10 Cracker Barrel Dishes You Should Avoid Completely
Who doesn’t love a cozy meal at Cracker Barrel?
I’ve spent countless family road trips pulling into their parking lots, eager for that down-home cooking.
But as a regular patron who’s tried nearly everything on their menu, I’ve discovered not all their country offerings deserve a spot on your plate.
Some dishes pack a shocking amount of calories, sodium, and fat that would make your doctor wince.
Here’s my honest take on ten Cracker Barrel menu items you might want to think twice about ordering.
1. Country Fried Steak: A Heart Attack On A Plate
Last summer, I ordered this crispy, gravy-smothered monstrosity during a road trip through Tennessee. Big mistake! The breaded beef cutlet arrives drowning in pepper gravy that could single-handedly fulfill your sodium intake for two days.
The batter soaks up oil like a sponge, creating a greasy meal that sits in your stomach for hours afterward. Trust me on this one—I couldn’t button my jeans the next day.
With nearly 1,500 calories and 92 grams of fat in a single serving, this Southern classic is essentially cardiac arrest disguised as comfort food. The mashed potatoes and additional sides that accompany it only compound the nutritional nightmare. Your arteries will thank you for choosing literally anything else.
2. Sunday Homestyle Chicken: Deceptively Dangerous
Grandma’s fried chicken never packed this many calories! I foolishly thought this would be a healthier alternative to the steak options. The golden-brown coating may look appetizing, but those four fried chicken breasts deliver an astonishing amount of fat and sodium.
My friend Jake ordered this last month and couldn’t finish half before feeling uncomfortably full. The buttermilk breading absorbs oil like crazy during the deep-frying process.
What really pushes this dish into the danger zone are the sides – those signature mashed potatoes with gravy and buttery biscuits add hundreds more calories. At around 1,350 calories and 70 grams of fat per serving, this Sunday special is something your body would rather you skipped, regardless of the day of the week.
3. Macaroni n’ Cheese: Not Your Friend In Cheese Form
Remember when mac and cheese was a simple childhood pleasure? Cracker Barrel’s version takes that innocence and drowns it in a pool of processed cheese sauce. I ordered this as a side dish last winter and was shocked at how greasy it was.
The pasta comes absolutely drenched in a thick, unnaturally orange cheese blend that leaves an oily film on the roof of your mouth. While it might taste momentarily satisfying, this side dish packs a surprising caloric punch.
For something that’s technically a side dish, it contains more saturated fat than some main courses! At about 500 calories per serving (and who really stops at one serving?), this comfort food classic is more discomforting than you’d expect. The sodium content alone – nearly 1,700mg – is enough reason to reconsider this cheesy temptation.
4. Hashbrown Casserole: Potato Peril In Disguise
Boy, was I fooled by this seemingly innocent side dish! During my last visit, I watched the table next to me receive this golden-brown potato concoction and immediately added it to my order. My taste buds were happy, but my body was not.
These shredded potatoes come mixed with cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and an alarming amount of cheese. The crispy top hides a gooey, sodium-laden interior that’ll make your fingers swell before you even leave the restaurant.
A single serving contains about 450 calories and 30 grams of fat – astonishing for what’s essentially a side dish! The worst part? It’s so addictively tasty that stopping at one portion feels impossible. Skip this deceptive potato dish unless you’re planning to share it with the entire table.
5. Double Cheeseburger: Calorie Bomb Between Buns
During a family reunion in Georgia, my cousin challenged me to finish Cracker Barrel’s massive double cheeseburger. Challenge accepted—regret immediate! This monster arrives with two thick beef patties stacked high, each smothered with melted cheese and topped with all the fixings.
The grease literally drips down your arms while eating it. And those seasoned fries on the side? They’re just adding fuel to the caloric fire.
Nutritionally speaking, we’re looking at approximately 1,400 calories and 87 grams of fat in one sitting. The sodium content exceeds 2,000mg – practically your entire daily allowance! While it might satisfy a momentary craving, your body will be processing this dietary disaster long after the taste fades. If burger cravings strike, opt for the single patty version instead.
6. Fried Chicken Livers: Offal Awful Choice
Feeling adventurous last spring, I ordered this old-fashioned Southern specialty. What arrived was a heaping plate of breaded and deep-fried chicken livers that smelled strongly of iron and oil. Not everyone’s brave enough to try organ meats, and after this experience, I understand why!
These little nuggets of liver come heavily battered and deep-fried until crispy outside but maintain their distinctly mineral-rich, almost chalky interior texture. The flavor is intensely earthy and can be off-putting if you’re not accustomed to organ meats.
Beyond the acquired taste, these livers are nutritional troublemakers. They’re extremely high in cholesterol (over 600mg per serving) and sodium, while the breading soaks up oil like a sponge. Even liver’s natural vitamins can’t compensate for the unhealthy preparation method that adds unnecessary fat and calories.
7. Loaded Hashbrown Casserole Tots: Potato Pockets Of Regret
These little devils tricked me good! When I spotted them on the menu during a business trip to Nashville, I thought they’d be a fun appetizer to share. Instead, they turned out to be bite-sized bombs of excessive indulgence.
Imagine their regular hashbrown casserole formed into tot shapes, then deep-fried to a crispy golden brown. As if that weren’t enough, they’re topped with bacon bits, melted cheese, and green onions, then served with a side of ranch dressing for dipping.
Each serving packs roughly 800 calories and 45 grams of fat – that’s more than some entire meals should contain! The combination of deep-fried potatoes, cheese, and bacon creates a sodium overload that’ll have you reaching for water all day. These tots might taste heavenly in the moment, but they’re absolutely devilish for your health.
8. Meatloaf: Nostalgic But Notorious
Grandma’s meatloaf this is not! During a nostalgic moment last fall, I ordered this thinking it would remind me of home-cooked meals. Instead, I got a thick slab of heavily processed meat mixture that left me with heartburn for hours.
The dense loaf comes drenched in a sickeningly sweet tomato-based sauce that can’t disguise the high fat content. Cut into it, and you’ll watch the grease pool on your plate – not exactly appetizing!
Each serving contains approximately 1,200 calories, 70 grams of fat, and enough sodium to make your blood pressure spike on the spot. The beef-and-pork combination creates a particularly heavy meal that sits in your stomach like a brick. If meatloaf memories are calling, you’re better off making a healthier version at home where you can control the ingredients and portion size.
9. Country Vegetable Plate: Veggies in Villain’s Clothing
“Vegetable plate” sounds healthy, right? Wrong! I fell into this trap during a so-called health kick last summer. While you do technically get to choose four vegetable sides, almost all options at Cracker Barrel are prepared with generous amounts of butter, bacon fat, or cream.
The corn muffins that accompany this deceptive dish are loaded with sugar and refined flour. Even their green beans come cooked with bacon and fat – hardly the clean eating you might expect from something with “vegetable” in the name!
Depending on your specific choices, this plate can easily exceed 1,000 calories and contain more fat than a burger. The mac and cheese (which somehow qualifies as a “vegetable” here) alone adds 500 calories! This dish perfectly illustrates how preparation method can transform nutritious vegetables into a diet disaster. If you’re genuinely seeking healthy options, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
10. Biscuit Beignets: Dessert Disaster
Sweet tooth alert! Last Christmas, my family couldn’t resist ordering these for the table. What arrived were buttermilk biscuit dough pieces, deep-fried until golden, then absolutely smothered in powdered sugar and served with fruit dipping sauce.
The first bite delivers an overwhelming sweetness that quickly becomes cloying. These dense, doughy treats absorb enormous amounts of oil during frying, creating a heavy dessert that’s far from the light, airy beignets you might find in New Orleans.
At approximately 800 calories and 40 grams of fat per serving, these sugar bombs deliver almost no nutritional value while packing in refined carbs and added sugars. The fruit sauce might contain actual fruit, but any nutritional benefit is negligible compared to the sugary, fried dough it accompanies. If you’re craving something sweet, the fresh apple slices with caramel dipping sauce offer at least some nutritional value.