Cracker Barrel Seed Oil Report Card
Based on our menu research, Cracker Barrel cooks with: Soybean oil (disclosed in Cracker Barrel allergen/ingredient documentation; used for all frying including chicken, okra, catfish, and baking shortening). Across the 85 menu items we analyzed, it averages 8.5g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of D (Very High Risk).
Ask Cracker Barrel to drop seed oils
4 people have asked so far.
One tap, anonymous, no signup. We keep each chain's total public so the demand is impossible to ignore.
Safest Orders at Cracker Barrel
Learn this once: a salad with grilled protein and the dressing left off is nearly always the lowest seed oil order anywhere. So the list below sticks to real meals, salads included, never just a water.
Cleanest full order: Country Ham Slice + Coffee, 1.9g total
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Fresh Fruit | 0.0g |
| Lil' Barrel Cheeseburger | 1.9g |
| Country Ham Slice | 1.9g |
| Turnip Greens | 2.0g |
| Banana Pudding | 2.0g |
What to Avoid at Cracker Barrel
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Fried Pickles | 57.6g |
| Southern Fried Chicken | 41.9g |
| Fried Catfish | 34.8g |
| White Cheddar Cheese Bites | 29.4g |
| Broccoli Cheddar Chicken | 23.7g |
Every Cracker Barrel item, ranked
All 85 items we have for Cracker Barrel, safest first. Values are estimated grams of seed-oil PUFA per item.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Fountain Drink | 0.0g |
| Freshly Brewed Sweet Tea | 0.0g |
| Fresh Fruit | 0.0g |
| Blackberry Lemonade | 0.0g |
| BBQ Sauce | 0.0g |
| Cocktail Sauce | 0.0g |
| Apple Cider BBQ Sauce | 0.5g |
| Kids Grilled Chicken Tenders | 1.0g |
| Corn on the Cob | 1.0g |
| Pinto Beans | 1.0g |
| Country Green Beans | 1.8g |
| Lil' Barrel Cheeseburger | 1.9g |
| Country Ham Slice | 1.9g |
| Turnip Greens | 2.0g |
| Banana Pudding | 2.0g |
| Goo Goo Cluster | 2.0g |
| Grilled Chicken Tenders | 2.1g |
| Grits | 2.4g |
| House Salad | 2.7g |
| Loaded Baked Potato | 2.9g |
| Lemon Pepper Grilled Pork Chop | 3.0g |
| Sweet Whole Baby Carrots | 3.0g |
| Herb Roasted Chicken | 3.0g |
| Chicken n' Dumplin Soup Cup | 3.0g |
| Smoky Southern Grilled Turkey | 3.0g |
| Chicken n' Dumplins | 3.3g |
| Bacon | 3.4g |
| Fried Apples | 3.5g |
| Scrambled Egg & Biscuit | 3.7g |
| Hashbrown Casserole | 3.9g |
| Meatloaf | 3.9g |
| Buttermilk Pancakes (3) | 4.0g |
| Apple Dumplin' | 4.0g |
| Grilled Catfish | 4.0g |
| Bone-In Pork Chops | 4.0g |
| Sausage Patties | 4.2g |
| Buttermilk Biscuits (2) | 4.7g |
| Wholesome Fixin's Breakfast | 5.0g |
| Country Boy Salad | 5.0g |
| Momma's Pancake Breakfast | 6.0g |
| Half Pound Hamburger | 6.0g |
| Biscuit Breakfast Sandwich | 6.0g |
| Hamburger Steak | 6.1g |
| New York Strip Steak | 6.5g |
| Mashed Potatoes | 6.6g |
| Macaroni n' Cheese | 7.0g |
| Turkey Bacon Club | 7.0g |
| Butter Pecan French Toast Bake | 7.4g |
| Tartar Sauce | 7.5g |
| Peach Cobbler | 8.0g |
| Chicken BLT | 8.0g |
| Old Timer's Breakfast | 8.0g |
| Fried Okra | 9.0g |
| French Toast (3 pc) | 9.0g |
| Uncle Herschel's Favorite | 9.0g |
| Loaded Hashbrown Casserole | 9.0g |
| Biscuit Beignets | 9.5g |
| Mini Confetti Pancakes | 9.6g |
| Kids Crispy Rockin' Shrimp | 9.6g |
| Sunrise Sampler | 10.0g |
| Bacon & Egg Hashbrown Casserole | 10.0g |
| Slow-Braised Pot Roast | 10.8g |
| Corn Muffins (2) | 11.3g |
| Ranch Sauce | 11.4g |
| Honey Mustard Sauce | 11.5g |
| Coleslaw | 12.0g |
| Barrel Cheeseburger | 12.4g |
| Country Fried Steak | 12.5g |
| Country Fried Sampler | 13.0g |
| Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola Cake | 13.3g |
| Kids Macaroni n' Cheese | 13.3g |
| Buttermilk Pancakes Short Stack | 13.4g |
| Blueberry Pancakes | 13.4g |
| Homestyle Chicken | 13.7g |
| Grandpa's Country Fried Breakfast | 14.0g |
| New York Strip Steak n' Shrimp | 14.5g |
| Kids Grilled Cheese | 16.3g |
| Turkey n' Dressing | 17.1g |
| Fried Shrimp | 19.8g |
| Friday Fish Fry | 23.4g |
| Broccoli Cheddar Chicken | 23.7g |
| White Cheddar Cheese Bites | 29.4g |
| Fried Catfish | 34.8g |
| Southern Fried Chicken | 41.9g |
| Fried Pickles | 57.6g |
Fry Oil History at Cracker Barrel
On May 17, 2007 Cracker Barrel laid out a plan to take artificial trans fat out of every item on its menu by the middle of 2008. The company said it had been reworking recipes with suppliers since late 2006. Source
Every documented oil switch across the industry lives on the Oil History timeline.
Frequently asked
Does Cracker Barrel use seed oils?
Based on our menu research, Cracker Barrel cooks with: Soybean oil (disclosed in Cracker Barrel allergen/ingredient documentation; used for all frying including chicken, okra, catfish, and baking shortening). Across the 85 menu items we analyzed, it averages 8.5g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of D (Very High Risk).
What oil does Cracker Barrel cook with?
Our research indicates: Soybean oil (disclosed in Cracker Barrel allergen/ingredient documentation; used for all frying including chicken, okra, catfish, and baking shortening). Preparation can vary by location, so treat PUFA numbers as estimates.
Does Cracker Barrel use beef tallow?
No. Our research indicates Cracker Barrel cooks with Soybean oil (disclosed in Cracker Barrel allergen/ingredient documentation; used for all frying including chicken, okra, catfish, and baking shortening), not beef tallow. For chains that fry in tallow or other real fats, see Tallow Watch.
Is Cracker Barrel seed oil free?
No. Our research indicates Cracker Barrel cooks with Soybean oil (disclosed in Cracker Barrel allergen/ingredient documentation; used for all frying including chicken, okra, catfish, and baking shortening), which includes seed oils. See the lower-PUFA orders above for the cleanest picks.
What is the safest thing to order at Cracker Barrel?
Fresh Fruit is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at Cracker Barrel, at an estimated 0.0g PUFA. See the Safest Orders list on this page for more options.
What should I avoid at Cracker Barrel?
Fried Pickles is the highest-PUFA item we analyzed at Cracker Barrel, at an estimated 57.6g PUFA. Fried items and creamy, mayo-based sauces are usually the heaviest.
What are seed oils?
Seed oils — canola, soybean, sunflower, corn, and similar vegetable oils — are extracted from seeds using high heat and chemical solvents. They are very high in polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs), which are unstable at cooking temperatures and can oxidize easily. Many health-conscious eaters choose to minimize seed oils and prefer foods cooked in beef tallow, butter, coconut oil, or olive oil instead. This page shows estimated PUFA grams per menu item to help you make more informed choices. These are estimates — actual values vary by preparation and location. New to the topic? Start with what seed oils are and the complete list, or read the evidence on why people avoid them.
Compare other chains
IHOP · Denny's · Waffle House · First Watch · Bob Evans · Perkins Restaurant & Bakery
See where Cracker Barrel lands on the full Seed Oil Index, or check which chains cook in real fats on Tallow Watch. Wondering about a specific dish instead? The Is It Seed Oil food guide answers it for 200+ everyday foods, and the distributor oils page covers what independent restaurants fry in.