Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen vs Cracker Barrel: Menu Prices Compared (2026)

Updated October 22, 2026 5 items matched

The short answer

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen is the cheaper of the two. Of the 5 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen is cheaper on 5 of them, by an average of $2.34 per item.

Typical menu price: Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen $10.99 · Cracker Barrel $12.29

Matched Items, Side by Side

The same item on both menus, priced against each other. Where names differ, we matched the closest equivalent — Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen's wording first.

Item	Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen	Cracker Barrel	Difference
Country Fried Steak	$13.79	$15.99	$2.20 cheaper at Cheddar's
Grilled Pork Chops	$13.49	$16.49	$3.00 cheaper at Cheddar's
Classic Cheeseburgervs Cheeseburger	$9.49	$13.29	$3.80 cheaper at Cheddar's
Kids Grilled Chicken	$5.99	$7.49	$1.50 cheaper at Cheddar's
Southern Green Beansvs Green Beans	$2.79	$3.99	$1.20 cheaper at Cheddar's

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen vs Cracker Barrel at a Glance

	Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen	Cracker Barrel
Typical menu price	$10.99	$12.29
Average menu price	$12.29	$14.30
Cheapest item	Honey Butter Croissants — $1.99	Hashbrown Casserole — $3.99
Most expensive item	House-Smoked Baby Back Ribs Bundle — $50.49	Family Meal — Homestyle Chicken (feeds 4) — $59.99
Items priced	89	45
Menu sections	12	6
Price range	$$	$$
Founded	1979	1969
Headquarters	Orlando, Florida (Darden Restaurants)	Lebanon, Tennessee
Locations	About 180 restaurants, mostly in Texas, the South and the Midwest	About 660 stores across 44 states

Which One Should You Order From?

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen has the lower typical menu price of the two — $10.99 against $12.29 — but a typical price only tells you where the middle of the menu sits. At the value end, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen gets you in cheaper at $1.99.

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen is strongest on Honey Butter Croissants, No. 8 Special Chicken Tender Platter, Monte Cristo; Cracker Barrel on Old Timer's Breakfast, Chicken n' Dumplins, Momma's Pancake Breakfast. Neither chain's app prices match the counter, and both discount heavily through their loyalty programmes, so the deals below usually matter more than the few cents between the two menus.

Deals Worth Knowing at Both

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

The weekday lunch menu is the cheapest way in: a cheeseburger, a chicken sandwich or a Veggie Philly is about $8.59, against $9.49 to $10.99 for the regular versions.
The Vegetable Plate — any four sides for about $10.49 — is the lowest-priced full plate on the dinner menu.
Family bundles feed about four: the Chicken Tender Bundle at about $31.49 works out under $8 a person, and a gallon of iced tea is about $5.79.

Cracker Barrel

Breakfast is served all day at breakfast prices — the Old Timer's at $12.99 is cheaper than most dinner plates.
The Country Vegetable Plate at $11.99 gives four country sides plus bread, the lowest-cost full meal on the menu.
Cracker Barrel Rewards earns points toward free food and sends a birthday reward.

About these prices: menu prices are set by individual franchise owners and change without notice. The figures on this page are researched estimates for 2026 and are provided for reference only. Confirm the current price with the restaurant before ordering. Menu Price Book is not affiliated with this chain.

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen vs Cracker Barrel — FAQ

Is Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen cheaper than Cracker Barrel in 2026?

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen is cheaper on most matched items — 5 of 5. Across the whole menu Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen is the lower-priced of the two, at $10.99 for a typical item against $12.29 at Cracker Barrel.

What is the price difference between Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen and Cracker Barrel?

On matched items the average difference is $2.34, or about 14% overall. Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen averages $12.29 across 89 priced items; Cracker Barrel averages $14.30 across 44.

Which has the cheaper entry price, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen or Cracker Barrel?

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen starts at $1.99 (Honey Butter Croissants) and Cracker Barrel at $3.99 (Hashbrown Casserole).

Are these prices the same at every location?

No. Both chains let franchise owners set prices, so figures move by a dollar or more between markets and run highest at airport, stadium and highway locations. Treat these as the typical U.S. price, not a quote.