This Is Cracker Barrel's Most Underrated Menu Item
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, more popularly known as just Cracker Barrel, has managed to get noticed for its Southern country tastes. As per the official website, the restaurant was started in 1969 in Tennessee by entrepreneur Dan Evins, who wanted to offer homestyle food to travelers at an affordable price. Evins was passionate about showcasing the restaurant's country roots. The restaurant promises a strong whiff of nostalgia for visitors in search of a homey environment with Southern food.
The Cracker Barrel lunch and dinner menu options include country fried steak, roast beef, meatloaf, the Loaded Baked Potato, and the Barrel Cheeseburger. The breakfast menu is full of comforting dishes such as the iconic Cracker Barrel pancakes, egg sandwiches, Bacon N' Egg Hashbrown Casserole, and more. One of the most popular items at the restaurant is Grandma's Sampler, which comes with pancakes, eggs, smoked sausage, bacon, and more (via Fox Business). But what is Cracker Barrel's most underrated dish? As it turns out, the most underrated dish happens to be one of the healthiest choices on the menu.
The Apple n' Cinnamon Oatmeal won't let you down
There's an overlooked gem on the breakfast menu that isn't spoken about enough. As explained by Eat This, Not That!, while pancakes are the restaurant's flagship breakfast item, the Apple n' Cinnamon Oatmeal is delicious and definitely underrated. It is not bland or dry, which can be the case with some oatmeal dishes. And since oatmeal is so filling, maybe you can team up your bowl with a hot latte and be good to go until lunchtime rolls around.
Cracker Barrel's website describes the dish as "hearty oats simmered 'til creamy and topped with our Fried Apples and pecans" and "served with reduced-fat milk." You can eat this warm, wholesome dish without feeling guilty as you dig in. In 2017, Delish called it one of the healthiest items on Cracker Barrel's breakfast menu, stating that it had 360 calories with just 7 grams of fat. According to Cracker Barrel's 2020 nutrition guide, Apple n' Cinnamon Oatmeal has 310 calories, 7 grams of fat, and 17 grams of sugar.
Apple n' Cinnamon Oatmeal is a healthy option, too
Apple n' Cinnamon Oatmeal was listed by Rise as a healthy option at the country-themed restaurant, and it's listed as one of the top choices for a healthy menu option by Verywell Fit. They note that it's one of the lowest-calorie dishes on the entire menu and contains far less sodium — 200 milligrams — than their other breakfast offerings. The fiber content is solid, too — one bowl will provide you with 8 grams of fiber. If you're looking to save on calories, though, you might want to skip the Wild Maine Blueberry Muffin that is offered as an accompaniment — it has more calories than the oatmeal (360) and over twice the fat (16 grams).
Fiber, in particular, is a vital part of a healthy diet. Eating a high-fiber diet can help you lower your risk of several conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, and constipation. It can even help you lower your levels of cholesterol (via UCSF Health). The recommended daily intake of fiber for most people is from 25 to 30 grams per day, so at 8 grams, you've gotten off to a great start on a solid, fiber-filled day of eating. Most other breakfast options at Cracker Barrel have little to no fiber on board, so Apple n' Cinnamon Oatmeal is definitely the right choice if you're hoping to boost your fiber-filled eats.
What people are saying about Apple n' Cinnamon Oatmeal
Despite being one of the healthiest options on the Cracker Barrel menu, which might make you think it doesn't taste all that great, the Apple n' Cinnamon Oatmeal certainly has its fans out there. "Apple Cinnamon #oatmeal is a #GameChanger," writes alexbigstew on Instagram. "It is an Apple Pie getting Freaky in my #oatmeal." Another Instagram user writes, "Apple and cinnamon oatmeal for breakfast at Cracker Barrel. #foodporn."
Rave reviews come in from Twitter user Janice, who asks, "Have you ever had Cracker Barrel oatmeal!?! Oh my gosh it is delicious... if you love oatmeal and I do!" And Facebook user Allen writes, "The oatmeal at Cracker Barrel was particularly good this morning." Paul writes that he even eschewed his favorite breakfast food for the oatmeal: "Those that know me, know I will not pass pancakes from Cracker Barrel. But today is oatmeal weather."
So the next time you're are at Cracker Barrel, give the oatmeal a shot and see how you like it. You may want to keep tasting the combination of cinnamon and apples over and over again!