If you want to tempt consumers with a limited-time offer, just add cheese.
That seems to be true with the latest batch of LTOs anyway. In Technomic’s recent monthly survey, eight of the top 10 chain menu items most likely to be purchased feature cheese. With responses based on the menu description only, melts, nacho cheese and cheese sauces rose to the top. Several different types of cheeses were represented as well, including provolone, cheddar, mozzarella and Swiss.
Here’s a rundown of the cheesy LTOs consumers would most likely purchase at chain restaurants, starting with No.10. Percentages are rounded off to the nearest whole number.
10. Grilled Steak Melt
Perkins American Food Co. fuses a classic cheesesteak with a French dip in this limited-time sandwich. It layers shaved rib-eye steak, sliced cheddar and shredded mozzarella cheese on grilled sourdough bread, with spicy jalapenos, green bell pepper and yellow onion added for color, texture and kick. It’s served with chipotle ranch sauce for dipping. The menu description of the Grilled Steak Melt convinced 51% of consumers to say they would purchase it.
9. Bacon Ranch Loaded Queso Fries
Groovy Fries are a signature at Sonic Drive-In, and for this LTO, the chain covers them in “melty shredded cheddar cheese, warm, velvety queso, crisp bacon, and a drizzle of creamy ranch.” The combo appealed to 52% of survey respondents, who indicated they would order the loaded fries.
8. Homestyle Chicken Pot Pie
One of the two non-cheesy menu items on the list is this baked-to-order pot pie from Ninety Nine Restaurants, favored by 53% of consumers. Like gooey cheese, the filling is creamy and satisfying, made with white meat chicken simmered in gravy with carrots and peas, then topped with a buttery, flaky crust.
7. Sundae Fundae
Ice cream is a tough competitor for cheese in the minds of 53% of respondents, who would purchase this over-the-top sundae at Topgolf. The components would please any sweet tooth: Vanilla ice cream layered with birthday cake cookie dough, raspberry, and crumbled cookies, then topped with a donut, whipped cream, sprinkles and cotton candy.
6. Grilled Cheese Steakburger
After that slight detour, cheese oozes its way back up as a selling point in this Grilled Cheese Steakburger at Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers. It’s a mashup of that universal comfort food—grilled cheese—with a beefy steakburger. The LTO is made with two steakburger patties, two slices each of American and Swiss cheese, buttery Texas toast, crispy bacon and a savory tomato spread. Of those surveyed, 53% said they would purchase the mashup based on its menu description.
5. French Onion Smashed Burger
Burgers and cheese are a classic pairing, but Ruby Tuesday offers lots to love. Here, two smashed beef patties are topped with grilled onions, melted provolone and Swiss, and Parmesan sauce for a triple dose of cheesy goodness. Consumers seem to like “the more cheese the better,” as 54% would purchase this smashed burger.
4. Over the Top Cheeseburger
Why is P.J. Whelihan’s cheeseburger over the top? It boasts twice the cheese—a perk that appeals to 55% of consumers. The description says it all: “smothered in American cheese and served on a toasted bun topped with cheddar jack, this burger has twice the cheese to please—and comes with crispy bacon, caramelized onions, roasted tomato and Sriracha ketchup.
3. Nacho Fries
Taco Bell’s Nacho Fries return to the menu from time to time, much to the delight of fans. Not only are they cheese-centric, they also encourage dipping—an activity that allows customers to play with their food. This is the basic version, described as “golden, crisp Nacho Fries seasoned with bold Mexican spices and nacho cheese sauce for dipping.”
2. Cheesy Tots
Burger King also teams up potatoes and cheese in this popular LTO. After reading the menu description—“Cheesy Tots start with our signature coin-shaped tater tots, filled with melty cheese on the inside, and cooked until crispy on the outside”—56% of respondents were inspired to purchase them. Cheesy Tots are also versatile; they can double as a side or snack.
1.Baked Cheesy Potatoes
Cheese and potatoes seem to be a marriage made in culinary heaven—and one that Mission BBQ is betting on too. Consumers agree, with 58% ranking the chain’s Baked Cheesy Potatoes in the No. 1 spot. The adjectives used to describe the LTO create instant craveability: Cheesy, creamy, and layered with rich cheddar cheese, then baked to a crusty, golden brown.
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