The Family Behind Cracker Barrel's Sausage Has Been Making It The Same Way Since 1932

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Cracker Barrel has a devoted fan base of customers who enjoy country-style cooking rooted in the cuisine of the American South. While there are unwritten rules to know before eating at Cracker Barrel, the restaurant demonstrates its commitment to homestyle cooking by using Purnell's "Old Folks" Country Sausage. This family-run company in Tennessee has been producing sausage the whole hog way since 1932, including premium cuts like the ham, loin, and tenderloin in its blend. Purnell family products have been a part of Cracker Barrel's menu for almost 50 years, proving that some techniques are timeless.

The Purnell company began when Fred B. Purnell, who worked on the Nashville railroad, couldn't find sausage that tasted as good as the kind made with his family's recipe. In order to have a supply of good sausage for lunch, Fred started to make his own. One day, he shared the sausage with a coworker, who enjoyed the flavor so much he asked if Fred Purnell would sell him some of the whole hog sausage. That was the spark behind the family business, and in 1944, Fred Purnell left the railroad to make sausage full-time. Fred and his wife Clara prided themselves on making sausage with the best cuts of meat and using fresh, all-natural spices, as the family has done for three generations.

If you'd like to try Purnell's "Old Folks" Country Sausage, you can get the best experience by making the most out of a Cracker Barrel breakfast for two or ordering the Build Your Own Homestyle Breakfast special with a sampling meat option. It adds a savory kick to the Sausage & Egg Hash Brown Casserole, and you can even order the smoked sausage patties as a side dish. Outside of Cracker Barrel, you can use Purnell's store locator to determine if a retailer near you sells it or order it online. You can also get Purnell's Old Folks Country Sausage in a four-pack of 16-ounce tubes for about $54 on Amazon.

While there are many store-bought sausage brands that rank well (and not-so-well), Purnell's is fairly similar in style to Jimmy Dean's. However, according to some online reviews, Jimmy Dean's sausage tends to be greasier than Purnell's when cooked. The former contains corn syrup, natural flavors, vinegar, and pork broth, while the latter's ingredient list is really just pork, water, and seasonings. As guidance on quality and company values, the Purnell's website suggests, "Don't make a product to sell that you wouldn't want to serve to your own family."