CRACKER BARREL, macaroni n' cheese plate, from kid's menu
Whole food · Restaurant Foods
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a creamy, kid-friendly macaroni and cheese plate from Cracker Barrel's children's menu, featuring tender elbow pasta coated in a smooth, mild cheddar cheese sauce. The texture is soft and comforting, with a rich, savory flavor profile that's less sharp and more approachable than adult versions. Nutritionally, it's a calorie-dense side or small meal, with over half its calories coming from fat.
💚 Why it's loved
People love it for its nostalgic, uncomplicated comfort food appeal—it's the ultimate creamy, cheesy hug in a bowl that evokes childhood memories. Its mild, familiar flavor makes it a reliable crowd-pleaser, especially for younger diners.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The high fat and refined carbohydrate content can lead to energy spikes and crashes, and it's low in fiber. For those monitoring sodium or saturated fat intake, this dish should be an occasional treat. Counteract this by pairing it with a side of steamed broccoli or a simple green salad to add fiber and volume, and practice portion control by sharing or choosing a smaller serving.
Key benefits
- Provides a quick source of energy from carbohydrates and fats
- Offers some protein from cheese and pasta for muscle maintenance
- Contains calcium from cheese, important for bone health
- Serves as a familiar, palatable option for picky eaters
- Convenient and consistent portion from a restaurant chain
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The dish on Cracker Barrel's kids' menu is a simplified, milder version of their adult 'Macaroni n' Cheese Plate,' which is listed as a side dish and is a staple of their Southern-inspired menu.
Full nutrition (scales with serving)
| Water | 64.8 g |
| Energy | 192 kcal |
| Energy | 802 kj |
| Protein | 6.5 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 11.5 g |
| Ash | 1.6 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 15.6 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.70 g |
| Total Sugars | 2.8 g |
| Sucrose | 0.00 g |
| Glucose | 0.00 g |
| Fructose | 0.00 g |
| Lactose | 2.7 g |
| Maltose | 0.13 g |
| Galactose | 0.00 g |
| Starch | 11.7 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 146 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.55 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 17.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 202 mg |
| Potassium, K | 125 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 374 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.83 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.06 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.13 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 16.2 ug |
| Thiamin | 0.09 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.24 mg |
| Niacin | 0.68 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.45 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.05 mg |
| Folate, total | 31.0 ug |
| Folate, food | 31.0 ug |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.15 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 67.0 ug |
| Retinol | 65.0 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 22.0 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 1.0 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 254 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 37.0 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.75 mg |
| Tocopherol, beta | 0.09 mg |
| Tocopherol, gamma | 4.3 mg |
| Tocopherol, delta | 1.4 mg |
| Tocotrienol, alpha | 0.00 mg |
| Tocotrienol, beta | 0.16 mg |
| Tocotrienol, gamma | 0.01 mg |
| Tocotrienol, delta | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 9.9 ug |
| Vitamin K (Dihydrophylloquinone) | 6.4 ug |
| Vitamin K (Menaquinone-4) | 1.1 ug |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 4.2 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.11 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.09 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.06 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.14 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.16 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.52 g |
| SFA 15:0 | 0.06 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 2.1 g |
| SFA 17:0 | 0.04 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.83 g |
| SFA 20:0 | 0.03 g |
| SFA 22:0 | 0.03 g |
| SFA 24:0 | 0.01 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 2.8 g |
| MUFA 14:1 | 0.05 g |
| MUFA 15:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.09 g |
| MUFA 16:1 c | 0.07 g |
| MUFA 17:1 | 0.01 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 2.6 g |
| MUFA 18:1 c | 2.5 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.05 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 c | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 24:1 c | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 3.9 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 3.4 g |
| PUFA 18:2 n-6 c,c | 3.3 g |
| PUFA 18:2 CLAs | 0.04 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.45 g |
| PUFA 18:3 n-3 c,c,c (ALA) | 0.43 g |
| PUFA 18:3 n-6 c,c,c | 0.02 g |
| PUFA 18:3i | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:2 n-6 c,c | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 20:3 | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 20:3 n-3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:3 n-6 | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.23 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans-monoenoic | 0.16 g |
| TFA 16:1 t | 0.02 g |
| TFA 18:1 t | 0.14 g |
| TFA 22:1 t | 0.00 g |
| TFA 18:2 t not further defined | 0.07 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans-polyenoic | 0.07 g |
| Cholesterol | 16.0 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
| Tryptophan | 0.09 g |
| Threonine | 0.18 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.33 g |
| Leucine | 0.69 g |
| Lysine | 0.59 g |
| Methionine | 0.18 g |
| Cystine | 0.11 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.39 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.27 g |
| Valine | 0.41 g |
| Arginine | 0.30 g |
| Histidine | 0.22 g |
| Alanine | 0.21 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.41 g |
| Glutamic acid | 2.0 g |
| Glycine | 0.19 g |
| Proline | 0.82 g |
| Serine | 0.38 g |
| Hydroxyproline | 0.00 g |
FAQ
Is this the same as the adult mac and cheese at Cracker Barrel?
The kids' version is typically a smaller portion and may have a slightly milder cheese sauce, but the core ingredients and preparation are very similar to the restaurant's standard side dish.
What kind of cheese is used?
While the exact blend is proprietary, Cracker Barrel's mac and cheese is known for using a blend of real cheeses, primarily cheddar, to achieve its signature creamy texture and flavor.
Can I get this as a side instead of from the kids' menu?
Yes, the 'Macaroni n' Cheese' is a standard side dish available to all guests and can be ordered as an add-on to any meal.