Cracker Barrel’s Ultimate Guide to Summertime Country Dining

There’s something unmistakably special about summer in the country: the long days, the front porch chats, and the sizzle of a campfire meal. Country dining isn’t just about what’s on the plate, but the people gathered around it. At Cracker Barrel, we’ve built our traditions around those very moments. If you’re in the mood for Southern-style comfort food, Cracker Barrel is just the place to find hearty meals made with care, tradition, and real country flavor. 

Whether you’re planning a family cookout, reminiscing about your grandma’s potato salad, or just craving the comfort of a hearty meal after a long drive, country dining brings us all back to what matters most: good food, shared with good people. After all, it’s not just where we live, but where we feel most at ease. 

In this guide, we’ll take you on a journey through the heart of Southern-style country dining: its roots, its flavors, and how Cracker Barrel helps bring it to your table, whether you’re dining in, ordering to-go, or stopping in on a road trip across America. 

What is Country Dining? 

Country dining is rooted in simplicity, generosity, and authenticity. It’s more than just a plate of food; it’s a lifestyle centered on simplicity, seasonality, and togetherness. Unlike quick bite meals or overly curated gourmet spreads, country dining is: 

• Generous, home-style portions
• Slow-cooked, grilled, or fire-roasted meals
• Dishes that lean into the season: fresh corn, juicy berries, vine-ripened tomatoes 
• Casual, welcoming atmospheres that feel like home

Country dining is an experience where food feels familiar, stories are shared freely, and everyone leaves satisfied.

The Return of the Campfire Meal: A Country Classic

Cracker Barrel is well-known for its seasonal menu items. Every year, as the weather turns warm, our guests begin asking us the same question: “Are Campfire Meals coming back this summer?” And it’s no surprise why.  

Our Campfire Meals have become something of a beloved summertime tradition, one that brings people together with the flavors, smells, and memories of good food shared in the great outdoors. 

There’s just something about a foil-wrapped meal that’s both comforting and exciting. Maybe it’s the way the steam escapes when you open the pack. Maybe it’s the rich aroma of seasoned meat mingling with roasted veggies. Or maybe it’s the memory it stirs of summer nights, laughter echoing through the trees, and the warmth of a fire nearby. 

Available for a limited time only, our Campfire Meals are inspired by the age-old country tradition of foil-pack cooking, like what you might find sizzling over the glowing embers of a campsite deep in the woods. We take seasoned cuts of premium meat and pair them with hearty, farm-fresh vegetables, all wrapped up in real aluminum foil and slow-cooked to tender, smoky perfection.

Whether you choose Campfire Steak, Chicken, Beef, or our Shrimp Skillet, each bite delivers the nostalgic flavor of simpler times when meals were shared around the fire, under the stars, and away from the rush of everyday life. 

At Cracker Barrel, we believe the best meals aren’t just about great ingredients; they’re about the moments they create. Our Campfire Meals are more than just seasonal menu items. They’re a way of slowing down, reconnecting with what matters, and savoring the joys of summer, one delicious bite at a time. 

So come in while they last and rediscover the flavor of country cooking at its finest. Because nothing says summer quite like a meal straight from the campfire. 

Related Read: Campfire Meals Are Back for the Summer → 

Backyard BBQs: The Heart of Country Hospitality

Country BBQs are all about bringing people together. Whether it’s slow-smoked ribs or grilled chicken with baked beans, backyard cookouts are a cornerstone of country dining. There’s no strict menu, just dependable, classic staples done right.

If you’ve been invited to a cookout and need to bring a dish to share with guests, stop by a Cracker Barrel near you, pick up a few sides and desserts to go, and you’ve got a backyard BBQ worth remembering.

Country Cookout Sides at Cracker Barrel

• Bacon Mac & Cheese: creamy macaroni topped with bacon bites, parsley, green onions, and parmesan cheese.
• Coleslaw: A mix of green cabbage, red cabbage, and carrots tossed in a Coleslaw dressing.
• Corn: Whole kernel corn cooked with a hint of margarine
• Buttermilk Biscuits: Hand-rolled Buttermilk Biscuits
• And more! Click here to find out which sides are available at a Cracker Barrel near you. 

Summer Picnics & Family Feasts

One of the unsung joys of summer is the impromptu picnic. Whether it’s a park bench, a lakeside dock, or the tailgate of your truck, all you need is a blanket and a basket of your country favorites. It’s a Cracker Barrel kind of moment: relaxed, easy, and filled with flavor.

Southern Picnic Essentials

• Fried chicken or turkey sandwiches
• Deviled eggs
• Sweet tea or lemonade
• Peach cobbler or banana pudding for dessert

How Cracker Barrel Brings Country Dining to You

You don’t have to live in the country to dine like you do. Cracker Barrel brings the experience of the countryside to your table, no matter where you are. From the moment you walk in, you’re surrounded by antique signs, rocking chairs, and the smell of fried apples. Welcome home.

Here’s how Cracker Barrel brings country dining to your summer:

• Southern-style Comfort Food: Classic meals, generous portions, friendly smiles
• Campfire Meals (Seasonal): A limited-time summer offering you don’t want to miss
• Retail Store Finds: From country cookware to peach preserves and porch rockers
• Online Ordering: Your country favorites, ready to go for your next backyard gathering or home dinner

Order Cracker Barrel Online for Pickup or Delivery

Bring the Country Kitchen Home 

Want to add a country touch to your summer table? Here are a few tips straight from our kitchens and traditions:

Master the Foil Pack

Combine your protein (like chicken or steak) with seasonal veggies, herbs, butter, and a dash of seasoning. Wrap tightly in foil and cook over coals or in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes. Done.

Let the Produce Shine

Country dining is about eating with the seasons. Lean into:

• Summer squash
• Ripe tomatoes
• Green beans
• Corn on the cob

Set the Mood

Turn your dinner into a moment. Use checkered tablecloths, Mason jars, string lights, and classic country music to create that unmistakable vibe. For a truly special experience, learn how to make Campfire Cocktails. 

Make It a Potluck

Nothing says country quite like everyone pitching in. Ask your guests to bring their family’s favorite summer dish and share the story behind it.

Summertime Country Dining

From campfires to cookouts, picnic baskets to porch swings, country dining is all about making the most of summer’s simple joys. At Cracker Barrel, we’re proud to be a part of those moments, whether it’s your Sunday family dinner or a catering a large family reunion. 

Regardless of how you dine this summer, let it be warm, generous, and full of flavor. Because country living isn’t just a place, it’s a way of life. Whether you’re planning a large picnic or just craving something warm and hearty, Cracker Barrel is here to bring you back to the country, one bite at a time.  
 
And the best part? You don’t need GPS to find it.