Take the best down-home Cracker Barrel recipes and bring them, well, home! From chicken n' dumplings to mashed potatoes, our copycats taste exactly like the restaurant versions.
27 Down-Home Cracker Barrel Copycat Recipes
Updated on Oct. 01, 2024
Cracker Barrel Country Fried Steak Copycat
To make this classic Southern recipe, look for cube steaks in the supermarket. You’ll dredge them in milk and flour, fry until golden brown, and then smother them in a rich and creamy white gravy.
1/26
2/26
Cracker Barrel Country Ham Copycat
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Browned potatoes are a simple but perfect side for country ham. Not only do the potatoes pick up the flavor of the ham, but they look beautiful! Just add veggies or a salad and dinner’s done. —Helen Bridges, Washington, Virginia
A side of crispy browned potatoes is a perfect complement for a simple slice of Cracker Barrel-inspired country ham. By frying them in ham drippings, the potatoes not only fry up ultra-crisp, but also pick up a ton of extra flavor.
3/26
Copycat Cracker Barrel Hash Brown Casserole
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Bring the taste of Cracker Barrel right to your kitchen. This cheesy breakfast casserole is made easy with frozen hash browns. I can feed a crowd with this simple overnight dish. —Lauren Habermehl, Pewaukee, Wisconsin
There’s never a bad time of day for hash brown casserole! Serve it alongside steak and eggs for breakfast, with a slice of quiche for brunch, a bowl of soup for lunch or in the evening with fried chicken and green beans.
4/26
Cracker Barrel Chicken n' Dumplins Copycat
Total Time
1 hour 55 min
Servings
10 servings (2-1/2 qt.)
From the Recipe Creator:
When I was a child, my grandmother could feed our entire family with a single chicken—and lots of dumplings. —Cathy Carroll, Bossier City, Louisiana
This is one of those old-fashioned, simmer-on-the-stove-all-day recipes that sticks to your ribs and is well worth the wait. Serve alongside something light, like a simple side salad, or a bowl of steamed carrots.
5/26
Cracker Barrel Fried Apples Copycat
Total Time
3 hours 15 min
Servings
6 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
If you’re feeling festive, scoop some vanilla ice cream over a bowl of my cinnamon spiced apples. They’re homey, aromatic and just plain heavenly. —Amie Powell, Knoxville, Tennessee
In the mood for apple pie but don’t feel like baking? Scoop some vanilla ice cream over a warm bowl of these cinnamon spiced apples, then sprinkle with crushed graham crackers. These apples also make a great topping for homemade pancakes and are a delicious addition to breakfast yogurt parfaits.
Cracker Barrel Meat Loaf Copycat
This has to be one of our best restaurant copycat recipes! You probably won’t have leftovers when you make Cracker Barrel-inspired meat loaf. But if there are a few slices left, use them to make meat loaf sandwiches the next day.
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Cracker Barrel Biscuits n' Gravy Copycat
Total Time
15 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This biscuits and sausage gravy is an old southern recipe that I've adapted. Homemade sausage gravy is a classic, hearty breakfast that takes you on a trip to the South every time it's served. —Sue Baker, Jonesboro, Arkansas
Homemade sausage gravy served atop a warm bed of homemade biscuits is a classic, hearty breakfast. It takes you on a trip to the South every time it’s served! This recipe uses bulk pork sausage, but breakfast sausage works just as well.
8/26
Cracker Barrel Coleslaw Copycat
Total Time
20 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
For Friday dinners, my mother made coleslaw to go with our fish. It’s still a family tradition, and the tangy dressing even works on a tossed salad. —Cynthia McDowell, Banning, California
All 50 states have their own special kind of sandwich, and Southern-style coleslaw goes perfectly with all of them. Serve this slaw alongside everything from Kentucky-style Root Beer Pulled Pork Sandwiches to Pennsylvania Cola Burgers to Virginia’s Bavarian Meatball Hoagies.
9/26
Cracker Barrel Biscuit Beignets Copycat
Total Time
25 min
Servings
about 2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Enjoy breakfast the New Orleans way with these warm, crispy bites. Topped with powdered sugar, they are a delight! —Lois Rutherford, Elkton, Florida
Beignets are powdered sugar-coated puffs of fried dough that are at their absolute best when served hot and fresh. If you’re skittish about deep-frying at home, check out our guide on how to deep-fry with confidence as well as our guide to the best oils for frying.
Cracker Barrel Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Copycat
The broccoli cheddar chicken is one of the most popular items on Cracker Barrel’s menu. Since it’s a weekly special, though, you can’t order it every single day. You can, however, make this copycat restaurant recipe at home any day of the week!
10/26
11/26
Cracker Barrel Roast Beef Copycat
Total Time
2 hours 50 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Everyone loves slices of this fork-tender roast beef with its savory gravy. The well-seasoned roast is Mom's specialty. People always ask about the secret ingredients. Now you have the delicious recipe for our favorite meat dish! —Linda Gaido, New Brighton, Pennsylvania
This roast beef recipe uses a surprising cooking method. Instead of roasting in the oven, it browns it on the stovetop in a Dutch oven, then simmers slowly in a rich brown gravy (with an unexpected secret ingredient) until fork tender.
12/26
Easy Peach Cobbler
Total Time
35 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I created this peach cobbler recipe myself with a few tips from my mom and grandma. Because it's so quick and easy, it can be made in minutes to suit any occasion. I've used it as a breakfast fruit dish, a dinner dessert and a light snack. —Martha Betten, North Manchester, Indiana
13/26
Cracker Barrel Mashed Potatoes Copycat
Total Time
25 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My sister-in-law, who is a dietitian, shared this recipe with me. Buttermilk and garlic flavor these smooth mashed potatoes that are better for you than typical versions with lots of butter. —Stephanie Bremson, Kansas City, Missouri
For mashed potatoes just like Cracker Barrel, use starchy Russet potatoes in this recipe, then simmer them in a flavorful broth before mashing with creamy buttermilk and thinly sliced green onions.
14/26
Cracker Barrel Buttermilk Pancakes Copycat
Total Time
20 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I'm not joking when I say I make pancakes every weekend. I love them in any form and variation. —James Schend, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
There’s nothing quite like a sky-high stack of fluffy, tangy buttermilk pancakes, and there’s no bad time of day to enjoy them! With this recipe you can enjoy breakfast for dinner, just like at Cracker Barrel.
15/26
Best Hamburger
Total Time
35 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Grill these easy hamburgers and add your favorite toppings. Not into grilling? Make the patties on the stovetop, in the oven or even in the air fryer. —James Schend, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
16/26
Cracker Barrel Macaroni n' Cheese Copycat
Total Time
50 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
To make this amazing mac, I make a sauce loaded with three different cheeses to toss with the noodles. When baked, it's gooey goodness with a crunchy topping that...don't get me started! —Beth Jacobson, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
This amazing mac starts with a sauce loaded with three different cheeses: sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack and Velveeta. The sauce is tossed with al dente elbow noodles, then baked with a crunchy crumb crust that includes lots of Parmesan. It’s simply oozing with melty, cheesy goodness.
17/26
Corn Muffins
Total Time
35 min
Servings
1 dozen (1/2 cup butter)
From the Recipe Creator:
These tender corn muffins are the cream of the crop! Tender and moist, the muffins get a pleasing hint of sweetness from the easy homemade honey butter.
—Angela Lively
Baxter, Tennessee
18/26
Chicken Potpie
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
2 potpies (8 servings each)
From the Recipe Creator:
This is the best chicken potpie recipe! Chock-full of chicken, potatoes, peas and corn, this recipe makes two golden pies, so you can serve one at supper and save the other for a busy night. —Karen Johnson, Bakersfield, California
19/26
Cracker Barrel U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish Copycat
Total Time
25 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
The Cajun flavor is great in this skillet-grilled catfish recipe. You can use this recipe with any thick fish fillet, but I suggest catfish or haddock. —Traci Wynne, Denver, Pennsylvania
There’s a good chance you already have most of the ingredients to make this quick and easy catfish. Simply mix flour and cornmeal with a slew of common spices, dredge your catfish fillets to coat and pan-sear in melted butter. If you’re missing any of the spices in this recipe, leave them out or swap them for a premade spice blend, like Old Bay or Cajun blackening spice.
20/26
Cracker Barrel Steak Fries Copycat
Total Time
25 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Seasoned to perfection, these herbed steak fries from our Test Kitchen make a quick and tasty side dish for casual suppers. A great way to dress up frozen fries in a hurry!
Seasoned to perfection, these herbed steak fries from our Test Kitchen make a quick and tasty side dish for casual suppers—and they’re ready in a flash! The secret: starting with frozen french fries, then tossing them in olive oil, dried herbs and grated cheese.
21/26
Cracker Barrel Baked Apple Dumplin' Copycat
Total Time
50 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I received this recipe for baked apple dumplings with Mountain Dew from a friend of mine, then tweaked it to suit my family's tastes. The soda is definitely the secret ingredient in this rich apple dessert. —Chris Shields, Monrovia, Indiana
Instead of making homemade pie or biscuit dough for these easy apple dumplings, wedges of tart Granny Smith apples are wrapped in canned crescent rolls, then sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and baked with a secret ingredient you definitely won’t expect.
22/26
Cracker Barrel Pinto Beans Copycat
Total Time
1 hour 25 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Any time Mom had the gang over for dinner, she made these pinto beans. Once she made a batch for my cousin’s birthday and he ate the entire thing. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
There are lots of ingredients in this pinto bean recipe that add tons of flavor—like spicy chopped green chile peppers, sweet brown sugar and smoky chili powder—but outside of the beans themselves, the true star of this dish is chopped, thick-cut bacon. If you’re a bacon fanatic, feel free to add more than the recipe calls for!
23/26
Cracker Barrel Chicken Fried Chicken Copycat
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Here's a lightened-up take on the classic southern comfort-food dish: chicken and gravy. This recipe has been a hit at our house since the first time we tried it! —Ruth Helmuth, Abbeville, South Carolina
Instead of using seasoned flour to make this fried chicken, this recipe mixes pulverized corn flake crumbs with a blend of herbs and spices to make a crispier, crunchier coating that holds up when smothered in gravy.
24/26
Cracker Barrel Breaded Fried Okra Copycat
Total Time
30 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Golden brown with a little fresh green showing through, these okra nuggets are crunchy and addictive! My sons like to dip them in ketchup. —Pam Duncan, Summers, Arkansas
Cooking okra quickly and over high heat helps prevent the okra from becoming too slimy. When you’re preparing the okra, slice it into bigger chunks instead of thin slices. The smaller you slice, the slimier the okra will get.
25/26
Cracker Barrel Turnip Greens Copycat
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
If you’ve never tried making turnip greens, this recipe is an easy, tasty way to start. Pork and onions give the fresh greens wonderful flavor .—Sandra Pichon, Memphis, Tennessee
Hearty turnip greens become meltingly tender when they’re sauteed in bacon grease and slowly simmered. For a more authentic Cracker Barrel copycat recipe, use salty country ham in place of the bacon. (Or better yet, use both!)
Who doesn’t love the bread basket at Cracker Barrel? No one can resist a warm basket of freshly-baked buttermilk biscuits, which go well with every single item on the menu. Use these biscuits to mop up every last drop of gravy, sauce, syrup or whatever else is on your plate.
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