Cracker Barrel Nutrition Menu: Calories, Prices & More

If you want the cracker barrel nutrition menu in one place—calories, key facts, and what to watch for—this guide helps you order with confidence in the United States.

Answer: this resource compiles calorie counts, sample prices, allergen notes, and portion details for popular items so you can pick lighter or indulgent plates fast.

What to expect: real-item calorie ranges and the biggest calorie drivers: breading, gravy, syrups, and sauces. Portions vary, so planning matters.

Homestyle Old Country Store dishes run from grilled proteins to fried, smothered plates. The article breaks foods into breakfast, lunch, dinner, seafood, sides, soups, salads, desserts, drinks, and allergen guidance.

Scannable tables will show Item | Price | Calories | Vegan/Keto/Gluten-Free Options | Allergens to make comparisons quick. Prices vary by location, but sample points help with budget and meal planning.

What to Know Before You Order at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

Before you sit down, a quick look at facts can change how you build a homestyle plate. Cracker Barrel provides a Nutrition & Allergen Guide, and the kitchen uses shared equipment, so cross-contact is possible.

Why nutrition details matter: Old country cooking often uses frying, gravy, butter, and syrups. Those elements push up calories, fat, carbs, and sugar far faster than you expect.

• Sawmill gravy, breading, dressings, syrup, and butter are the biggest calorie multipliers.
• Pick entrée style first (grilled vs fried), then choose sides, then sauces and drinks.
• Breakfast choices hinge on pancakes, biscuits, eggs, and meats; lunch/dinner often features fried comfort plates and sandwiches.

Use this guide to compare calories and swap smartly—keep the country flavor while trimming portion sizes and toppings. This resource is a planning and comparison tool for U.S. diners and not medical advice.

Cracker Barrel Nutrition Menu Overview

Simple nutrition facts help you spot where calories and carbs add up on homestyle plates.

What typical labels show

Restaurant labels list calories, total fat, carbs, protein, sugar, and sodium. This information lets you match meals to goals.

Portion-size notes

Portions can double totals fast. For example, Hearty Vegetable & Beef Soup is 120 calories per cup and 250 per bowl.

Chicken Noodle Soup runs about 100 calories per cup and 210 per bowl.

Shared kitchen and allergens

Cross-contact can occur on fryers and griddles. Even items without gluten ingredients may be exposed to allergens.

• What to watch: entrées usually come with sides—your real total is entrée + sides + bread + drink.
• Sides vs entrées: a comfort side can be the hidden calorie bump that changes your day’s plan.
• Labeling ahead: later tables will list Vegan/Keto/Gluten-Free options and common allergens for quick scanning.

Breakfast Nutrition Facts: Eggs, Pancakes, Biscuits & More

Knowing the real calories behind popular breakfast plates makes split-second choices easier. This section compares common items so you can order with confidence.

Egg choices and quick swaps

Two Eggs = 150 calories. Choose Two Scrambled Egg Whites = 60 calories to cut fat and save calories while keeping protein.

Pancake and syrup math

Momma’s Pancake Breakfast (three pancakes + two eggs) = 780 calories. A serving of 100% Pure Natural Syrup adds 150 calories. Buttermilk pancakes (three) with syrup run about 630 calories.

• French Toast = 750 calories — a high-calorie anchor when paired with syrup or butter.
• Biscuit = 160 calories; Gravy & Biscuits = 710 calories — small items stack fast.
• Thick-Sliced Bacon ≈ 200 calories; Turkey Sausage = 110 calories — swap to cut totals.

Lower-Calorie Options That Still Feel Like a Full Meal

Want a lighter plate that still feels satisfying? Here are simple swaps and combo ideas that keep flavor and fullness while trimming calories.

Lean protein choices

Grilled Chicken Tenderloins (230 calories for six tenders) make a reliable lean entrée. They give steady protein without breading or heavy sauces, so you stay full with fewer calories.

Seafood that stays light

Grilled Catfish Fillet is just 130 calories and works well when you want comfort without excess fat. Lemon Pepper Grilled Rainbow Trout runs about 330 calories and is a moderate option for a plated fish entrée.

Build-your-plate sides and fruit

Pair a grilled protein with Fresh Steamed Broccoli (40 calories) and a Mixed Green Side Salad (15 calories) to keep totals low. For a sweet finish, Fresh Seasonal Fruit is 50 calories and avoids dessert-level sugar.

• Why it works: grilling skips breading and frying oil; produce-driven sides control carbs and fat.
• Watch sauces and drinks—these items can add large calorie jumps.

Quick tip: asking for sauces on the side and skipping butter keeps the plate closer to the calorie totals shown. These choices fit well within common goals and align with cracker barrel nutrition guidance for lighter dining.

Lunch & Dinner Calories: Classic Comfort Foods

When you pick a homestyle lunch or dinner entree, a few ingredients usually drive most of the calories.

Country Fried Steak (600 calories) is calorie-dense because it combines breading, deep frying, and rich sawmill gravy. The breading soaks oil, and the gravy adds fat and sodium—together they outpace a grilled steak quickly.

Chicken comfort classics

Chicken & Dumplings (450 calories) is hearty but lighter than breaded choices. By contrast, Chicken Fried Chicken (590 calories) is breaded and usually served with gravy, which raises the total substantially.

Hearty plated choices

Meatloaf (520 calories) and Roast Beef (480 calories) give filling protein. Your selected sides decide whether the plate stays moderate or climbs into high-calorie territory.

Sandwiches to watch

Sandwich picks like Chicken BLT (790 calories) and French Dip with Au Jus (790 calories) are high-impact. Bread, spreads, cheese, and au jus stack quickly, turning a simple lunch into a heavy dinner.

• Smart ordering tactic: pick one indulgent item (fried steak or rich side), not two.
• Balance with steamed vegetables, fruit, or a side salad to lower the total calories.

Seafood Choices: Grilled vs Fried Catfish and Fish Fry Nutrition

Seafood choices can swing your plate from light to hefty with just a cooking method change.

Grilled vs. fried catfish: A Grilled Catfish Fillet has about 130 calories. The Fried Catfish Fillet jumps to roughly 370 calories. The breading and oil add most of the extra energy.

Fish fry expectations

Full fish fry entrées are much higher. Four-piece Cod Fillets register around 730 calories. A Haddock Fillet plate lists about 760 calories. These totals arrive before you add sides or a drink.

Sauces and add-ons that matter

Tartar Sauce adds about 140 calories per serving. Hushpuppies are roughly 50 calories each. A few hushpuppies and a sauce portion can turn a moderate plate into a heavy one fast.

• Quick tip: choose grilled to cut fat and carbs.
• Ask for sauces on the side and limit hushpuppies to control totals.
• If you are gluten-sensitive, note shared fryers increase cross-contact risk.

Sides Breakdown: Best and Worst Picks for Calories, Carbs, and Fat

Picking the right sides makes it easy to balance carbs, fat, and overall calories. Start with vegetables when you want volume and fewer carbs.

Vegetable choices keep totals low. Country Green Beans are about 60 calories. Sweet Whole Baby Carrots run about 80 calories. These sides are reliable picks to build the plate around.

Starchy sides to plan around

Mashed Potatoes list near 200 calories and Hashbrown Casserole is about 190 calories. Both are satisfying but can tip totals when paired with breaded or fried entrées.

Comfort and sweet side tradeoffs

Macaroni & Cheese (270 calories) and Breaded Fried Okra (250 calories) add notable fat and carbs fast. Fried Apples (170 calories) or Sweet Potato Casserole (190 calories) feel like dessert and should be chosen deliberately.

Upgrade risk: Loaded Hashbrown Casserole Tots pack about 610 calories and can equal a full entrée. Treat that item as the meal’s indulgence, not an extra.

Soups, Salads, and Lighter Bowls

Soups and salads offer a fast way to eat light, but portion size and toppings change the story.

Soup servings tell most of the calories story. Hearty Vegetable & Beef Soup is 120 calories per cup and 250 per bowl. Plan by hunger: a cup fits as a starter; a bowl is a light meal.

Chicken Noodle Soup runs 100 calories per cup and 210 per bowl. Scaling by cup or bowl makes it simple to match your day.

Watch the “salad halo.” The Country Chef Salad and the Grilled Chicken Salad each list about 620 calories. Cheese, crunchy toppings, and heavy dressing add hidden fat and sugar.

• Ordering tips: ask for dressing on the side and skip crunchy toppers to cut calories.
• Choose lighter dressings or vinaigrettes and ask for smaller portions of grilled chicken to control totals.
• Soups and salads work well as a lighter lunch, a starter to share, or a balance to a richer entrée later.

Desserts and Drinks: Sugar and Calories to Budget For

Desserts and drinks can quietly add most of the day’s extra calories if you don’t plan ahead. Use this short guide to weigh treats against your meal goals.

Cobblers and pies

Blackberry Cobbler with one scoop of ice cream = 470 calories. All American Apple Pie with ice cream = 490 calories. These desserts can equal a small meal, so treat them as a budget item.

Tea, coffee, and lemonade choices

Sweet Tea is 130 calories; Unsweet Tea is 0 calories. Lemonade runs about 200 calories. A latte is ~100 calories and can be a lighter coffee pick.

Syrups and spreads

Choose Sugar Free Syrup (15 calories) to keep pancake flavor with less sugar. One portion of Real Butter adds about 35 calories. Buttermilk items and added butter increase totals fast.

• Quick tips: share a dessert, pick Unsweet Tea, and limit toppings.

These nutrition facts and simple swaps give you clear information to enjoy a treat without blowing your plan. A small change in drink or topping cuts calories quickly.

Allergen and Dietary Information in the United States

Knowing which ingredients commonly trigger reactions helps you pick safer plates at Old Country locations. This section gives practical information and quick prompts you can use at the table.

Common allergens to watch

Wheat, dairy, eggs, soy, nuts, fish, and shellfish appear across many classic items. Breakfast breads and pancakes often include wheat, eggs, and milk. Seafood dishes contain fish or shellfish allergens.

Gluten-sensitive ordering

Choose grilled chicken or other grilled proteins and fruit-based sides to lower risk. Avoid breaded or fried items when cross-contact matters.

Dairy-free and egg-free swaps

• Ask if cooking fat or butter is used on vegetables.
• Check gravy and dressing ingredients before ordering.
• Request no breading or butter on cooked proteins.

Where fried foods are risky

Shared fryers can contaminate foods like fried catfish and other breaded proteins. If fryer cross-contact is a concern, verify handling with staff.

Ask, Verify, Simplify — ask for ingredient lists, verify fryer and prep use, and simplify your order to reduce risk.

Prices, Portions, and How to Build a Meal That Fits Your Goals

Knowing the typical price points and portion tricks helps you plan meals that match your goals.

Sample pricing gives context: Country Fried Steak runs about $13.99, while Lemon Pepper Grilled Rainbow Trout is near $11.49. Regional variation applies.

Portion logic matters. An entrée plus two sides often doubles the calories and carbs compared with a single-plate choice. Starchy sides raise fat and carbs faster than steamed vegetables or fruit.

Smart combos and add-ons to limit

• Pick a grilled entrée (grilled chicken or fish) and pair it with broccoli, side salad, or fruit for a lighter lunch or dinner.
• Limit high-impact add-ons: syrup (150 cal), creamy dressings (~140 cal), tartar (~140 cal), gravy, and butter (35 cal).
• For breakfast, skip syrup or choose sugar-free syrup (15 cal) to save calories.

Practical tracking tips

Add entrée calories first, then each side, then drinks (sweet tea 130 / lemonade 200), then sauces. If you split a plate, divide add-on calories proportionally.

Conclusion

Use a quick ordering rule to keep homestyle flavor while cutting surprise calories.

Choose cooking method first — grilled over fried when you want a lighter plate. Next, pick one modest side and limit sauces and sweet drinks to avoid big calorie jumps.

Scan the tables for calories and dietary fit, then check Vegan/Keto/Gluten-Free notes and allergens before you commit. Small add-ons like gravy, extra butter, or a dessert portion change totals more than you expect.

Remember: at the Old Country Store kitchens, shared fryers and common allergens exist. If you have sensitivities, confirm handling with staff.

One indulgence plus mostly produce-forward choices keeps the meal satisfying and balanced.