Why Cracker Barrel Discontinued Some Of Its Popular Menu Items

The challenge for any restaurant to meet customer demands has been no little thing during this recent period of economic whipsaw. And in a time where even chain restaurants are having difficulty keeping the doors open, it's hard to fault the decisions of upper-management who are sacrificing a finger to save the hand — even if the finger is, in this case, beloved menu items. Cracker Barrel is no exception in this regard, having discontinued a round of fan favorites a few years back. 

Despite this attempt to brace for the worst, the chain's stock value dropped by 40% in 2024, and it hasn't been able to increase sales over the past year. Occasionally, menu items get axed because they aren't selling, but they can also be removed because of problems related to product availability, product cost, or supply chain issues. Sometimes, restaurants simply want to give their menu a fresh new look. 

One discontinued dish that many hope to see on the menu again someday is Cracker Barrel's Baked Apple Dumpling. The restaurant's take on this classic included sweet and spicy pieces of apple under a flaky pie crust, crowned with a pecan streusel and topped with caramel sauce and generous scoops of vanilla bean ice cream. Customers were particularly discouraged to see this item disappear from the menu in the summer of 2020, and it's not the only one. 

For years, Cracker Barrel patrons enjoyed its unique campfire meals. These one-of-a-kind slow-cooked feasts of beef or chicken with perfectly cooked corn on the cob, roasted red potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, peppers and onions were served in a humble foil wrap and quickly became an item diners adored. Unfortunately for them, the dish was discontinued in 2018, with no word on a comeback.

Red Eye Gravy is another menu item that was gone the year before that. Drippings from fried country ham were mixed with coffee and reduced into a luscious gravy that hungry eaters raved about before it was discontinued. It was a beloved accompaniment to Cracker Barrel's various protein offerings while it existed, but Red Eye Gravy is now just a memory.

Another dish many customers were disappointed to see make an exit was its Chicken Salad Sandwich. People didn't think twice about ordering this classic diner mainstay, but it was discontinued the same year as the Red Eye Gravy. The sandwich was so favored by consumers that to this day people continue to plead with Cracker Barrel to bring it back. While there is no official word on the its return, The Barrel is rolling out some new menu items that are sure to get people excited.

Green chili cornbread will soon be seen being carried to the tables of hungry patrons and fits right in with the restaurant's classic Southern theme. Accompany that with the new banana pudding they plan to offer, and you've got a picture-perfect down-home meal. The comfort food chain is also releasing Bee Sting Chicken Tenders, a take on its popular chicken tenders with a sweet and spicy honey glaze. The dish comes with two country sides and buttermilk biscuits or corn muffins, all for the price of $12.99. The Barrel is also offering a Bee Sting Chicken Sandwich featuring hand-breaded chicken with the new honey glaze on a buttermilk bun served with a side of steak fries for $11.99. 

Much like grocery chain Trader Joe's customer favorites that are gone forever, there haven't been any statements from Cracker Barrel indicating its discontinued items are ever coming back. But the folks in charge at CB are optimistic its new dishes will bring people through those screen doors.