Why You Should Think Twice About Getting Cracker Barrel's Dumplins
If you're craving a hearty, stick-to-your-ribs homestyle meal, or you're looking for a convenient place to grab a bite that's not burgers and fries on a long road trip, there are few more reliable options than Cracker Barrel Old Country Store. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, diners can chow down on wholesome dishes such as chicken fried steak, country ham, meatloaf, and one of the most popular choices, Chicken n' Dumplins.
While Cracker Barrel's Chicken n' Dumplins may evoke warm memories of childhood comfort food, there are a few reasons why you might want to opt for something else instead. The most important of which will be immediately apparent to anyone who ignores this advice and orders them anyway. Quite simply, many find the meal looks downright unappetizing. It's almost uniformly a yellowish white in color, flecked with black pepper, and covered in a sauce that can best be described as slimy. An infamous review from the Dallas Observer's Gavin Cleaver states that the reviewer "[had] never seen anything so unappealingly presented," arguing that he "couldn't even tell what was chicken and what was dumpling."
Reddit users also tore into the dish when one posted an extra-unpleasant-looking serving of Chicken' N Dumplins, which one former Cracker Barrel employee commented was "the worst thing on the entire menu." Another user quipped that "at least it comes pre-digested."
Getting salty about high sodium
While many of the offerings on Cracker Barrel's menu are about as far from health food as you can imagine, those looking to make better dietary choices at the chain still may also want to skip the Dumplins on their next visit. When served as a side, an order of Dumplins contains 940 milligrams of sodium in a 210-calorie portion. That's more than a third of the total daily sodium intake recommended by the FDA. When the Dumplins are served with chicken as a complete meal, that number rises to a whopping 1,680 milligrams or nearly three-quarters of your sodium for the day.
Of course, this doesn't factor in the two or three sides commonly served with the meal, many of which are high in sodium as well. These include all sorts of mashed, baked, and fried potatoes, macaroni and cheese, fried okra, and several casseroles.
Excess sodium can have serious, long-lasting implications for your health over time. These include an elevated risk of high blood pressure, heart attacks, and strokes. Too much sodium can also put extra stress on the kidneys and other organs and even lead to bone-thinning osteoporosis in older individuals.
Not so homemade after all
Despite the unappealing appearance and less-than-ideal nutrition profile, at least the dumplings benefit from a handmade, homestyle touch, right? Unfortunately, that's not the case, either. On Reddit, one employee revealed the dumplings and sauce arrive at the restaurant pre-made in a bag. All that the cooks need to do is boil the bag and serve. This is a somewhat common practice at many chain restaurants because of broader efforts to ensure consistency across many locations. Still, Cracker Barrel's Chicken n' Dumplins is closer to cafeteria food than a real, home-cooked meal.
It's a stark contrast to the Food With Care branding that Cracker Barrel uses, which claims "Homegrown food, quite simply, tastes better" and "homemade food makes all the difference." While there's no doubt that plenty of busy home cooks opt for quick and easy solutions like boil-in-a-bag sides, it's likely not the impression most diners get from the restaurant's downhome branding or their expectations for a fresh-cooked meal.
A better alternative
If you're craving chicken and dumplings, you don't need to settle for Cracker Barrel's less-than-appetizing version. Mashed's Chicken and Dumplings Recipe is simple to make, affordable, and, most of all, deliciously filling. In less than the time it takes most people to drive to Cracker Barrel and eat, you can have this upgraded, truly homemade version on the table.
Nevertheless, for those who are dead set on mimicking Cracker Barrel's Chicken n' Dumplins at home, the chain makes it relatively easy. It sells two-pound boxes of Biscuit and Dumpling Mix in its stores and online, enough for 16 servings of dumplings. However, with authentic dumplings, home cooks can experiment with their own gravy and chicken preparations to create a more visually appealing, healthier, and better-tasting copycat.
Unfortunately, this isn't the only item to avoid on the chain's menu. Before your next visit, make sure to review things you should never order at Cracker Barrel to make the most of your meal.