Cracker Barrel's 8 New Fall Menu Items Are Filling and Affordable (and No, They're Not All Pumpkin)

In May, Cracker Barrel announced that a shocking 16% of its customer base never returned after the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, it's hoping that a menu enhancement will lure customers to the restaurant famous for its down-home Southern cuisine.

Arguably, the menu was never the problem, but the new additions do sound delicious and are likely to be a hit with existing customers.

The driving force behind more Americans choosing to eat at home is mostly cost — they simply do not have the financial room to stretch their restaurant budgets . Learn about the new menu items and see if the price is low enough to tempt you into trying them.

Editor's Note: Prices and availability may differ by location.

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1. Signature Fried Apple French Toast Bake

Courtesy of Cracker Barrel

Price: $11.29

Soaking bread in vanilla custard is an amazing base for Cracker Barrel's newest breakfast item. It is then topped with cheesecake filling, fried apples, and brown sugar streusel before being baked to perfection. It's served with a side of breakfast meat, which can be thick-cut bacon or sausage.

Impossible sausage is also available as a meat alternative for an additional charge of $1.89.

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2. Hashbrown Casserole Shepherd's Pie

Courtesy of Cracker Barrel

Price: $15.69

What's better than slow-simmered pot roast in a homestyle gravy turned into a shepherd's pie? Topping it off with Cracker Barrel's griddled hashbrown casserole, that's what. It's served with a side of biscuits or cornbread muffins.

3. Southern Apple Cobbler

Courtesy of Cracker Barrel

Price: $6.29

Apple is the flavor palate of choice this fall, and Cracker Barrel is leaning into their signature baked apples as the base for a cobbler topped with a flaky crust and a drizzle of caramel. This dessert item is only going to be available until Oct. 20, so don't wait to try it.

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4. Granny Smith Apple Mimosa

Courtesy of Cracker Barrel

Price: $6.29

Not all locations are offering the sparkling wine and Granny Smith apple puree that creates the new mimosa flavor. However, it's likely to be priced the same as the other mimosas available. This is a fall special, so it's only available until Oct. 20.

5. Granny Smith Apple Tea

Courtesy of Cracker Barrel

Price: $3.59

If you love Cracker Barrel's signature iced tea, you'll want to try it blended with Granny Smith apple puree. the crisp flavor is perfect for the transition between summer and autumn. Those dining restaurants will also be treated to bottomless refills, but a larger half-gallon option ($8.39) is also available for to-go orders. It will be leaving the menu on Oct. 20, so grab one today.

6. Monday Chicken n' Rice

Courtesy of Cracker Barrel

Price: $13.59

Baked chicken breast smothered with creamy mushroom sauce over seasoned buttery rice is only available on Mondays as one of Cracker Barrel's daily dishes. It's served with your choice of two sides and either buttermilk biscuits or cornbread muffins.

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7. Saturday Southern BBQ Ribs

Courtesy of Cracker Barrel

Price: $19.39

The new Saturday special is slow-cooked St. Louis-style ribs with a tangy and sweet brown sugar barbecue sauce. It's served with two sides and either buttermilk biscuits or cornbread muffins.

8. Sunday Pot Roast

Courtesy of Cracker Barrel

Price: $15.19

Everybody loves a Sunday pot roast, but not everybody has the desire, time, or cooking skills to make that happen.

Cracker Barrel sure does, though. Their slow-braised rib roast with carrots, onions, celery, and homestyle beef gravy is exactly the warm comfort food needed to make it through the upcoming chilly autumn weather.

It's served with two sides, but you'll want to make one of them mashed potatoes to make this dish perfect.

Bottom line

Cracker Barrel's new fall menu items sound delicious and competitively priced for hearty Southern meal sizes. This is a great alternative for those who hate fast food but also don't want to cook.

The meals hold good value for the price, with generous portions and healthy ingredients that put the price on par with fast-food chains outside of the value meal options they offer.

Cracker Barrel has its own version of value meals, though. Many entrees are available to add to your order as $5 Take Home Meals. These meals are chilled and ready to heat and even include some of the new menu additions, like the Fried Apple French Toast Bake.

Price is the biggest factor in getting customers to return to restaurants, but as families try to maneuver through tackling rising grocery costs , some are returning to restaurants offering meals for less than it would cost to recreate at home — especially when time is considered a factor.

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