These Are The Fast Food Joints That’ll Be Open On Christmas This Year

For example, Chili’s just started targeting fast food lovers by introducing the Big Smasher Burger as part of their 3 For Me menu which includes the sandwich, fries, bottomless chips and salsa, and a bottomless drink for a grand total of $10.99. Their main selling point for the Big Smasher? It has twice the amount of beef as a Big Mac.

Starbucks is also flexing savings on menu items. They’ve significantly increased their rewards cadence over the past months, now offering 50% off drinks every Friday in May. Their US sector saw a 7% decline in traffic in 2024’s second quarter.

Given the expensiveness of it all, it’s no surprise that McDonald’s has plans to step up their affordability game. According to Fox Business, the chain’s been working on their ‘Best Burger’ initiative to bring a “larger satiating burger" to customers for similar prices as what’s already on the menu.

In the same vein, McDonald’s is also reportedly interested in offering a $5 meal deal that could include a McChicken, a McDouble or four-piece chicken nuggets, fries, and a drink. It’s unclear as to when they’d roll it out (or if they actually will), but it’s clear they have their eyes on distant, once-regular customers.

This is appreciated and all, but do we really owe these fast food companies a ‘thank you’? A report from Groundwork Collaborative found that corporate profits accounted for about 53% of inflation in Q1 and Q2 of 2023, compared to 11% of inflation in the 40 years prior to the pandemic. So while prices skyrocket for consumers like you and me, corporations are earning more and more even though production costs for them have “substantially” decreased.

I get it – completely eliminating dining out is near impossible. I’m not saying that scooping up a little *discounted* treat – or even a regularly-priced meal – every once in a while is a bad thing. It’s just important to remember that these fast food companies aren’t necessarily looking out for you, but instead, their profits.

As you look for ways to economize on fast food and otherwise, take advantage of the many ways you can actually save money. Coupons, birthday freebies, happy hours, and restaurant surveys are just a few methods to navigate the madness. As a certified Dunkin’ girl, you'll still catch me grabbing a bite to eat around town. I'm just hoping we can all catch a break.

All-New Items On The Panera Menu

Chicken Bacon Rancher

This new sammie features slabs of grilled chicken, applewood smoked bacon, aged white cheddar, and ranch dressing on Panera's Black Pepper Focaccia bread, and it looks divine. I'm not entirely big on bacon, but I think this stack has the perfect balance between ingredients. That focaccia, though!

Ciabatta Cheesesteak

I could really go for one of these right now. With this newcomer sandwich, strips of tender marinated sliced steak, provolone cheese, garlic aioli, caramelized onions, and a pile of zesty-sweet Panera Peppadew™ peppers are layered between bodied slices of ciabatta.

Toasted Italiano

The Toasted Italiano is everything you could ever want from an Italian sub. Black Forest ham, soppressata, provolone, romaine, red onion, sliced pepperoncini peppers (YUM!), garlic aioli, and Greek dressing meld miraculously together on Panera’s toasted French baguette bread.

Tomato Basil BLT

This sandwich is the result of when a classic BLT meets fresh Italian flavors like tomato and basil. It boasts strips of applewood smoked bacon, crisp mixed greens, vine-ripened tomatoes, garlic aioli, and salt and pepper all slathered onto Panera's Tomato Basil Miche bread.

Bacon Mac & Cheese

Oh wow. This mac makes we want to act up! Sultry, stringy white cheddar sauce hugs every single inch of the shell pasta included in this bowl. You can also order it in a cup as a side dish or in one of Panera's famed bread bowls. The cheesy goodness gets topped off with crispy bits of applewood smoked bacon. I'm drooling, honestly.

Southwest Chicken Ranch Salad

All the vibrant colors of this salad are calling to me! This Southwest-inspired salad highlights a bed of romaine tossed in ranch dressing with grilled chicken, chipotle aioli, fresh avocado, grape tomatoes, fire-grilled corn, fresh cilantro, and blue corn tortilla strips joining in on the delicious fun.

Ranch Cobb Salad

There's nothing like a Cobb salad, TBH. This brand-new take from Panera features romaine and mixed greens tossed in ranch dressing, which gets topped with grape tomatoes, pickled red onions, applewood smoked bacon, feta cheese, and a hard-boiled egg – a classic!

Mediterranean Chicken Greens with Grains

It's nice to see that Panera's boosting their salads with more grains, a la Sweetgreen or CAVA. This dish takes on Mediterranean flavors, hosting a medley of farro, red rice, grilled chicken, hummus, feta, red onions, zesty sweet Peppadew™ peppers, sliced cucumbers, and a sprinkle of Panera’s Mediterranean shawarma seasoning. Is it lunchtime yet?!

Balsamic Chicken Greens with Grains

Balsamic lovers, rise up! This fresh new fare from the Panera menu has romaine, mixed greens, farro, red rice, sliced cucumbers, pepperoncini peppers, fresh avocado, feta, pumpkin seeds, and a dose of balsamic vinaigrette and Green Goddess dressing.

Panera Menu Items That Got Upgraded

Bravo Club Sandwich

There are 13 items on the Panera menu that received recipe enhancements alongside the newly-debuted dishes. According to Debbie Roberts, the Chief Operating Officer at Panera Bread, the upgrades resulted from customer and employee feedback.

“Panera’s New Era is incredibly exciting, not only for our guests, but also our associates, who will be able to renew their focus on our core menu and serve our guests more efficiently with enhanced portions and better value,” said Roberts. “We are eager to get back to our roots within these core categories and unveil these delicious new menu innovations, all while providing an exceptional guest experience.”

The first menu item that got a facelift is the Bravo Club, which features oven-roasted turkey breast, Black Forest ham, applewood smoked bacon, aged white cheddar, crisp mixed greens, vine-ripened tomatoes, signature Bravo sauce, and salt and pepper on Tomato Basil Miche bread.

Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt

Next up is the Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt, and it looks insanely good. The balance Panera has created between smoked chicken, aged white cheddar, fresh sliced avocado, fresh cilantro, zesty sweet Peppadew™ peppers, and chipotle aioli in this sandwich is super impressive. It's all laid atop their Black Pepper Focaccia!

Toasted Frontega Chicken Sandwich

If mozzarella is involved, I'm 1000% there. This enhanced sammie has it all: smoked, pulled chicken, fresh mozz, vine-ripened tomatoes, red onions, fresh basil, chipotle aioli, and salt and pepper all inside Panera's Black Pepper Focaccia.

Spicy Buffalo Chicken Melt

You really can't go wrong with Buffalo flavors, but it appears Panera has leveled up even more with the Spicy Buffalo Chicken Melt! Smoked, pulled chicken, American cheese, red onions, and spicy Buffalo sauce get piled onto a toasted French Baguette for a heavenly bite filled with cheesiness, crunchiness, and spice.

Smokehouse BBQ Chicken Sandwich

One of the more simplistic items on the Panera menu, this sandwich has a nice mix of chicken, BBQ sauce, red onions, and aged white cheddar on ciabatta.

Grilled Chicken & Avocado BLT

I fear I could eat one of these every day, it looks so yum. Grilled chicken, applewood smoked bacon, aged white cheddar, crisp mixed greens, vine-ripened tomatoes, fresh sliced avocado, garlic aioli, and salt and pepper layer in between Panera's Country Rustic Sourdough bread in this dish!

Turkey & Cheddar Sandwich

The new-and-improved Turkey & Cheddar Sandwich isn't just turkey and cheddar. This pick features the classic meat and cheese combo alongside stacks of fresh tomato, mixed greens, onions, and garlic aioli – all stacked high between sourdough bread slices.

Green Goddess Chicken Cobb Salad

This one's for the girls and guys who eat their greens! Fitted with a hearty (but still light) mix of romaine, mixed greens, Green Goddess dressing, grilled chicken, grape tomatoes, pickled red onions, fresh avocado, applewood smoked bacon and a hard-boiled egg, this salad definitely lands on the more satisfying, filling side of things.

Fuji Apple Chicken Salad

Apples on salad are ahh-mazing! The enhanced Panera menu is embracing the savory-sweet flavor combo with this chicken-filled salad topped with crisp apple chips. It highlights a bed of romaine and mixed greens that is tossed in a sweet white balsamic vinaigrette, then topped with grilled chicken, grape tomatoes, red onions, toasted pecan pieces, feta crumbles, and the apple chips.

Caesar Salad

Panera's transformed their Caesar salad to have an even better value with this round of menu enhancements. You can get this pick with or without chicken. The greens get doused in Caesar dressing, then get topped with grilled chicken, shaved parmesan cheese, black pepper, and sea salt croutons for crunch.

Greek Salad

The all-new Greek Salad can also be ordered with or without chicken. It has a classic medley of romaine, Greek dressing, grape tomatoes, feta cheese, sliced cucumbers, red onions, kalamata olives, sliced pepperoncini peppers, and salt and pepper for flavor.

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