Discover the secret to bringing Cracker Barrel's homestyle comfort food into your own kitchen with these top three recipes. Whether you're craving the warmth of chicken and dumplings, the fluffiness of their signature biscuits, or the heartiness of the hash brown casserole, these recipes will transport you to the cozy ambiance of a Cracker Barrel dining room. With detailed instructions and a few insider tips, you can recreate these beloved dishes and impress your family and friends with a taste of Southern hospitality.
Cracker Barrel's Classic Chicken and Dumplings
Ingredients for Chicken and Broth:
3 quarts water
1 (3-4 pound) chicken, cut up
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 small onion, sliced
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 clove garlic, peeled and quartered
1 bay leaf
4-6 whole parsley leaves
1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Ingredients for Dumplings:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk
Cooking Instructions:
In a large pot, bring water to a boil. Add chicken, 1 teaspoon salt, onion, celery, garlic, bay leaf, and parsley. Simmer uncovered for 2 hours until the liquid reduces by about one-third.
Remove chicken, strain the stock, and discard the solids. Return 1 1/2 quarts of stock to the pot, adding pepper, remaining salt, and lemon juice.
For dumplings, mix flour, baking powder, salt, and milk until smooth. Rest the dough for 5-10 minutes, then roll out to 1/2 inch thickness on a floured surface.
Cut dough into 1/2 inch squares and drop into simmering stock, stirring occasionally for 20-30 minutes until thickened.
Shred cooled chicken into bite-sized pieces and add to the pot. Simmer for an additional 5-10 minutes.
While the recipes above are popular among Cracker Barrel enthusiasts, there are some lesser-known facts about the restaurant's offerings. For instance, Cracker Barrel serves approximately 11 million orders of Chicken n' Dumplins annually, making it one of their top-selling items. Additionally, their biscuits are a staple, with the chain producing over 200 million biscuits every year. These numbers highlight the widespread love for Cracker Barrel's comfort food and the potential joy of recreating these dishes at home.
Sources: Cracker Barrel's official statistics and annual reports.