Cracker Barrel brought back one menu item after 7 years that has customers racing to the restaurant

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Image by Martin M303 via Shutterstock

Cracker Barrel finally listened to their customers after years of begging.

The restaurant chain just made a decision that has fans over the moon.

And Cracker Barrel brought back one menu item after 7 years that has customers racing to the restaurant.

Cracker Barrel caves to customer pressure and brings back the Campfire Meals

Sometimes good things really are worth waiting for – and Cracker Barrel customers who’ve been patiently waiting seven long years for their favorite menu items just got the news they’ve been praying for.

The beloved Tennessee-based chain announced this week that their iconic Campfire Meals are officially back after disappearing from menus in 2018.

"Our guests have been asking for us to bring back our Campfire Meals for years — and we heard them loud and clear," Sarah Moore, Chief Marketing Officer at Cracker Barrel, told the press.

The return of these fan-favorite foil-wrapped meals couldn’t come at a better time as families gear up for summer vacation season.

Starting at just $10.99, the Campfire Meals feature the restaurant’s signature blend of Campfire Seasoning with meats and vegetables slow-cooked in tin foil to lock in those smoky, campfire flavors without any of the hassle.

Each meal comes with your choice of Buttermilk Biscuits or Cornbread Muffins – because this is Cracker Barrel, after all.

The returning lineup includes the classic Campfire Chicken, featuring a marinated half-chicken cooked with corn on the cob, red skin potatoes, carrots, grape tomatoes, and onions.

There’s also the Campfire Beef, with tender slow-braised beef and the same mix of campfire vegetables wrapped in foil for maximum flavor.

But Cracker Barrel didn’t just bring back the old favorites – they’ve added some exciting new options to the mix.

New additions have customers even more excited than expected

The biggest buzz is around the brand-new Campfire Shrimp Skillet, which combines grilled shrimp and andouille sausage cooked in a buttery broth with campfire-seasoned corn and potatoes.

This Louisiana-inspired creation is served sizzling in a cast iron skillet and has already become a hit with seafood lovers.

"The seafood was slightly chewy but still tender, though the standout here was the smokey, lightly spiced andouille sausage," one food reviewer noted after trying the new dish. "It was loaded with flavor, and it infused the buttery broth the meal was cooked in with a similar spice."

For those with a sweet tooth, Cracker Barrel added two dessert skillets that are causing quite a stir.

The S’mores Brownie Skillet features a rich chocolate brownie topped with roasted marshmallow and a Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar, served warm over crumbled graham crackers with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce.

The Cinnamon Roll Skillet offers fresh-baked mini cinnamon rolls with gooey cinnamon filling and sweet cream cheese icing.

Customer reactions on social media have been nothing short of ecstatic.

"AHHH im excited!!!" one fan wrote on Instagram.

"Campfire meals >>> everything else," another declared.

"CAMPFIRE MEALS!!!! It’s about time!!!!" posted an enthusiastic customer who’d clearly been waiting years for this moment.

One particularly passionate reviewer exclaimed, "OH MY GOD!! I’m loving this. This is fantastic…The baked chicken is fantastic…The meat just falls off the bones and [is] cooked to perfection. You will want more after you try these meals. That’s for sure."

Why Cracker Barrel had to bring back this money-maker

The return of Campfire Meals isn’t just about nostalgia – it’s smart business.

According to a Cracker Barrel representative, since their debut in 1997, Campfire Meals have been the most popular seasonal promotion for the entire chain.

The meals originally disappeared in 2018 during what former Cracker Barrel President and CEO Sandra Cochran described as disappointing quarterly sales, specifically citing that "our menu and marketing promotion not delivering the anticipated topline traffic and sales" regarding the Campfire Meals.

But customer demand never died down.

"I’ve literally been checking for this every summer for the past 6 years," one dedicated fan wrote on social media.

The chain has been struggling to attract younger customers and boost sales, making the return of this proven crowd-pleaser a no-brainer.

Cracker Barrel’s latest earnings report showed they posted their fourth consecutive quarter of positive same-store sales, up 1% for the three-month period ended May 2.

Executives specifically cited the return of Campfire Meals as a key traffic driver for the current quarter.

"It’s so unique, and it’s so delicious, and it’s also experiential in a really fun way," said Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Masino. "There’s a little bit of a Christmas unboxing element to it. You open this packet and you’re greeted with this amazing aroma and steam."

The company has invested heavily in advertising behind the returning meals, and early results suggest the gamble is paying off.

Food TikTok creator @snackolator’s video announcing the return has already racked up over 245,000 views, showing just how hungry people were for this news.

To complete the experience, Cracker Barrel is also selling campfire-inspired items in their Country Store, including s’mores-flavored candies and jars of their signature Campfire Seasoning so customers can recreate the flavors at home.

With summer travel season approaching and Americans looking for value in their dining experiences, Cracker Barrel’s decision to revive these beloved meals looks like exactly the kind of move that could keep customers coming back for more.

The Campfire Meals are available now for a limited time at all Cracker Barrel locations nationwide.

Check out this nice little Cracker Barrel moment recently posted to X.

 

 

 

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