Fast-food chains are constantly innovating to keep customers coming back, and October is no exception. With Halloween around the corner, several popular chains have rolled out festive, limited-time offerings and new takes on classic favorites. From Burger King’s Addams Family-inspired menu to Dairy Queen’s new chicken strip basket, here’s a rundown of what’s new in the world of fast food this month.
1. Burger King: Addams Family-Inspired Menu
Burger King is embracing the Halloween spirit with its Addams Family-inspired offerings.
- Creepy and Kooky Meal: This spooky meal features Wednesday’s Whopper on a purple bun, accompanied by “Thing’s Rings” (onion rings), “Gomez’s Churro Fries” with chocolate dipping sauce, and “Morticia’s Kooky Chocolate Shake,” which includes a rich chocolate cake batter fudge and purple cookie crumbles. Each of these items can be ordered separately.
- Cheesy Tots: Burger King’s popular Cheesy Tots are back. These are coin-shaped, bite-sized tots filled with gooey American cheese.
- The Big Dip: For those who love ranch dressing, Burger King is now offering an 8-ounce “Big Dip” cup of Hidden Valley Ranch, available exclusively in select cities including Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, and San Francisco.
2. Pizza Hut: Chicago Tavern-Style Pizza
Pizza Hut has launched a new crust option inspired by the thin, cracker-like tavern-style pizzas popular in Chicago.
- Chicago Tavern-Style Pizza: This pizza features a thin, crispy crust with toppings that go right to the edge, and it’s cut into squares for easy sharing. Pizza lovers can try it with new toppings like pesto margherita or spicy chicken sausage, or they can customize it with their favorite toppings.
3. Taco Bell: Return of the Double Decker Taco and More
Taco Bell is bringing back the popular Double Decker Taco and introducing some new items, too.
- Double Decker Taco: Back by popular demand, the Double Decker Taco features a crunchy taco wrapped in a layer of soft flour tortilla and a layer of beans. It’s available until October 30th.
- Big Cheez-It Crunchwrap Supreme and Tostada: Taco Bell is also testing items with a giant Cheez-It in the middle. These include the Big Cheez-It Crunchwrap Supreme and a Cheez-It Tostada.
- Disha Hot Sauce: For a limited time, you can try a new spicy sauce called Disha Hot Sauce.
- Nostalgic Menu Return: Starting on October 31, Taco Bell is re-releasing five discontinued items from each decade, ranging from the 1960s to the 2000s, including the popular Meximelt.
4. McDonald’s: Chicken Big Mac
McDonald’s is putting a new twist on its iconic Big Mac, swapping beef patties for chicken in response to recent E. coli concerns.
- Chicken Big Mac: This new item is essentially the classic Big Mac but features two crispy, tempura-battered chicken patties in place of beef. It includes the usual Big Mac toppings like lettuce, pickles, cheese, and the famous Big Mac sauce.
5. Arby’s: Pumpkin Pie Turnovers and More
Arby’s is joining in on the fall festivities with a new seasonal dessert.
- Pumpkin Pie Turnovers: These flaky turnovers are filled with a spiced pumpkin pie filling and drizzled with cream cheese icing.
- Deep-Fried Mac ‘N Cheese Bites: A savory option for cheese lovers, these bites are made of macaroni and cheese, breaded and fried to a golden crisp.
6. Dunkin’: Halloween Menu
Dunkin’ has several Halloween-themed treats this month for both coffee and donut fans.
- Potion Macchiato: This layered drink combines espresso, milk, and marshmallow-flavored syrup, giving it a purple hue perfect for Halloween. It’s available hot or iced.
- Spider Specialty Donut: This purple-frosted donut is topped with a Munchkin donut hole and decorated to look like a spider.
- Halloween Munchkins Bucket: Dunkin’ is offering a purple Halloween-themed bucket filled with 50 Munchkin donut holes, which can double as a trick-or-treating bucket.
7. Wendy’s: Boo! Bag Meal
Wendy’s Boo! Bag Meal is back this year with spooky treats and bonuses for Halloween.
- Boo! Bag Meal: The meal includes a Dave’s Single burger, small fries, a small Frosty, and a glow-in-the-dark Bone Chiller Frosty figurine. Additionally, the meal includes a coupon book with five Jr. Frosty coupons and a $2 kids’ meal coupon.
- SpongeBob Krabby Patty Kollab Meal: For a limited time, fans of SpongeBob can enjoy a Krabby Patty-inspired burger and a Pineapple Under the Sea Frosty.
8. Papa Johns: Jack-O-Lantern Pizza
Papa Johns is serving up a Halloween-themed pizza that’s perfect for parties.
- Jack-O-Lantern Pizza: Shaped like a pumpkin, this pizza comes topped with pepperoni and black olives for the “face,” adding a festive twist to the classic pie. It’s available for just $10.
9. Dairy Queen: Sauced and Tossed Chicken Strips Basket
Dairy Queen has given its chicken strips a flavorful twist, along with new Blizzard flavors for fall.
- Sauced and Tossed Chicken Strips Basket: Choose between honey BBQ and parmesan garlic sauce on your chicken strips, making for a tasty change.
- Fall Blizzard Flavors: Limited-time Blizzard flavors include Pumpkin Pie, Reese’s Pieces Cookie Dough, Caramel Java Chip, French Silk Pie, Oreo Fudge Brownie, and Salted Caramel Truffle.
10. Carl’s Jr.: The Ghost Burger
Carl’s Jr. is spicing things up with a new, Halloween-themed burger.
- The Ghost Burger: This burger features a third-pound beef patty with ghost pepper cheese, a spicy sauce, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and onion. For those who prefer breakfast, there’s also a breakfast version with egg, bacon, hash rounds, ghost pepper cheese, and spicy sauce.
Conclusion
This October, fast-food chains are embracing Halloween with a variety of creative, seasonal offerings. From spicy ghost pepper burgers and Jack-O-Lantern pizzas to pumpkin pie desserts and creepy drinks, there’s something for everyone. These limited-time items encourage customers to try something new and enjoy the festive flavors of fall.
FAQs
1. What makes Burger King’s Addams Family menu special?
Burger King’s Addams Family menu includes themed items inspired by the characters, such as a Whopper on a purple bun and spooky churro fries, perfect for Halloween.
2. What’s new at Pizza Hut this month?
Pizza Hut has introduced a Chicago Tavern-Style pizza with a thin, crispy crust and toppings that reach the edge. It’s available with new toppings like pesto margherita and spicy chicken sausage.
3. Is the Chicken Big Mac available nationwide?
Yes, McDonald’s Chicken Big Mac, featuring two crispy chicken patties, is available nationwide as an alternative to the traditional beef Big Mac.
4. What flavors are included in Dairy Queen’s fall Blizzard lineup?
Dairy Queen’s limited-time fall Blizzard flavors include Pumpkin Pie, Reese’s Pieces Cookie Dough, Caramel Java Chip, French Silk Pie, Oreo Fudge Brownie, and Salted Caramel Truffle.
5. Can I use the Halloween Munchkins Bucket for trick-or-treating?
Yes, Dunkin’s Halloween Munchkins Bucket is a purple, Halloween-themed plastic container that can be reused for trick-or-treating after enjoying the 50 Munchkin donut holes it contains.
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