# Hearty Heat-and-Eat Meals Cracker Barrel's Bolstering Its Takeout Menu with New $5 Take-Home Meals By Katherine Pendrill | Published 2023-05-27 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/5-takehome-meals References: [brandeating](https://www.brandeating.com/2023/05/cracker-barrel-adds-new-5-dollar-take-home-meals.html)  [Cracker Barrel](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/holiday-catering-options) is helping you bring your favorite flavors home with you with the launch of its new $5 Take-Home Meals. During the height of the pandemic, meal kits saw a surge in popularity. Now, consumer continue to enjoy the convenience of enjoying their favorite restaurant meals in the comfort of their own home. Cracker Barrel's new $5 Take-Home Meals perfectly satisfy this craving by allowing you to purchase fresh-made dishes that have been chilled and packaged for takeout. You can then reheat these meals at your convenience for an instant entree. The new Cracker Barrel's $5 Take-Home Meals are available now and currently come in three varieties: Meatloaf and Mac N' Cheese, Smoky Grilled Chicken and Mashed Potatoes, and Fried Homestyle Chicken & Mac N' Cheese. Image Credit: Cracker Barrel ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.6/10 - Popularity: 16% | Activity: 17% | Freshness: 16% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Take-home Meals:** The continued popularity of take-home meals provides an opportunity for restaurants to diversify their revenue streams and cater to the convenience-focused consumer market. - **Heat-and-eat Meals:** Offering ready-to-heat meals taps into the consumer need for quick and easy meal options that don't sacrifice quality or taste. - **Meal Kits:** Taking inspiration from the success of meal kit delivery services, incorporating meal kits into take-home meal options offers consumers an elevated cooking experience and an opportunity for restaurants to showcase their culinary expertise. ### Where This Applies - **Restaurant Industry:** By expanding take-home meal options, restaurants can increase revenue and cater to consumer demand for convenient yet high-quality meal options. - **Food Packaging Industry:** As take-home meals become more prevalent, there is a need for innovative and sustainable food packaging solutions that maintain food quality during transportation and reheating. - **Meal Delivery Industry:** As consumers continue to seek out convenient meal options, meal delivery services can partner with restaurants to offer ready-to-heat meal options for busy consumers seeking high-quality meals on-the-go. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Affordable Holiday Catering Foods](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/holiday-catering-options.md) - [Homestyle Fried Chicken Entrees](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cheesy-bacon-homestyle-fried-chicken.md) - [Heritage-Inspired Dining Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cracker-barrel-winter-menu.md) - [Indulgent Seasonal Spring Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cracker-barrel-old-country-store.md) - [Toy-Gifting Menu Promotions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cracker-barrel-2.md) - [Southern Cuisine-Themed Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/golden-carolina-bbq-tenders.md) - [Comforting Homestyle Chicken Sandwiches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/homestyle-chicken-sandwich.md) - [Cozy Crispy Chicken Dishes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crispy-tender-dippers.md) - [Chicken-Packed QSR Bowls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kfc-5-bowls.md)