Savor the Comfort: Cracker Barrel's Top 3 Recipes for Home Cooks

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Cut dough into 1/2 inch squares and drop into simmering stock, stirring occasionally for 20-30 minutes until thickened.
5. Shred cooled chicken into bite-sized pieces and add to the pot. Simmer for an additional 5-10 minutes.
6. Serve hot with steamed vegetables if desired.

Source: Cooking Cache

Buttery Cracker Barrel Biscuits

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Bisquick
• 2/3 cup real buttermilk

Baking Instructions:

1. Combine Bisquick and buttermilk to form a smooth dough. Knead in the bowl until elastic.
2. Form 16 thin patties and stack to make 8 biscuits. Place in a greased 9-inch round baking pan.
3. Bake at 450°F for 16-18 minutes until golden. Brush with butter immediately.
4. For a sweeter version, add 4 teaspoons of sugar and shape into 6 thicker patties.
5. Bake as above, cool for 10 minutes, and split with thumbs.

Source: Gloria Pitzer's Secret Recipes

Homestyle Cracker Barrel Hash Brown Casserole

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed
• 1/2 cup margarine, melted
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 2 cups Colby cheese, grated

Preparation Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
2. Mix potatoes with the remaining ingredients and transfer to the baking pan.
3. Bake uncovered for 35 minutes until golden and bubbly.

Source: CDKitchen

Interesting Stats and Facts:

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.