Chili's.
“Chili’s Takes Another Swing at Fast Food with the Debut of the All-New Big QP Burger to its 3 For Me Menu,” trumpeted the restaurant chain’s April press release.
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What’s the deal with Chili’s new Big QP Burger…and why is the casual-dining chain picking a fight with fast food giants like McDonald’s? Marketing.
“For most consumer companies, inflation has been a curse,” noted an April article in the Wall Street Journal. “But Chili’s has found an unusual way to turn inflation into a marketing pitch: since your fast-food burger costs so much, why not go just a little bit more upscale.”
Here’s why not. “Upscale” at Chili’s means more calories, saturated fat, and sodium for the burger. And that could mean excess weight and higher bad cholesterol and blood pressure for you.
What’s in The Big QP Burger
The company’s pitch: “Chili’s continues to make its 3 For Me menu even more value-packed with the introduction of the all-new Big QP Burger, featuring familiar fast-food flavors with two slices of American cheese, mustard, ketchup, pickles, diced onions and 85% more beef than a Quarter Pounder with Cheese.” Translation: Lovers of the McDonald’s classic have a new home.
And beef isn’t the only thing the Big QP Burger’s got more of. The Big QP (880 calories) has more calories, saturated fat, and sodium than McDonald’s Quarter Pounder with Cheese (520 calories). In fact, Chili’s Big QP is even worse than McDonald’s Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese (740 calories). That’s the kind of inflation your health could do without.
Chili’s Big QP Burger
- 880 calories
- 25 grams of saturated fat (125 percent of a day’s limit)
- 1,670 milligrams of sodium (73 percent of a day’s limit)
McDonald’s Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese
- 740 calories
- 20 grams of saturated fat (98 percent of a day’s limit)
- 1,360 milligrams of sodium (59 percent of a day’s limit)
McDonald’s Quarter Pounder with Cheese
- 520 calories
- 12 grams of saturated fat (62 percent of a day’s limit)
- 1,140 milligrams of sodium (50 percent of a day’s limit)
How Chili’s 3 For Me menu adds up
While Chili’s value menu includes a choice of appetizer, drink, and main dish, the company’s April press release featured one combo in particular: “Starting today, the Big QP is available at Chili’s locations nationwide as part of the 3 For Me menu, featuring bottomless chips and salsa, an unlimited fountain drink and the Big QP with fries for just $10.99.”
With its fries, burger bun, and unlimited tortilla chips, Chili’s 3 For Me Big QP meal features three different kinds of refined starches, plus a soda.
The chips (not counting refills), burger, and fries rack up an astounding 2,210 calories—more than four McDonald’s Quarter Pounders with Cheese. And don’t forget the 35 grams of saturated fat and 4,250 milligrams of sodium. That’s nearly a two-day supply of each. As for the fountain drink, opt for a non-diet Coke and you can tack on 110 calories and 7 teaspoons (30 grams) of sugar (not counting refills).
How does the Big QP compare to Chili’s other burgers?
The Big QP’s 880 calories are more than any self-respecting burger should have, but Chili’s Big Mouth Burgers can go even higher. A lot higher. There’s the 1,400-calorie Double Oldtimer with Cheese Burger, for example. And the Bacon Rancher Burger hits 1,690 calories by topping two beef patties with six(!!) slices of bacon plus cheese and ranch sauce. Now that’s a Big Mouthful!
Chili’s says that its Big Mouth Burgers are “so big, you might need a game plan.” You might want that plan to include a doctor on standby.
What’s the healthiest thing to eat at Chili’s?
Chili’s only non-meat burger, the Veggie Santa Fe, is its healthiest. But it isn’t exactly light fare. With guacamole, cheese, and sauce piled on the black bean patty and bun, the Veggie Santa Fe still has more calories (630) than a McDonald’s Big Mac (580). But it does have less unhealthy fat, more fiber, and no less protein…and at Chili’s, you could do far worse.
Pro tip: Because the Santa Fe Burger comes dressed up with guac and sauce, why not order it cheeseless? And for your side, try broccoli or salad instead of fries.
The Guiltless Grill section of Chili’s menu has two more decent options: the Santa Fe Salad and the Ancho Salmon. But like most restaurant food, even those healthiest picks are sky-high in sodium (1,580 milligrams for the bean burger with cheese plus broccoli, 1,510 mg for the salad, and 1,790 mg for the salmon).
More tips on ordering healthier meals at restaurants
Tips can vary from one cuisine to another, but at any restaurant, you can probably find ways to replace red meat, pump up the vegetables, shave off some sodium, and save some of your oversized portions for tomorrow. Here’s what to consider.
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