaded before it’s fried to perfection. With the 2 Country Sides and your choice of either hand-rolled Buttermilk Biscuits or Corn Muffins, it’s a meal that reminds you of Sunday gatherings back home.
Last time we checked, this is now available every day. Morrisey was right—every day is like Sunday.
Meatloaf
The name just sounds so boring, doesn’t it? Meatloaf—it’s not easy to imagine ordering this at a fine dining restaurant. But the meatloaf here at Cracker Barrel is good enough to merit some sort of Michelin star.
What makes this version unique is that they don’t use the traditional breadcrumbs. Instead, they go with Ritz crackers. That substitution does make a difference for the better.
They cook their meatloaf in-house and fresh each day, using a catsup topping right before baking. What you go is meatloaf that’s undeniably moist and tender. There are many words to describe this, but “boring” isn’t one of them.
This is probably better for lunch than for dinner, and not just because the savory combination of ground meat and bread may be a bit heavy. It’s also because it’s one of the most popular items in the Cracker Barrel menu. By dinner time, it may already be sold out!
Country Fried Steak
It’s true that there are many versions of this dish, but the Cracker Barrel version is one of those that just about force you to remember the days gone by. Once you’ve tried this, it’s guaranteed that you will want it again, and again. Some fans on social media have even commented that it’s so addictive that they even dream of this dish.
It features a USDA Choice steak that’s been breaded before being deep-fried. It uses lots of spices which offer quite satisfying flavors, and everything’s just right. That’s especially true with the sawmill gravy. Add the side dishes that come with the meal (either hand-rolled Buttermilk Biscuits or Corn Muffins), and it’s just like the old days when things were much better.
This is a rather heavy meal, so it’s perfect if you didn’t have a snack after breakfast. And once you have this, you’re fully loaded so you won’t really need to snack in the afternoon, either.
Broccoli
No, this isn’t listed here just to placate your nutritionist. In fact, if you checked out the nutritional info on some of the other items on this list, you’d realize that no nutritionist was consulted to make up this list at all. It’s all about taste.
And somehow, the broccoli here at Cracker Barrel isn’t just healthy. It’s also tasty as heck. It comes with just the right amount of salt to go with that delectable level of garlic greatness. The taste is probably due to the signature seasoning blend, but Cracker Barrel isn’t telling about what comprises this seasonal mix.
What’s not a secret is that this broccoli is both healthy and tasty. That’s not a very common combination in the entire fast-food industry.
There you have it. Any of these dishes every time you visit Cracker Barrel, and you won’t be sorry!