Applebee’s just dropped some new menu items that are making people rethink their usual orders. Between a sizzling chicken skillet that arrives at your table still cooking and an apple pie dessert that comes out hot enough to melt ice cream instantly, the restaurant chain is giving customers plenty of reasons to stop by. The most surprising part? They’re also keeping their $9.99 meal deal around longer than expected, which means you can get a full-sized burger or chicken sandwich with endless fries and a drink for less than ten bucks. That kind of pricing seems almost impossible in 2025, but it’s real and people are taking advantage of it.
The hot honey chicken skillet is arriving at tables still bubbling
Walk into any Applebee’s right now and you’ll probably see servers carrying cast iron skillets to different tables, steam rising from the food as they set them down. The new Hot Honey Chicken & Bacon Skillet is one of those dishes that makes everyone turn their heads when it passes by. Sliced grilled chicken breast gets topped with a sweet and spicy hot honey glaze, then they add Applewood smoked bacon on top. The whole thing sits on a bed of sautéed mushrooms and onions, and it comes with a massive pile of waffle fries on the side.
What makes this dish stand out is how the cast iron keeps everything hot through your entire meal. You know that annoying thing where your food gets cold halfway through eating? That doesn’t happen here. The skillet retains heat so well that your last bite is almost as hot as your first one. One person who tried it said the chicken practically melted in their mouth, which is exactly what you want from a dish like this. The hot honey glaze adds just enough kick without being overwhelming, and the bacon gives it that smoky crunch that makes every bite interesting.
That $9.99 meal deal includes unlimited fries and free refills
Remember when fast food combos used to be cheap? Those days seemed long gone until Applebee’s brought back their Really Big Meal Deal last fall. For $9.99, you get either a Big Cluckin’ Chicken Sandwich or a Classic Bacon Cheeseburger, plus fries and a fountain drink. The burger comes with a six-ounce beef patty, two slices of American cheese, two slices of bacon, lettuce, tomato, and onions on a brioche bun. The chicken sandwich has an extra-large crispy chicken patty with lettuce, tomato, mayo, and pickles, also on a brioche bun.
Here’s where it gets even better: those fries are unlimited and the drinks come with free refills. This was supposed to be a limited-time thing, but Applebee’s decided to extend it because people loved it so much. You’re basically getting as much food as you can eat for under ten bucks before tax and tip. The chicken patty is big enough that it hangs over the edges of the bun, and people who’ve tried it say it stays crispy on the outside while staying juicy inside. For anyone watching their budget but still wanting to eat out, this deal is hard to beat.
The caramel apple pie dessert comes out sizzling on cast iron
If you thought cast iron was just for main courses, Applebee’s has news for you. Their new Sizzlin’ Caramel Apple Pie arrives at your table in a hot skillet, making that satisfying sizzling sound that draws attention from nearby tables. This isn’t your typical slice of apple pie with ice cream on the side. They layer hot cinnamon apple pie with caramel sauce and candied pecans, then top it with vanilla ice cream that starts melting the second it hits the hot skillet.
The contrast between the hot pie and cold ice cream creates this perfect combination where you get both temperatures in every spoonful. One reviewer said it tasted like someone drove to an orchard to get fresh apples specifically for this dessert. The candied pecans add a crunchy texture that breaks up the softness of the pie and ice cream, while the caramel sauce ties everything together. It’s messy to eat because the ice cream melts quickly, but that’s part of the experience. You’ll want to dig in fast before all the ice cream turns into a puddle.
Cast iron skillets keep food hot way longer than regular plates
There’s actually a good reason why Applebee’s keeps using cast iron for these menu items. Regular ceramic or porcelain plates look nice, but they don’t hold heat very well. You put hot food on them and within five minutes, everything starts cooling down. Cast iron is different because it absorbs heat and releases it slowly over time. That’s why your grandmother’s cast iron skillet could stay hot for twenty minutes after you took it off the stove.
When restaurants serve food in cast iron, they’re not just doing it for show. The skillet actually functions as a heat source throughout your meal, keeping everything at a temperature where it still tastes good. This matters more than you might think, especially with dishes that have cheese or sauces that congeal when they cool down. The mushrooms and onions under that chicken stay warm and tender, and the waffle fries don’t turn into sad, cold potato sticks. It’s a small detail that makes a big difference in how much you enjoy the meal.
The chicken sandwich is big enough to share if you wanted to
When they call it the Big Cluckin’ Chicken Sandwich, they’re not exaggerating. The chicken patty is legitimately huge, hanging over the edges of the brioche bun by a good inch on all sides. This isn’t one of those disappointing fast food sandwiches where the picture shows a massive burger but you get something tiny. The patty is thick, stays crispy after frying, and has enough moisture inside that it doesn’t feel like you’re eating cardboard.
People who work in offices have been grabbing these for lunch because they’re filling enough to last through an afternoon of meetings without needing a snack later. The brioche bun is soft but sturdy enough to hold up against the weight of that chicken patty without falling apart. Simple toppings like lettuce, tomato, mayo, and pickles let the chicken be the star instead of drowning it in complicated sauces. For less than ten dollars with unlimited fries and a drink, you’re getting more food than most combo meals at traditional fast food places.
Waffle fries work better than regular fries with these meals
There’s something about waffle fries that makes them superior to regular fries, especially when you’re eating them with a burger or chicken sandwich. The grid pattern creates more surface area, which means more crispy edges and more spots for seasoning to stick. They’re also sturdier than thin-cut fries, so they don’t get soggy as quickly when they’re sitting on your plate. When you’re dealing with a juicy burger or that hot honey glaze dripping off the chicken skillet, having fries that can hold their own matters.
The fact that these fries are unlimited with the meal deal changes how you think about portion sizes. You don’t need to ration them or worry about running out before you finish your sandwich. If you want more, just ask. The waffle shape also makes them better for dipping if you’re into ketchup or ranch. Each fry has little pockets that hold onto sauce instead of it just sliding off like it does with smooth regular fries. It’s a small upgrade that makes the whole meal feel more satisfying.
Hot honey has become the new go-to sauce for chicken dishes
A few years ago, nobody was putting hot honey on anything. Now it’s showing up everywhere from pizza to fried chicken sandwiches. The combination of sweet honey with spicy peppers creates this addictive taste that makes you want to keep eating even when you’re full. It’s not as aggressive as buffalo sauce or as one-dimensional as barbecue. The sweetness hits first, then the heat builds gradually instead of punching you in the face right away.
Applebee’s timing with this hot honey chicken skillet is pretty smart because people are actively seeking out dishes with that sweet and spicy combination. The glaze soaks into the chicken while also coating the outside, so you get that sticky, shiny appearance that looks great when it arrives at your table. It pairs well with the smokiness from the bacon and doesn’t overpower the mushrooms and onions underneath. If you’ve never tried hot honey before, this is a good introduction because it’s balanced enough that it won’t wreck your mouth if you’re sensitive to spice.
Limited-time menu items don’t usually stick around this long
Restaurants love to create urgency by calling things limited-time offers, but then they quietly keep them around if sales are good. That’s exactly what’s happening with both the meal deal and these new skillet items. The original plan was probably to run them for a few weeks, gather customer feedback, and move on to the next promotion. When something performs better than expected, though, it makes sense to keep it going.
The problem with limited-time items is that once people find out they like something, they get annoyed when it disappears. Social media makes this worse because people will complain loudly when their favorite promotional item gets pulled from the menu. Applebee’s seems to be learning from that by extending things that are working instead of sticking to an arbitrary timeline. There’s no official end date announced yet for either the skillets or the meal deal, which means they could potentially become permanent menu fixtures if customer demand stays strong enough.
Brioche buns have replaced regular hamburger buns almost everywhere
Ten years ago, most burgers came on plain sesame seed buns. Now brioche has taken over as the default choice for anything that wants to seem even slightly upscale. Brioche is richer and sweeter than regular hamburger buns because it has more butter and eggs in the dough. This makes it softer and gives it that slightly shiny, golden appearance. The extra richness also helps it stand up to heavy, saucy burgers without disintegrating.
For sandwiches like the ones in Applebee’s meal deal, brioche makes sense because you’re dealing with substantial fillings. A flimsy bun would turn to mush under that big chicken patty or the double-stacked bacon cheeseburger. Brioche has enough structure to hold everything together while still being soft enough to bite through easily. Some people think it’s too sweet for savory sandwiches, but most find that the subtle sweetness balances well with salty meats and tangy condiments. It’s become so common now that using a regular bun almost feels like a downgrade.
Applebee’s is clearly putting effort into keeping customers interested with these new options while also acknowledging that price matters. The combination of genuinely new items like the sizzling skillets and the extended value meal deal hits different needs for different people. Some folks want to try something new and don’t mind spending a bit more for the experience of cast iron service and unique dishes. Others just want maximum food for minimum money and appreciate that the meal deal isn’t going anywhere soon. Either way, there’s something on the menu right now that’s worth checking out before these limited-time items eventually do disappear.
