Fast Food Week presents a mega-slate of MAINS this week! Including a first look at Taco Bell’s new tweaked Mexican Pizza, Wendy’s new Cheesy Bacon Cheeseburger, and Pizza Hut’s new, improved Hand-Tossed Crust…
New Taco Bell Mexican Pizza – pictured at the chain’s Live Mas Live 2026 menu reveal event…
The rundown…
Among the newsier items this week… An Illinois University develops a self-flavoured popcorn. And Taco Bell reveals its 2026 menu its annual Live Mas Live gala…
MAINS
Taco Bell expands Mexican Pizza’s horizons
The Bell’s legendary Mexican Pizza is getting a new family. The original is being joined by a Cantina Chicken Mexican Pizza and a Mexican Pizza Empanada. All feature the chain’s signature Mexican Pizza Sauce. No word whether the new Mexican Pizza variants are permanent additions to the menu, or just visiting.
McDonald’s fires first salvo on new Value Wars front
As I write this, the mainstream media are announcing a new front has opened in the Fast Food Value Wars. McDonald’s has announced a new super-value menu level. It premieres with a 4-Chicken McNugget deal for $3 and a trio of $4 Breakfast Combos. See in store for details. They’re calling it the McValue line. And I’m betting the competition won’t waste any time firing back with its own even-lower-discount menu items…
Pizza Hut tweaks its Hand-Tossed Crust
It’s the first time in a decade the chain has made any change to its fan-fave pie-base. The new recipe is said to produce ‘a lighter, airier bite while maintaining a balance between a soft, fluffy interior and crispy exterior’.
A classic Pizza Hut family feast… With hand-tossed crust pie.
You can also get it ‘finished’ with new Garlic-Parm Hut Blend, ‘a cheesy, savoury seasoning [that] adds a buttery garlic flavor’. And for die-hard fans, check out the special new Crust Connoisseur Competiton!
… Faces up with Dominos over ‘Any Pizza’ deal
It’s a Battle of the Pizza Giants – and you win! Pizza Hut is offering a ‘$10 Any Pizza’ deal, under which you can get a large or medium pizza on Original Pan, Hand Tossed, Thin ‘n Crispy, or Chicago Tavern-Style crust, with up to five toppings for $10. At participating locations US wide. Now, THAT’S a deal! It’s available for carry-out only…
Dynamite S&S Chicken is on the menu!
It’s official! Panda Express’ new Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken received such an enthusiastic reception in testing that it’s being rolled out across the chain. It’s a collab with Buldak, the Korean instant noodle brand which has become a legend for its unique, fiery heat. For fans who fear Buldak’s blasting heat, the Panda assures it’s been dialled back to a level that should be comfortable for all.
Checkers & Rally’s dish new flatbread combo meals
The bundles feature new Flatbread Sandwiches, with prices ranging from $5 to $6. All include small fries and a small fountain drink. Try: the Spicy Chicken Flatbread Sandwich, or the Bacon Burger Flatbread Sandwich.
Both looking fat and sassy in the official photos. You can also get the new Flatbread Sandwiches solo. Meanwhile… Grab 2 Big Burfords for $10 at participating locations, for a limited time.
Wendy’s cooks up new Cheesy Bacon Cheeseburger
The CBC starts with a quarter-pound beef patty, adds applewood-smoked bacon, and two slices of American cheese, and tops off with the same cheddar cheese sauce the chain serves on its baked potatoes. Also note: Wendy’s Chicken Tenders Ranch Wrap is back. As is the classic Crispy Panco Fish Sandwich (for Lent).
BEVERAGES
Panera sneaks Charged bevs back onto menu
The chain – which faced a huge PR and liability issue over it’s Charged, caffeine-boosted beverages – is sneaking them back onto the menu – albeit in modified, dialled-down form
.According to The Takeout, “Just in time for spring, Panera’s introducing two new-ish categories of beverages to its menu in four different flavors: Frescas and Energy Refreshers.” The Frescas are served au naturel, while the Energy Refreshers contain a relatively modest 28 milligrams of caffeine per 20 oz / 568 ml serving.
SONIC Heralds Strawberry Season
… With a new Strawberry Horchata Cream Slush. It’s way too early for Strawberry Season, but spring is definitely in the air. So SONIC has jumped the gun with a luxe new creamy bev. Think: Sonic’s signature slush base with cinnamon horchata syrup and fresh strawberries. Then swirled in soft serve for a thicker, milkshake-like texture. Coming March 23 across the chain.
DESSERTS & SNACKS
Baskin-Robbins goes bananas
… Over Dulce de Leche. Baskin-Robbins’ Banana Dulce de Leche ice cream (see photo, top of page) is the flavour of the month. And it’s quite the mashup. Think: ‘frozen banana custard and brown butter ice cream with toffee pieces and Dulce de Leche swirls’. Seasonally, the classic St. Patrick’s Day ice cream cake is back. And there’s a limited-time $6 Banana Split deal for Rewards Card members – every Wednesday this month…
Uncrustables accelerates your satisfaction
As fans will know. Uncrustables ‘crustless sandwiches’ come frozen. Now they’re all yours, no waiting. Because they have been tweaked so you can store them up to 5 days in the fridge.
They still come frozen, but you don’t have to keep them that way at home. ‘Fridge-friendly’ Uncrustables are due to appear US-wide at Kroger, Walmart, and Target this summer.
NOVELTIES
University + Brewery = Self-Flavoured Popcorn
The University of Illinois and Riggs Brewery have just released a new popcorn variety that needs no butter or added flavouring to wow fans. After eight years of plant development the collab is launching Illini SuperPop, a naturally savoury popcorn with subtle nutty notes and a crisp crunch. Riggs is already using the stuff in two of its brews. And the U. is courting popcorn retail partners. For now, Illini Super Pop is only available locally, in the Urbana-Champaign area.
Buffalo Wild Wings presents the Espresso Proteini
That’s espresso coffee, in a martini, fortified with protein. Do the booze and the protein balance each other out, nutritionally, I wonder? The classic martini glass is also rimmed with Buffalo Wild Wings’ fan-fave Buffalo Dry Rub. Apparently, thee was no room for the kitchen sink. At locations where BWW is licensed to serve alcohol.
EVENTS
Taco Bell’s annual new-menu reveal
The Bell held its gala annual new-menu reveal earlier this week. And the initial reviews are raves. Live Más LIVE 2026 held a host of surprises and delights.
Sample Surprise: Nacho Fries are now on the permanent menu. Sample delight: Mountain Dew Baja Midnight Pie, a passion fruit and citrus ‘cream pie’ dessert.
Insider Report: What McD’s does with its ‘leftovers’
McD0nald’s, which serves more Fast Food than any other US chain, would be the biggest offender in food waste. “Not so!” says a new report. The brand has adopted its own waste diversion plan, based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Food Recovery Hierarchy. You’ll be surprised at the ends McD’s goes to support sustainability!
And that’s the skinny…
… On what’s going to be making some of us a little more-stuffed over the coming days and weeks. See you back here in 7 for the next rapidly thawing edition of Fast Food Week!
~ Maggie J.