One of our family’s favorite restaurants is Cracker Barrel. As a matter of fact, one of our earliest recipes on this blog was inspired by a Cracker Barrel menu item: Pineapple Upside Down Cake!
So The Chef recently started a new job that has brought some major adjustments to our home. When this past work week was over, we decided to have some family time doing one of our favorite things as a family … eating out, no doubt! Our children certainly got that gene.
We had decided on a different restaurant but when we arrived and discovered a wait time of over an hour, we knew it was time for a Plan B option. We hadn’t eaten at Cracker Barrel in a while, so off we went.
Seasonal Dish for Me!
We were happy to discover some new dishes on their seasonal menu. I decided to have one of those: Pecan Grilled Chicken with Fruit Salad. From the description, I knew I’d enjoy it as I like nuts and the “fruit salad” was a green salad including strawberries, pineapples and a pineapple ranch dressing. The dish also was served with a Wild Maine Blueberry muffin.
When my meal came, a little later than everyone else’s for some reason, and I took a few bites, oh boy, was I glad I had chosen this. It was delicious! The pecan grilled chicken had some great seasoning, possibly a marinade. But the salad was the best part … in my humble opinion anyway, and apparently I’m not alone there.
A manager was walking by and asked me how I liked the salad? I loved it, I told him. He grinned and said it had been getting “rave reviews” but that since it was a seasonal menu item he knew people would not be happy that it would be leaving the menu soon.
Copycat Cracker Barrel Fruit Salad with Pineapple Ranch Dressing
But I can tell you that it would not be too hard to “copycat” at home. I had The Chef taste it and he said the dressing tasted like they had simply added some pineapple juice to a ranch salad dressing.
I did find a discussion online about it, and if it is the same pineapple ranch dressing they have used in the past on salads, then according to a supposed conversation with a Cracker Barrel employee, it is a ratio consisting of 1/2 ranch dressing to 1/2 pineapple juice.
The salad is very simple … a copycat recipe would look something like this:
- Mixed greens
- Strawberries, sliced
- Pineapple, diced
- Pecans
- Ranch dressing
- Pineapple juice
- Toss all ingredients together. To make the Pineapple Ranch Dressing, mix equal parts ranch dressing and pineapple juice and drizzle over salad.
About the Author
Adopted at age 2, grew up in the Charlotte, NC area. Obtained Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Appalachian State University. Loves being a Mom of two and taste-testing Chef John's culinary creations and sharing them with readers.
I’ve never been to Cracker Barrel before nor have I ever had this delicious looking fruit salad! It looks like it would be perfect for a nice summer cook-out!
Fruit salad! So Yummy! I am a big fan of fruit salad. the dressing sounds divine
Veronica recently posted…Bring Home The Birds: Decorating With Bird Motifs
One of my fave restaurants! I’ll definitely duplicate this at home!
Liz Mays recently posted…LBL and the Maid
I don’t think we have any Cracker Barrels in our area but this salad sounds delicious. I love nuts and fruit in my salad too. I am not sure how I feel about Pineapple and Rand mixed but I am willing to give it a try.
I love Cracker Barrel! That salad looks good, but my personal favorite is their breakfast! 😀
This sounds good! I’m always a fan of creative salads, and I love pretty much everything Cracker Barrel offers.
The ranch dressing sounds really nice. Nice job.
Lady Lilith recently posted…Funny Family Photo Contest Winner
This just looks so good. I really wish my son would eat things like this but he is so darn picky. Ill have to wait till he heads off to summer camp to get busy in the kitchen.
Danielle recently posted…Helping Your Child Cope
I am all about salads this summer. I am not sure if its the heat or looking good in my bathing suit. LOL Thanks for the recipe it looks so cool and refreshing
Mommy2Jam recently posted…“Love me, hold me, spoon me!” ~ Stonyfield
Looks amazing~ We love cracker barrel! Thanks for giving me a way to re-create at home!!
Alice C recently posted…Don’t miss out on the magic of Scarborough Renaissance Festival!
My kids got the eating out gene too! But we don’t have any Cracker Barrels near us to try.
Triplezmom recently posted…An Open Letter to the Old People at My Gym
I’ve never been to the cracker barrel before cuz we don’t have one around here, but this looks really good. I pinned it for later! Thanks for sharing!
I can not wait to try this. We just moved and no longer have a Cracker Barrel near us. There are a few of their items that I miss.
We don’t have any Cracker Barrel restaurants nearby that I am aware of but this recipe looks delicious and I know I can replicate it here at home.
Tough Cookie Mommy recently posted…Working Mom Confessions
copy cat recipes are my very favorite to try and see if I can re create the same thing.
This sounds really yummy and light for the summer season. Just right for lunch by the pool.
becca recently posted…Monday Music Moves Me 5-19-14
That pineapple ranch dressing sounds good. I only go to the Cracker Barrel on Sundays when they have fried chicken LOL. I need to expand my horizons a little I think.
Robin (Masshole Mommy) recently posted…Stalking Celebrities in the Hollywood Hills