Cracker Barrel has more for vegetarians than its pork-heavy reputation suggests, especially at breakfast, but some vegetable sides are secretly cooked with meat.
Last verified: 2026-07-24
Cracker Barrel: What’s Vegetarian Editorial Review
Cracker Barrel leans hard into Southern cooking, and a lot of that cooking involves pork, so a few sides labeled “vegetable” aren’t actually meat-free. Breakfast, served all day, is where vegetarians eat best, and the Impossible Sausage gives vegans a real protein to build around. The chain runs about 660 locations across 43 states and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day of the week.
What to order at Cracker Barrel
Order eggs any style with a side of Impossible Sausage for a plate that works for both vegetarians and vegans. Buttermilk Pancakes or French Toast are vegetarian if you skip the bacon on the side. Round the plate out with the Country Vegetable Plate, picking four scratch-made sides like grits, steamed broccoli, or a baked sweet potato. Cinnamon fried apples, fresh seasonal fruit, and sourdough toast are safe bets for vegans too.
What to watch out for
Green Beans, Turnip Greens, and Pinto Beans are all cooked with pork, so skip them no matter how “vegetable” they sound on the menu. Biscuits, Hashbrown Casserole, and Macaroni n’ Cheese all carry dairy, so they’re vegetarian but not vegan. Pancakes and French Toast contain egg and milk too. Ask for the whole baby carrots without margarine and brown sugar if you want to keep them vegan, since the standard prep isn’t.