Chili's has spent the past 2 years challenging fast-food chains for illustration McDonald's pinch look-alike chickenhearted sandwiches and burgers.
In 2024, Chili's introduced the Big Smasher, a burger inspired by McDonald's Big Mac, claiming it offered doubly the meat, and added it to the chain's 3-For-Me menu, which starts astatine $10.99.
Then, successful 2025, Chili's released the Big QP, a burger modeled aft McDonald's Quarter Pounder that features akin toppings but a importantly larger beef patty.
Finally, earlier this year, it updated its lineup of chickenhearted sandwiches successful a direct deed connected McDonald's McCrispy sandwich.
The strategy seems to beryllium paying off. In April, Chili's genitor company, Brinker International, reported that Chili's had posted its 20th consecutive 4th of same-store income growth, pinch comparable income up 4% twelvemonth complete year. The concatenation attributed overmuch of that occurrence to paper invention and a attraction connected "everyday value," including the 3-For-Me menu.
This week, we'll spot if that momentum has continued. Brinker International, Chili's genitor company, will study its fiscal 2026 fourth-quarter net connected August 12.
I tried Chili's Big QP burger to spot really it measured up against a fast-food reliable for illustration the McDonald's Quarter Pounder. Here's really the 2 burgers compared.
McDonald's Quarter Pounder pinch food is 1 of the chain's astir celebrated burgers.
The signature burger was first introduced successful 1971 by franchise proprietor Al Bernadin successful Fremont, California, to fulfill customers seeking a larger burger than the original hamburger aliases cheeseburger.
The Quarter Pounder lineup now includes the classical Quarter Pounder pinch cheese, the Double Quarter Pounder, and the Bacon Quarter Pounder.
I ordered a Quarter Pounder pinch food astatine my section McDonald's successful Brooklyn, New York. It costs $7.69, excluding tax, but besides comes arsenic a medium-sized repast pinch fries and a portion for $14.09.
The Quarter Pounder came pinch a quarter-pound beef patty, 2 slices of American cheese, onions, dill pickles, ketchup, and mustard.
The toppings were placed successful the halfway of the burger alternatively than evenly dispersed out, though mentation apt depends connected factors specified arsenic the individual worker and the location.
The burger lived up to its reputation, but I deliberation it could person been somewhat improved.
Although the Quarter Pounder is marketed arsenic a heartier burger, the patty felt comparatively thin, especially compared to different cheeseburgers connected the market, and it was cooked conscionable past the constituent wherever it would clasp its juiciness.
The toppings, including the onions, pickles, ketchup, and mustard, were concentrated successful the middle, creating an uneven eating experience, pinch immoderate bites flavorful and tangy while others lacked the equilibrium of meat, cheese, and condiments.
Overall, this was an enjoyable burger but not a accordant one.
Chili's launched its Big QP burger past twelvemonth arsenic its return connected the McDonald's Quarter Pounder.
The Big QP intimately resembles McDonald's Quarter Pounder, from its sanction to its constituent list.
Both burgers characteristic a azygous beef patty topped pinch 2 slices of American cheese, diced onions, pickles, ketchup, and mustard. The biggest favoritism is size: Chili's says the Big QP contains 85% much beef than the Quarter Pounder, making it a noticeably heartier burger.
The burger is disposable arsenic portion of the 3-For-Me woody for $10.99, aliases connected its ain for $14.99. The 3-For-Me repast besides comes pinch an appetizer for illustration bottomless chips and salsa, fries, and a bottomless drink.
The burger besides featured classical toppings, though the execution was different.
Right away, I noticed a fewer cardinal differences betwixt the 2 burgers.
The Chili's burger came pinch 2 slices of American cheese, pinch the burger patty placed betwixt them, 3 pickle slices alternatively of two, and diced reddish bulb alternatively of slivered achromatic onions.
The spirit profiles were similar, but I preferred Chili's bigger, juicier burger.
The Big QP instantly felt for illustration a much important type of McDonald's Quarter Pounder.
While the 2 burgers stock a astir identical operation of American cheese, onions, pickles, ketchup, and mustard, Chili's larger patty made a noticeable difference.
It was thick, juicy, and well-seasoned, giving the burger a richer, beefier spirit than the Quarter Pounder. The acquainted toppings delivered the aforesaid tangy, savory profile, but the sharper reddish onions and softer brioche bun elevated the wide experience.
As personification who regularly orders a Quarter Pounder astatine McDonald's, I was struck by conscionable really acquainted the Big QP was to the fast-food classic.
I usually wouldn't expect a sit-down concatenation to separator retired a fast-food rival, particularly for 1 of its best-known items. However, while the Big QP costs importantly much than a Quarter Pounder if you bid each burger separately, Chili's $10.99 3-For-Me deal — which includes an appetizer, fries, and a portion — makes it the stronger worth wide and the burger I would take successful a heartbeat.
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Erin McDowell is simply a newsman connected Business Insider's editorial partnerships team. She covers food, lifestyle, and intermezo for Business Insider and its partner sites, including MSN, Apple News, and Yahoo.She graduated from Elon University successful January 2019, wherever she studied strategical communications and integer art. She has written for V Magazine, Milk.XYZ, OUT.com, Brides Magazine, and more. She lives successful Brooklyn, New York, and tin beryllium recovered connected LinkedIn. Please nonstop each inquiries, comments, aliases tips to [email protected].Selected stories:
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