These Are the Best New Fast-Food Menu Items To Try Right Now
New Fast-Food Items To Try
Fast-food restaurants are always innovating (and competing), and that means there's always some new menu item to try. McDonald's, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, Taco Bell, Subway, and other big chains regularly introduce limited-time offerings to entice customers to keep coming back. Here's what's new this month in the fast-food world.
Prices and availability are subject to change and may vary by location.
1. Burger King: BK Melts
Burger King has brought back its popular Melts. There's three different varieties, all with two Whopper Jr. patties on toasted bread.
Classic Melt: American cheese, caramelized onions, and Stacker sauce
Bacon Melt: American cheese, bacon, caramelized onions, and Stacker sauce
Shroom 'n Swiss: Swiss cheese, roasted mushrooms, and Royal sauce
Plus, sweet Churro Fries covered in cinnamon sugar, and Fiery Chicken Fries are also available once again.
2. Pizza Hut: Chicago Tavern-Style Pizza
There's a new crust on the menu at Pizza Hut. The Chicago Tavern-Style pizza is modeled after the thin, cracker-like crust that's most popular in parts of the Midwest, including Chicago. The toppings go to the edge of the crust and it's cut into squares. Try it with new pesto margherita or spicy chicken sausage toppings, or build your own.
3. Taco Bell: Cheesy Dipping Burritos
Leave it to Taco Bell to have an ever-rotating list of new, delicious items available. Right now, the big new thing are Cheesy Dipping Burritos, which are snack-sized burritos filled with steak or chicken, cheese, and avocado ranch. You get two per order, and they come with a sauce for dipping.
Other newbies include Steak Garlic Nacho Fries topped with a new creamy garlic ranch sauce, Baja Blast Freeze, and "dirty" Baja Blast that comes with a squirt of creamer in it.
4. McDonald's: Pokemon Happy Meals
The McRib is gone again, but a new Happy Meal is taking its place at McDonald's. The Happy Meals are Pokemon-themed, and the boxes are decorated with Dragon-type Pokemon. Besides the typical Happy Meal food, you'll get a pack of Pokemon Trading Card Game cards, a poster, and a sticker sheet to decorate the poster.
5. Arby's: Crispy Fish Sandwich
Arby's is always one of the first chains to jump on seafood season, and this year is no different. The crispy fish sandwich is topped with lettuce and tartar sauce, and can also come with cheddar cheese sauce. There's also a King's Hawaiian Fish Deluxe with cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, and tartar sauce on a King's Hawaiian roll.
6. Dunkin': Brown Sugar Shakin' Espresso
Dunkin's latest drink is in collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter, a singer with a hit song called "Espresso". The Brown Sugar Shakin' Espresso is an iced drink of the chain's signature espresso, brown sugar, and creamy oat milk. There's also a new chocolatey Lava Cake Signature Latte and chocolate whoopie pie donut.
7. Wendy's: Taco Salad
Wendy's is well-known for its taco salad, and it's finally back — with a few improvements. This time it's got a new creamy salsa dressing along with chili, tortilla strips, and corn on top of the usual lettuce base. On the burger side of things, there's also a new mushroom bacon cheeseburger that has muenster cheese and creamy garlic spread along with the mushrooms and bacon. Plus, all you Frosty lovers take note: Vanilla is back in the machines.
8. Papa Johns: Shaq-a-Roni Pizza
The Shaq-a-Roni pizza is back at Papa Johns. It's named after Shaquille O'Neal, who owns some of the chain's franchises. It's an extra large pizza with New York-style crust topped with extra cheese and extra pepperoni.
9. Dairy Queen: Sauced and Tossed Chicken Strips Basket
Chicken tender lovers have a new reason to head to Dairy Queen this month. You can now get your chicken strips tossed in honey BBQ or parmesan garlic sauce. On the sweet side, here are the current limited-time Blizzard flavors.
Reese's Pieces Cookie Dough
Caramel Java Chip
French Silk Pie
Oreo Fudge Brownie
Salted Caramel Truffle
10. Hardee's: Maple Goodness Menu
Everything's coming up maple at Hardee's this winter. The new Maple Goodness menu has five new items.
Maple Biscuit: maple flavored biscuit drizzled with icing
Maple Bacon Snack Pack: cherry smoked bacon strips topped with caramelized maple, sugar, and spices
Maple Bacon Super Biscuit: plain biscuit with maple bacon, egg, and cheese
Sausage Maple Biscuit: maple biscuit sandwich with a sausage patty
Maple Bacon Frisco Burger: four strips of maple bacon, Swiss cheese, tomatoes, and mayo on sourdough toast
11. Sonic: Double Sonic Smashers
You can always count on Sonic to have some limited time treats available. Here's what's new.
Double Sonic Smasher: two smashed beef patties, American cheese, pickles, onions, and tangy Smasher sauce
Bacon Deluxe Double Sonic Smasher: same as above but with bacon, lettuce, and tomato
Strawberry Fusion Fizz: sparkling water with raspberry, strawberry, peach, and lemon flavors
Sour Dragon Fruit Recharger: lemon-lime soda, grape, and dragon fruit mixed with Red Bull
If you're in search of more Sonic deals, check out our ranking of the Sonic Value Menu.
12. Panera: Ciabatta Dippers
Panera has rolled out two new sandwiches that are perfect for winter, because they include a side of soup for dipping. The French Dipper has steak topped with melted provolone and asiago with garlic aioli and comes with French onion soup on the side, and the Spicy Chicken Dipper has grilled chicken topped with melted provolone and creamy salsa verde spread and comes with creamy tomato soup on the side.
Plus, there's three new Asiago Bagel Stack sandwiches made on asiago bagels: chicken Roma, spicy steak, and zesty Tuscan.
13. Del Taco: Chipotle Chicken Burrito
There's two new burritos on the menu at Del Taco this month. The chipotle chicken burrito includes grilled chicken, beans, cilantro lime rice, cheddar cheese, sour cream, and zesty red sauce. You can also get a vegetarian bean, cheese, and rice burrito without the chicken.
14. Popeyes: Ghost Pepper Chicken Sandwich
Popeyes is jumping on the ghost pepper train this month. The new Ghost Pepper chicken sandwich includes the chain's famous crispy fried chicken breast, pickles, and a new spicy ghost pepper sauce. It's also available with bacon and havarti cheese on top. Plus, there's also new chocolate chip biscuits and caramel apple cheesecake cups.
15. Chick-fil-A: Chicken Tortilla Soup
Chick-fil-A brought back its fan favorite cold weather classic. Chicken tortilla soup has shredded chicken breast, two kinds of beans, peppers, and crispy tortilla strips in a spiced broth. Also returning are the Grilled Spicy Deluxe sandwich with a marinated grilled chicken breast, lettuce, tomato, and colby jack cheese, and key lime frosted lemonade.
17. Zaxby's: Chicken Philly
There's a popular sandwich back at Zaxby's, a Southern chicken chain. The Chicken Philly includes either fried chicken fingers or grilled chicken breast topped with peppers, onions, and white American cheese on a hoagie roll.
17. Whataburger: Monterey Melt
Whataburger is looking to heat things up for the cold weather with its latest limited time menu item. The Monterey Melt has two beef patties, Monterey jack and American cheeses, grilled peppers, onions, and jalapeno ranch. You can also get a chicken fajita taco right now, and the brand new Mexican hot chocolate shake spiked with cinnamon.
18. Little Caesars: Crazy Puffs
Things are extra "crazy" at Little Caesars right now with one new menu item. Crazy Puffs are like little mini pizzas. They're made with the chain's pizza crust plus mozzarella, pizza sauce, buttery garlic drizzle, and Italian herb and parmesan seasoning. They come four to an order, and you can get them with pepperoni or plain cheese.
19. Jack in the Box: New Jack Wraps
Jack in the Box never lets anyone who wants new, unusual menu items down. This month, there's two new wraps to choose from. The Fajita Jack Wrap includes grilled or crispy chicken strips, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, caramelized onions, and chipotle ranch. The Caesar Jack Wrap also has grilled or crispy chicken strips plus lettuce, tomato, and caesar dressing.
20. Jimmy John's: Kickin' Ranch Chicken Wrap
Jimmy John's has brought back Kickin' Ranch sauce, plus a new sandwich and chips to go along with it. The Kickin' Ranch Chicken Wrap is a permanent menu addition, and it includes chicken, provolone, onions, lettuce, tomato, Jimmy Peppers, and Kickin' Ranch in a tortilla. You can also get Kickin' Ranch flavored potato chips, or just one big 6-ounce container of Kickin' Ranch if you really want.
21. Noodles & Company: Crispy Chicken Bacon Alfredo
Noodles & Co. has four new pasta dishes this month and they all sound great.
Crispy Chicken Bacon Alfredo: fettuccine with alfredo sauce, bacon, spinach, broccoli, and parmesan-crusted chicken
Chipotle Chicken Cavatappi: cavatappi with creamy chipotle alfredo sauce, roasted red pepper, spinach, corn, gouda, grilled chicken, and lime
Lemon Garlic Shrimp Scampi: fettuccine with garlic butter sauce, spinach, artichoke hearts, cherry tomatoes, shrimp, parmesan, herbs, and lemon
Steak Stroganoff: egg noodles in a sherry cream sauce with mushrooms and marinated steak
22. Subway: Baja Bliss Subs
Subway has debuted two new sandwiches. The Baja Chipotle Chicken Sub features rotisserie style chicken, cheddar cheese sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, green peppers, jalapenos, and Baja Chipotle sauce. You can also get the same toppings on but with turkey and pepperjack cheese on the Baja Chipotle Turkey Sub.
23. KFC: New Bowls Lineup
KFC's Famous Bowls are pretty infamous, and now there's four new bowls joining the lineup for a limited time.
Nashville Hot Loaded Fries Bowl: fries, coleslaw, and pickles topped with five chicken nuggets and drizzled with Nashville hot sauce
Nashville Hot Mac & Cheese Bowl: mac and cheese with five nuggets, three-cheese blend, and Nashville hot sauce
Nashville Hot Famous Bowl: mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, three-cheese blend, five nuggets, and a drizzle of spicy Nashville hot sauce
Mac & Cheese Bowl: mac and cheese and three-cheese blend topped with five nuggets
24. Qdoba: Loaded Tortilla Soup
Soup season is in full swing at Qdoba. The chain just brought back its Loaded Tortilla Soup, which comes with vegetable broth flavored with roasted tomatoes, peppers, and onions. It's ladled over your choice of protein and other toppings, like beans, cheese, guacamole, and crispy tortilla strips. Plus, brisket birria is back as a protein.
25. Shake Shack: Black Truffle Burger
Shake Shack is getting fancy this month. Here's everything new on the Black Truffle menu.
Black Truffle Burger: the chain's signature burger patties topped with gruyere cheese, crispy onions, and creamy black truffle sauce made with black truffle oil
Black Truffle Shroom: a cheese-filled deep fried portobello mushroom topped with blue truffle sauce and lettuce
Black Truffle Shack Stack: beef patties, cheese-filled deep fried mushroom, and black truffle sauce
Black Truffle Parmesan Fries: crinkle cut fries topped with parmesan cheese and served with black truffle sauce on the side
26. Steak 'n Shake: Beef Tallow Fries
Steak 'n Shake is bringing back a blast from the past. By the end of February, the entire burger chain is going to be frying their french fries in beef tallow. It'll give the chain's shoestring fries an unmistakable flavor that many people still crave after McDonald's stopped the practice in the 1990s.
27. Taco John's: OMCheese Quesadilla Taco
Things are getting cheesy at Taco John's this month. The new OMCheese Quesadilla Taco is a grilled chicken taco that's made with a 6-inch quesadilla instead of a plain tortilla. It's topped with Fiesta sauce, lettuce, and pico de gallo.
28. Starbucks: Winter Menu
Of course Starbucks has a huge winter menu. Here's what's on it this year.
Cortado: three ristretto shots of Starbucks Blonde Espresso with steamed milk
Brown Sugar Oatmilk Cortado: cortado made with steamed oatmilk, brown sugar syrup, and a sprinkle of cinnamon
Pistachio Latte: espresso with steamed milk, pistachio sauce, and a salted brown butter cookie topping
Pistachio Cream Cold Brew: cold brew with vanilla syrup, pistachio cream cold foam, and salted brown butter cookie topping
29: Chipotle: Smoked Brisket
Smoked brisket is back as a protein option at Chipotle. It's made with smoked beef seasoned with serrano and chipotle chiles, then chopped and coated with a smoky brisket sauce. You can get it in burritos, bowls, tacos, and quesadillas.
30. Smoothie King: GLP-1 Support Menu
Smoothie King may be the first fast-food chain to launch a menu especially designed for people who are using the popular GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Ozempic. The GLP-1 Support Menu was created with the help of a registered dietitian and includes five smoothies.
31: Bojangles: Bo-Berry Cobbler
There's a new biscuit dessert creation at Bojangles. The Bo-Berry Cobbler tops a buttermilk biscuit with Bo-Berry topping and sweet icing. Plus, the chicken rice bowl is back, which has dirty rice, Cajun pintos, shredded cheese, grilled or fried chicken, and Texas Pete hot sauce.
This article was originally published on Cheapism
