Part restaurant, part gift shop, fast-casual chain Cracker Barrel has developed a cult following since it was first founded in 1969. But would you want to spend your Thanksgiving inside this roadside destination? Is the Barrel even serving food on Turkey Day? Here’s what you need to know about Cracker Barrel’s Thanksgiving hours before scrapping your homemade meal for a night at the old country store.
Is Cracker Barrel Open on Thanksgiving 2023?
We’ll get straight to the point: Yes, Cracker Barrel is open on Thanksgiving, November 23, 2023. According to the company’s website, “Cracker Barrel is open regular business hours Thanksgiving Day and serving a traditional Thanksgiving meal beginning at 11 a.m.” For anyone looking to have someone else cook their Thanksgiving meal, diners will find a plate full of turkey and all the fixings available at Cracker Barrel.
But if you are going to dine in on Thanksgiving, Cracker Barrel has a couple tips to help your visit go smoothly. Diners should sign up for the online waitlist to ensure a shorter wait time, while also taking note that the restaurant may have a limited menu on both Thanksgiving Eve and Thanksgiving Day. It’s also important to know that delivery is not available on Thanksgiving.
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Does Cracker Barrel Offer Thanksgiving To-Go?
If you still want to have Thanksgiving at home but don’t want to do any cooking, Cracker Barrel is also offering a couple of Thanksgiving meals to-go. The Heat ‘n Serve Family Dinner serves four to six people, while the Heat ‘n Serve Family Feast serves eight to ten; both offer oven-roasted turkey breast, cornbread dressing, cranberry relish, sweet potato casserole, and other traditional Thanskgiving side dishes. While these two pre-ordered options require the dishes to be heated up at home, the Hot and Ready Family Dinner is available ready to serve.
The Bottom Line
Cracker Barrel is open on Thanksgiving Day this year, but that doesn’t mean you necessarily have to come in and dine. The restaurant chain is also offering Thanksgiving meals to-go, as well as holiday pies available for sale. Whether you need a little help on Thanksgiving or want to relinquish all of the cooking over to the professionals, Cracker Barrel has you covered.