The Bracker Barrel focuses on traditional Southern comfort food, so you wouldn’t expect much—just unhealthy meals covered in gravy and butter. However, things have changed since 1969, maybe even the American chain. So, maybe it’s time to rethink the big question: Does Cracker Barrel have vegan options? In short, yes! Let’s see what Southern cuisine can offer us!
Updated 2024.05.28.
Cracker Barrel’s vegan menu
Maybe our introduction piqued your interest more than we should have since the Southern-style restaurant still focuses on fried food. Still, we can grab a tasty quick bite.
Breakfast
There are no premade breakfast choices for vegans, on the other hand, you can make a pretty decent plate using the vegan sides:
- Impossible Sausage
- Fried Apples
- Fresh Seasonal Fruit
- Fresh Apple Slices
- Tomato Slices
- Multigrain Toast
- Coarse Ground Grits
- English Muffin, Plain (not everywhere)
- Sweet Peppper n’ Red Skin Hash (not everywhere)
Fried apples actually baked, so you don’t have to worry about cross-contamination. Unfortunately, pancakes aren’t vegan-friendly since they contain eggs and dairy.
Main Course
As with breakfast, the restaurant doesn’t offer many menu items specifically for vegans at lunch, either. I have to say, there isn’t one. Still, you won’t starve to death since Cracker Barrel offers quite good vegan sides.
Sides
- Steak Fries
- Tater Rounds
- Breaded Fried Okra
- Fried Apples
- Fresh Steamed Broccoli
- Sweet Whole Baby Carrots
- Whole Kernel Corn
- Fresh Seasonal Fruit
- Fresh Apple Slices
- Baked Potato
- Beans and greens
- Vegetable soup (it isn’t always the same, so ask if it is vegan)
- Baked Sweet Potato (exclude the marshmallows; they contain gelatin from bones and skin!)
Note: Always specify that you ask for margarine instead of butter in your order.
Salads
As we said before, Cracker Barrel isn’t famous for its healthy choices. Still, the salad options are pretty disappointing.
- House salad (without bacon, cheese, and croutons)
- Country vegetable plate (choice of four sides)
Not very creative huh?
Sauces and dressings
At least you can spice up plain salads a bit with the various vegan dressing and sauces.
- 100% Pure Maple Syrup
- Blueberry Syrup
- Sugar-Free Syrup
- Low-Sugar Fruit Spread
- Fat-Free Italian Dressing
- Balsamic Herb Vinaigrette
- BBQ Sauce
- Ketchup
Desserts
Unsurprisingly, there aren’t many fully vegan items.
- Seasonal fruit (If it counts)
- Fried apples
- Peach Cobbler (make sure you order it without ice cream)
Drinks
- Strawberry Lemonade
- Freshly Brewed Sweet Iced Tea
- Freshly Brewed Unsweetened Iced Tea
- Peach Tea
- Southern Half n’ Half
- Lemonade
- Coca-Cola
Disclaimer
Luckily, they use soybean oil in their fryers. However, they don’t use dedicated cooking surfaces and fryers for vegan items, so cross-condonation is a big no-no for most of us. Unfortunately, some items may look vegan, but they are not even vegetarian. For example, a Bowl of pinto beans and turnip greens should be vegan, but they cook it with ham. So try to negotiate or just leave it alone, since you never can be sure.
