Buzz
Though not as widespread as Denny’s, Applebee's, or IHOP, Cracker Barrel—originally located along the Interstate Highway System and designed to resemble a classic Southern general store—has a loyal following. Devotees rave about the chain’s Southern cuisine staples, such as Sunday homestyle chicken and country fried steak, alongside its all-day breakfast options.
From time to time, the restaurant removes beloved dishes to introduce exciting new additions. Below are nine discontinued Cracker Barrel menu items we hope make a comeback in the near future.
1. French Toast with Strawberries and Cream
Farewell, Strawberries n' Cream French Toast—it’s been a pleasure. | Cracker BarrelWhile Cracker Barrel offers breakfast all day, one beloved dish has been removed from the lineup. In 2015, the chain discontinued Strawberries n' Cream French Toast, a dish made with four slices of sourdough bread soaked in egg, grilled, filled with cream cheese, and topped with powdered sugar and fresh strawberry slices.
Cracker Barrel even announced the removal of this fan-favorite breakfast on Twitter: “End summer on a sweet note. Enjoy our Strawberries n' Cream French Toast Breakfast before it disappears on 8/16.”
2. Crispy Fried Chicken Livers
Fried chicken livers may not appeal to everyone, but they certainly have a dedicated following among Cracker Barrel customers. | Cracker Barrel
Though not universally loved, Cracker Barrel’s fried chicken livers had a loyal fanbase, many of whom expressed disappointment when the dish was removed from the menu.
“We used to enjoy fried chicken livers at Cracker Barrel,” shared a fan from South Portland, Maine, on TripAdvisor.com. “Unfortunately, they’ve been taken off the menu. We tried other items, but they didn’t justify the visit.”
“Please bring back your chicken livers,” pleaded another fan on Facebook. Cracker Barrel responded, “Thank you for your feedback. While chicken livers are no longer available, we’ll pass your suggestion along to our Culinary Team.”
For those longing for this dish, there’s hope: Recipes.net provides a step-by-step guide for creating a homemade version of the cherished meal, allowing you to enjoy it from the comfort of your home.
3. Shepherd’s Pie
The ultimate comfort food. | Cracker BarrelCracker Barrel added Shepherd’s Pie as a limited-time lunch special in 2017 as part of their fall menu. The dish featured tender beef mixed with peas and carrots, crowned with mashed potatoes, and baked to perfection. Although it was only available in certain U.S. regions, it never returned to the menu after that fall season.
4. Red-Eye Gravy
Around the time Cracker Barrel introduced Shepherd’s Pie, they also said goodbye to another beloved menu item: Red-Eye Gravy. For those unfamiliar, this unique gravy was crafted from the drippings of fried country ham blended with black coffee. The mixture was simmered and reduced into a rich, dark brown sauce, adding a bold flavor to dishes like country ham, fried eggs, biscuits, grits, and other Southern classics.
Fans were upset when the gravy vanished around fall 2017. One disappointed diner even tweeted, “I just found out you no longer serve red-eye gravy. I need an explanation.”
5. Chicken Salad Sandwich
Another fan favorite met its end in 2017 when Cracker Barrel removed their chicken salad sandwich. Since then, loyal customers have been craving its return. “I go hungry for my favorite chicken salad sandwich,” one customer tweeted. “But it’s been taken off the menu... so disappointing.”
Luckily, there are numerous copycat recipes available online (such as this one) that allow you to recreate the dish at home—or at least come close to it.
6. Frozen Mugs
Cracker Barrel once offered ice-cold drinks like lemonade, soda, cider, and even milk in frozen mugs to keep them chilled throughout your meal. However, the chain discontinued Frozen Mug Apple Cider after the fall 2016 season and later removed frozen mugs entirely for all beverages.
7. Baked Apple Dumplin’
Some delights are simply too good to last—sadly, the Baked Apple Dumplin' dessert fell into that category. | Cracker BarrelDuring the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, Cracker Barrel streamlined its menu. When the restaurant reopened in the summer, many customers were disheartened to find that Baked Apple Dumplin’ had been removed from the updated menu. While the dessert hasn’t made a comeback yet, fans remain hopeful for its eventual return.
8. Campfire Meals
This seasonal summer offering had Cracker Barrel enthusiasts excited ... until it disappeared. | Cracker BarrelCampfire meals debuted as a summer special in 2014. The dish featured slow-cooked beef or chicken paired with red skin potatoes, tomato wedges, carrots, corn on the cob, peppers, onions, and spices, all served in foil. However, the meals were short-lived, as Cracker Barrel removed them from the menu in July 2018.
9. Sweet Potato Pancakes
In February 2012, Cracker Barrel launched the sweet potato pancake breakfast to celebrate National Sweet Potato Month. The meal included three sweet potato pancakes topped with butter, accompanied by two eggs and a choice of bacon or smoked sausage. The chain also offered a mix for fans to recreate the pancakes at home.
Although the restaurant has since discontinued the item, fans continue to plead for its return. “Is there any chance this will come back?” one fan inquired on Cracker Barrel’s official Facebook page in 2021. Sadly, the pancakes have yet to reappear on the menu.
