Cracker Barrel’s hearty breakfast menu has long been a staple for hungry roadtrippers across America. From fluffy biscuits and gravy to golden hashbrowns, Cracker Barrel offers classic Southern comfort food to start your day off right. But arguably one of the most popular breakfast items on the menu is that savory, slightly spicy sausage that comes with many of the platters. Its distinctly peppery flavor has become an essential part of the Cracker Barrel experience. So what brand of sausage does Cracker Barrel use to create that signature taste? Let’s take a closer look and uncover the mystery.
A Closer Look At Cracker Barrel’s Breakfast Sausage
The sausage that Cracker Barrel has become famous for has a coarsely ground texture and deep reddish-brown color. It typically comes in patties or links with a heavy dose of black pepper seasoning, giving it some heat balanced by a touch of sweetness. When cooked up, the patties get a nice crisp charred edge while remaining juicy inside. The casing on the links also gets crispy in spots while the interior stays moist and delicious.
This well-seasoned sausage is a favorite for pairing with eggs pancakes biscuits and more at Cracker Barrel. It also makes frequent appearances in dishes like country-fried steak and gravy and chicken fried chicken. The flavor profile has become an iconic part of the Cracker Barrel breakfast experience across their hundreds of locations. But many fans wonder, what brand produces this tasty sausage?
The Hunt To Uncover Cracker Barrel’s Sausage Supplier
For many years, Cracker Barrel remained fairly tight-lipped about the source of their popular breakfast sausage. Some customer inquiries received a vague response that it was produced by one of Cracker Barrel’s trusted vendors according to their custom recipe. But the exact brand name remained elusive, leaving breakfast devotees guessing.
Online speculation ran rampant among Cracker Barrel fans trying to determine the sausage’s origins. Some hypothesized it was Jimmy Dean brand, while others insisted it must be Tennessee Pride. A few referenced local Tennessee sausage companies as potential sources. But with no concrete facts, the brand behind this key Cracker Barrel menu item continued to be shrouded in mystery.
Purnell’s Sausage: The Brand Behind Cracker Barrel’s Iconic Links and Patties
The guessing game finally came to an end in recent years when Cracker Barrel officially confirmed that their signature breakfast sausage is produced by Purnell’s a premium sausage company based in North Carolina. Purnell’s has been crafting quality sausage since 1925 using old family recipes and traditions. They put a focus on sourcing quality pork and utilizing simple spices like black pepper to create authentic Southern-style sausage.
Purnell’s traditional approach results in juicy, flavorful sausage with a distinctive snap when you bite into it. They offer an array of sausage products including smoked, fresh and cheese varieties. But it’s their classic country pork sausage that Cracker Barrel chose as the perfect partner for their breakfast menu
Cracker Barrel states that they work closely with Purnell’s to get the seasonings and grind just right according to their custom recipe. Purnell’s then replicates this exact Cracker Barrel sausage recipe exclusively for the restaurant chain. The result is the one-of-a-kind Cracker Barrel breakfast sausage that customers have come to know and love.
Why Purnell’s Sausage Is The Right Fit For Cracker Barrel
There are a few key reasons why Purnell’s sausage makes good sense as the brand behind Cracker Barrel’s iconic breakfast links and patties:
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Southern Roots – Purnell’s is based in the South (North Carolina), keeping it aligned with Cracker Barrel’s Southern cuisine theme. Their recipes and philosophy around quality pork and simple spices meshes well.
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Small-Batch Approach – Unlike huge commercial sausage plants, Purnell’s remains small-batch focused. This allows them to carefully control the process and consistency.
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Traditional Techniques – From their 1925 origins, Purnell’s has stuck to time-honored traditions for producing juicy, textured sausage. They don’t cut corners, which matches Cracker Barrel’s quality focus.
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Noticeable Natural Casing – Purnell’s sausages often have a distinctive natural casing that gives a satisfying “snap” when bitten. This aligns with the casing found on Cracker Barrel breakfast links.
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Peppery Spice Blend – Purnell’s restraint with spices results in pepper flavor really coming through. This pairs well with Cracker Barrel’s famously peppery sausage.
When you add up these characteristics, it makes perfect sense why Cracker Barrel would partner up with a classic North Carolina sausage company like Purnell’s to create their signature breakfast sausage. The flavors, textures and techniques align well between the two brands.
Cracker Barrel Breakfast Sausage Continues To Be A Favorite
Now that the origins of their famous sausage are finally confirmed, Cracker Barrel devotees can continue to enjoy those signature patties and links with a new appreciation. Purnell’s old-fashioned process and high-quality ingredients result in a flavor that can’t be replicated by mass-produced, industrial sausage products. Knowing that the sausage is made specially for Cracker Barrel using time-honored techniques adds to the appeal.
The peppery, slightly crispy Purnell’s sausage on the Cracker Barrel breakfast table has become a familiar comfort. Customers can expect to keep seeing those sausage patties next to their sunshine yellow scrambled eggs and flapjacks with butter for years to come. Cracker Barrel and Purnell’s plan to continue their partnership and keep delighting patrons with this Southern breakfast tradition.
So next time you dig into an order of biscuits and gravy along with Cracker Barrel’s famous savory sausage, you can rest assured that distinctive flavor was specially crafted by a nearly 100-year-old North Carolina family company using traditional methods. While the secret brand had long been under wraps, now Cracker Barrel fans can finally celebrate the roots of this iconic menu item.
Cracker Barrel fans angry at Impossible Meat
FAQ
What brand is Cracker Barrel sausage?
Did Cracker Barrel change their sausage?
What is the plant-based sausage at Cracker Barrel?
Is Cracker Barrel food made from scratch?
Does Cracker Barrel have plant-based sausage?
Cracker Barrel is now serving plant-based sausage. Meat eaters aren’t having it. The popular southern restaurant chain is one of the few places where you can have breakfast after sitting on a real-wood rocking chair on the front porch or buying a bejeweled yard chameleon or “Live, Laugh, Love” wall sign.
Does Cracker Barrel have Country Sausage?
Among the foods you should be ordering at Cracker Barrel, the establishment’s breakfast meats are not only tasty but also reliable. Sure enough, Cracker Barrel has been sourcing its country sausage from Purnell’s for over 40 years to date, including both pork and turkey varieties. What sets Purnell’s country sausage apart is in production.
Does Cracker Barrel have impossible sausage?
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store. Cracker Barrel recently introduced Impossible sausage, a plant-based protein, to its menu. The announcement sparked a backlash from some customers, which then led to further controversy. I tried the sausage and was impressed by the texture and taste.
Does Cracker Barrel have plant based meat?
Cracker Barrel is famous for serving classic southern comfort food, like biscuits and gravy and fried chicken to loyal customers. The chain just introduced Impossible Sausage, a plant based meat, to menus on August 1, and some customers were not happy.