
Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen is all about great food at a great price. The restaurant has been around since 1979, and you can find locations in 28 states. Their secret ingredient isn’t actually an ingredient at all—it’s a method. Each Cheddar’s location is proud to cook every dish from scratch, giving customers the home-cooked flavor they expect from comfort food. Cooking everything in-house makes all the difference. If you’ve tried most of their dishes, you might be wondering if there’s a Cheddar’s secret menu.
Sadly, there isn’t, but that’s okay. You can find your favorite comfort foods like chicken tenders and baby back ribs on the Cheddar’s menu. Cooks batter the tenders and smoke the ribs. Nothing is defrosted, and you can tell by the flavors. But don’t expect to discover a Cheddar’s secret menu if you ask your server for one. The good thing is, you can get close to creating your own secret menu by customizing your order.
Official secret menu vs. customer creations?
Although Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen doesn’t have a dedicated secret menu, their name implies that your food is always made from scratch. That means you can customize your order to your liking. Here are a few creative ways to customize your order:
- Order the Chicken Tender Platter. Instead of the typical ranch or barbecue sauce, order the Homemade Queso for a cheesy and zesty treat.
- Hand-crafted Lemonades are refreshing all year round. Your Raspberry or Strawberry Lemonade can become a delicious adult beverage – just ask your bartender to liven it up.
- The Bacon Cheeseburger is decadent enough on its own, but it comes with fries, too. Substitute the standard fries for Cheddar’s Cheese Fries and enjoy the rich flavors.
- Create a meal from your favorite appetizers. Pair the Cheddar’s Trio Sampler, including chicken tenders, spinach dip and chips and salsa, with Cheddar’s Coconut Shrimp for a finger-food feast.
Thanks to Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen’s huge menu, there are many ways to customize your meal. Try one of the creative options mentioned above or come up with something all your own.
The most popular Cheddar’s secret menu items
Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen has such a vast menu that there’s really no need for a secret one. The menu offers something for everyone, even diners who are gluten sensitive. Whether you’re in the mood for a seafood feast or a juicy steak is calling your name, you’re sure to find something that tantalizes your taste buds. Here’s a sampling of what Cheddar’s has to offer:
- Wisconsin Cheese Bites (appetizer)
- Honey Butter Croissants (appetizer)
- Smokehouse Burger (entrée)
- Salmon Caesar Pasta Salad (entrée)
- Homemade Chicken Pot Pie (entrée)
- Country Fried Steak (entrée)
- BBQ Bacon Chicken Sandwich (gluten sensitive entrée)
- Cheddar’s Legendary Monster Cookie (dessert)
Menu items and prices can vary based on location. If your Cheddar’s doesn’t have the exact item you’re looking for, there’s always something else you can try. All their food is delicious and sure to satisfy anyone’s taste buds.
How to order from the hidden menu
While you can’t expect your server to know about a Cheddar’s secret menu, they’ll be happy to help you customize your meal. Every item on the menu is cooked to order and can be customized to your preferences. Get creative with your entrées, drinks and more for a memorable meal that might become your next favorite.
Kyle
Kyle is a long-time content writer with experience across a wide breadth of topics—including food and dietary wellness. Gluten- and lactose-sensitive, Kyle brings a unique perspective to writing about fast food, to help others with dietary restrictions better-navigate the menus of major fast food chains. His favorite fast food chain is Chipotle.

