Earlier this month, McDonald’srolled out a new value menu. In addition to its classic $5 and $6 items, the fast food chain now has nearly a dozen offerings for $3 or less.
“For generations, McDonald’s has been committed to delivering great value our fans can count on,” McDonald’s USA Chief Marketing Officer Alyssa Buetikofer said in a statement. “As our customers’ expectations evolve, we’re making it easier for them to get the value they’re looking for – on their terms.”
“McValue offers more choice, more flexibility and more ways to build a meal that fits their day and budget,” she continued.
Now, Chili’s is following suit on the savings, expanding its value lineup through its $10.99 “3 For Me” menu.
Chili’s is adding chicken to the value mix
Chili’s “3 For Me” menu is one of the best fast casual value offers on the market. For just $10.99, diners get an entree with fries, bottomless chips and salsa, and a fountain drink.
Historically, the most popular entrees have been Chili’s Big Smasher and Big QP burgers. But in mid-April the chain announced it would be adding two new entrees to the mix that are sure to steal some of that thunder: the Big Crispy and Spicy Big Crispy chicken sandwiches.
“Over the past few years, we’ve exposed the fast food shrinkflation by serving our massive burgers in the industry-leading $10.99 3 For Me meal for a value that can’t be found in the drive-thru,” Chili’s Chief Marketing Officer George Felix said in a statement. “Now, we’re setting our sights on fast food chicken sandwiches, offering our gigantic Big Crispy and Spicy Big Crispy chicken sandwiches in the same 3 For Me value meal.”
“This is a shakeup to the chicken sandwich category that is long overdue, and one that our guests are going to love,” he continued.
The sandwiches are part of a larger Big Crispy lineup of six sandwiches that are “all hand-battered and WAY bigger than McDonald’s® McCrispy,” according to the restaurant.
“Chili’s is giving guests the abundance and quality they actually deserve,” the company said. “How much bigger is WAY bigger? Chili’s found in a local study that the average Big Crispy filet was over 80% bigger than the average McCrispy breaded filet.”
Chili’s Big Crispy chicken sandwich lineup
In all, there are six new Big Crispy chicken sandwiches on Chili’s menus. They include:
- Big Crispy (available on the 3 For Me menu)
- Spicy Big Crispy (available on the 3 For Me menu)
- Honey-Chipotle Big Crispy
- Nashville Hot Big Crispy
- Buffalo Big Crispy
- Deluxe Big Crispy
Source: Chilis
Image source: Shutterstock
Chili’s is hitting major milestones
In 2025, Chili’s became the second-largest casual-dining chain in the U.S. according to data from Technomic. In hitting the milestone, the chain surpassed Olive Garden landing just behind Texas Roadhouse in systemwide sales.
Between 2024 and 2025, Chili’s systemwide sales jumped 20.6% to $5.5 billion. Even more impressively, the restaurant grew its numbers without opening a single new location.
Kevin Hochman, CEO of Chili’s parent company Brinker International, says the chain has no plans to rest on its laurels following the achievement.
“The Chili’s turnaround is real, it is sustaining, and we have no intentions of taking our foot off the gas, which means we will continue to be focused on improving our food, service, and atmosphere, as well as continue making Chili’s more fun, easier, and more rewarding for our team members,” he told investors during the company’s Q2 FY2026 earnings call in February.
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Brinker told analysts he sees the new chicken sandwich lineup playing a major role in that improvement.
“Chicken sandwiches is a very large market, with over 80% of people buying them at least once last year, and is by far the biggest segment of all restaurant chicken servings,” he said during the call. “It has the potential to drive customer traffic, both with new and existing guests.”
“We believe our new chicken sandwich lineup is superior, distinctly on brand, and highly differentiated than what is in the market today,” he continued.
That differentiation will be important, as the number of chicken items and chicken-focused restaurants is expanding.
TheStreet’s Daniel Kline recently covered McDonald’s increased emphasis on its chicken menu, and I reported on a similar strategy playing out at Taco Bell. Then, there are the chicken chains like Huey Magoo’s that are expanding their footprint.
But Chili’s doesn’t seem too worried about the increased competition.
“At a time when consumers expect more for their money, Chili’s continues to deliver a full-service dining experience at a price point that rivals – and often beats – the drive-thru,” the company said.
Related: Chipotle launches upgraded rewards program
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