10 Absolute Best Cracker Barrel Orders According To Regulars

Stepping into a Cracker Barrel is like being transported straight into grandma’s cozy country kitchen—where the scent of sizzling bacon, buttery biscuits, and homestyle casseroles fills the air.

Over the years, during countless road trips and roadside stops, I’ve come to truly appreciate the comforting charm and hearty flavors that keep folks coming back. Curious to know what keeps the regulars hooked, I recently swapped stories with some die-hard Cracker Barrel fans who’ve been visiting for decades.

They happily shared their go-to orders and best-kept menu secrets—so if you’re wondering what to try first, these dishes definitely top the list.

1. Melt-in-Your-Mouth Chicken n’ Dumplins

Melt-in-Your-Mouth Chicken n' Dumplins
© Insanely Good Recipes

Holy comfort food heaven! Nothing beats Cracker Barrel’s legendary Chicken n’ Dumplins when you’re craving something that tastes like childhood in a bowl. The tender chicken chunks swim alongside perfectly rolled dumplings in a rich, savory broth that could cure anything from homesickness to the common cold.

I once drove 30 miles out of my way during a snowstorm just to get my fix.

The waitress laughed and said, “Honey, you’re the third person today who couldn’t wait for this dumpling goodness!” The dish comes with your choice of sides, but old-timers know to pair it with those sweet baby carrots and a corn muffin.

2. Sunrise Sampler Breakfast Bonanza

Sunrise Sampler Breakfast Bonanza
© Cracker Barrel

Morning glory on a plate! The Sunrise Sampler is what breakfast dreams are made of – eggs any style, grits, sawmill gravy, homemade buttermilk biscuits, fried apples, hashbrown casserole, AND your choice of breakfast meat. It’s practically a buffet on a single plate.

My brother-in-law, a truck driver who’s eaten at every Cracker Barrel from Maine to California, swears this platter has saved him from many a hangry morning.

The real secret? Drizzling some maple syrup over those fried apples and then mixing them into your grits. Sounds weird, tastes magical!

3. Sunday Homestyle Chicken Feast

Sunday Homestyle Chicken Feast
© The Endless Appetite

Crunch alert! This golden-fried chicken would make Colonel Sanders weep with jealousy. Four perfectly breaded chicken breasts, fried until the outside is crackling crisp while the inside stays juicy and tender. It’s like someone bottled up Sunday dinner at grandma’s and served it with a side of nostalgia.

During my last visit, an elderly couple at the next table told me they’ve ordered this every anniversary for 15 years. “Started on our 40th, now we’re celebrating our 55th,” the gentleman winked.

The chicken comes with your choice of sides, but the mashed potatoes and gravy are non-negotiable companions to this crispy delight.

4. Country Fried Steak Smothered in Goodness

Country Fried Steak Smothered in Goodness
© Cracker Barrel

Gravy for days! This masterpiece features a tender cube steak, breaded and fried to crispy perfection, then absolutely smothered in peppered white gravy that’ll have you questioning all your life choices – in the best possible way.

Last summer, my cousin from California tried this for the first time and literally texted me at midnight saying, “I can’t stop thinking about that steak thing.”

The real champions pair this with the hashbrown casserole and fried apples for a sweet-savory combo that’ll knock your socks off. Pro tip: Ask for extra gravy on the side for optimal biscuit-dipping opportunities.

5. Momma’s Pancake Breakfast Stack

Momma's Pancake Breakfast Stack
© Cracker Barrel Blog

Flapjack paradise! These aren’t your average pancakes – they’re plate-sized, cloud-soft buttermilk beauties that soak up maple syrup like they were born for it. Served with two eggs and your choice of breakfast meat, this stack has been fueling family road trips since before GPS was a thing.

The pancakes achieve that mythical status of being simultaneously fluffy in the middle and lightly crisp at the edges.

My daughter once attempted to order these for dinner, lunch, AND breakfast during a weekend stay at the attached hotel. The server just laughed and said, “Honey, you’re not the first and won’t be the last!”

6. Hashbrown Casserole Side Dish Sensation

Hashbrown Casserole Side Dish Sensation
© The Modern Proper

Cheesy potato heaven in a side dish! This humble-looking casserole might just be the most addictive substance legally available at interstate exits. Shredded potatoes mixed with cheese, onions, and secret seasonings, then baked until the top forms a golden crust while the inside stays creamy and dreamy.

During college road trips, my roommates and I would order extra portions to go, then reheat them in our dorm microwave at 2 AM during study sessions.

The night manager at our local Cracker Barrel started calling us “the hashbrown girls.” Many regulars confess to ordering full meals just to justify getting this side dish – it’s that legendary!

7. Grandma’s Sampler Country Breakfast

Grandma's Sampler Country Breakfast
© Tripadvisor

Breakfast royalty has entered the chat! This monster morning meal features two eggs cooked your way, grits, sawmill gravy, biscuits, fried apples or hashbrown casserole, PLUS your choice of three meats from bacon, sausage patties, sugar-cured ham, or country ham. It’s basically breakfast for today AND tomorrow.

My uncle, a former long-haul trucker, claims this plate got him through 30 years on the road.

“Order this at 7 AM and you won’t be hungry again till sundown,” he always says with a wink. The true connoisseurs know to ask for a side of blackberry jam for those biscuits – it’s a game-changer that turns good into unforgettable.

8. Meatloaf Dinner Old-School Classic

Meatloaf Dinner Old-School Classic
© Cracker Barrel | Page

Comfort food alert! This isn’t just any meatloaf – it’s a thick, hearty slice of beefy goodness topped with a sweet tomato glaze that caramelizes around the edges. Each bite tastes like a warm hug from your favorite relative who always snuck you extra dessert.

During a particularly rough week last year, I ordered this three times in five days. By the third visit, my server just nodded knowingly and said, “Rough patch, huh?” The meatloaf comes with your choice of three sides, but the smart money’s on mashed potatoes, green beans, and mac and cheese.

The regulars all know to save some mashed potatoes to mix with that tomato glaze – it’s a secret menu hack that’ll change your life!

9. Pecan Pancakes with All The Fixins

Pecan Pancakes with All The Fixins
© The Clarion-Ledger

Nutty breakfast bliss! These specialty pancakes take Cracker Barrel’s already legendary flapjacks and elevate them to art form status by folding crunchy pecan pieces right into the batter. The result? A perfect harmony of fluffy pancake and toasty nut crunch in every single bite.

My grandmother, who claims to make the best pancakes in three counties, actually requested these for her 80th birthday breakfast. “Sometimes you gotta admit when you’ve been outmatched,” she said between happy bites.

The pancakes come with warm maple syrup, but true aficionados ask for a side of their fried apples to spoon over the top for an apple-pecan combo that’ll make you want to hug the chef.

10. Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola Cake

Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola Cake
© Upstate Ramblings

Sweet tooth satisfaction guaranteed! This warm chocolate cake made with actual Coca-Cola in the batter creates a uniquely moist texture that’s then topped with fudge icing and served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The hot-cold combo as the ice cream melts into the cake should probably be illegal in at least 12 states.

Last Christmas, my sister and I split one after dinner and ended up ordering a second because neither of us was willing to give up the last bite. The elderly couple next to us laughed and said, “Been there!”

The cake has developed such a cult following that some regulars admit to skipping the main course entirely and heading straight for dessert. No judgment here – I’ve definitely been guilty of the same cake-first approach!