Cracker Barrel vs McDonald's: Menu Prices Compared (2026)

Updated August 27, 2026 4 items matched

The short answer

McDonald's is the cheaper of the two. Of the 4 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, McDonald's is cheaper on 4 of them, by an average of $7.42 per item.

Typical menu price: Cracker Barrel $12.29 · McDonald's $4.29

Matched Items, Side by Side

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

Item	Cracker Barrel	McDonald's	Difference
Cheeseburger	$13.29	$2.79	$10.50 cheaper at McDonald's
Fried Chicken Sandwichvs McCrispy Chicken Sandwich	$12.49	$5.69	$6.80 cheaper at McDonald's
Grilled Chicken Sandwichvs McCrispy Chicken Sandwich	$12.29	$5.69	$6.60 cheaper at McDonald's
Chicken Salad Sandwichvs McCrispy Chicken Sandwich	$11.49	$5.69	$5.80 cheaper at McDonald's

Cracker Barrel vs McDonald's at a Glance

	Cracker Barrel	McDonald's
Typical menu price	$12.29	$4.29
Average menu price	$14.30	$4.97
Cheapest item	Hashbrown Casserole — $3.99	Apple Slices — $1.29
Most expensive item	Family Meal — Homestyle Chicken (feeds 4) — $59.99	Bundle Box (family) — $24.99
Items priced	45	51
Menu sections	6	6
Price range	$$	$
Founded	1969	1955
Headquarters	Lebanon, Tennessee	Chicago, Illinois
Locations	About 660 stores across 44 states	More than 13,500 restaurants in the United States

Which One Should You Order From?

McDonald's has the lower typical menu price of the two — $4.29 against $12.29 — but a typical price only tells you where the middle of the menu sits. At the value end, McDonald's gets you in cheaper at $1.29.

Cracker Barrel is strongest on Old Timer's Breakfast, Chicken n' Dumplins, Momma's Pancake Breakfast; McDonald's on Big Mac, Quarter Pounder with Cheese, 10 pc. Chicken McNuggets. 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

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.

McDonald's

The $5 Meal Deal is the single best value on the menu — the same four items ordered separately run close to $12.
The McDonald's app gives a free item on many orders and runs a points programme worth roughly 5% back; app prices are frequently below counter prices for the same item.
20-piece McNuggets at $9.99 cost about $0.50 per nugget against $0.65 for a 4-piece — the best per-unit price on the menu.

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.

Cracker Barrel vs McDonald's — FAQ

Is Cracker Barrel cheaper than McDonald's in 2026?

McDonald's is cheaper on most matched items — 4 of 4. Across the whole menu McDonald's is the lower-priced of the two, at $4.29 for a typical item against $12.29 at Cracker Barrel.

What is the price difference between Cracker Barrel and McDonald's?

On matched items the average difference is $7.42, or about 65% overall. Cracker Barrel averages $14.30 across 44 priced items; McDonald's averages $4.97 across 51.

Which has the cheaper entry price, Cracker Barrel or McDonald's?

Cracker Barrel starts at $3.99 (Hashbrown Casserole) and McDonald's at $1.29 (Apple Slices).

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.