Most Outback Steakhouse diners stick to the same old favorites – steak, Bloomin’ Onion, maybe some shrimp. But what if the best dishes aren’t even printed on the menu? Every restaurant has secret combinations and off-menu creations that only the savviest customers know about. At Outback, these hidden gems use regular menu items in creative ways to create completely new eating experiences that cost less than premium entrees but deliver way more excitement.
Aussie chili cheese fries beat regular loaded fries
Regular loaded fries are boring compared to what happens when Outback’s spicy Tasmanian Chili meets their cheesy Aussie fries. This secret combination creates the ultimate comfort food that puts typical bar snacks to shame. The Tasmanian Chili is an all-meat, no-bean creation that’s way spicier than normal chili, and when poured over those perfectly seasoned fries with melted cheese, it becomes something magical. Most people never think to combine these two menu items, but once someone tries it, they never go back to plain cheese fries.
Getting this secret creation costs around $18 total – the Aussie cheese fries run about $12.49 and the Tasmanian Chili adds another $5.99. That might seem pricey for an appetizer, but this portion easily feeds six people or works as a full meal for someone wanting something indulgent. The green onions and extra cheese that come with the chili make it even better, creating layers of flavor that regular restaurant loaded fries can’t match.
Chili cheese baked potato becomes a full meal
Baked potatoes usually feel like boring side dishes, but combining Outback’s dressed potato with their Tasmanian Chili transforms it into a hearty main course. The dressed potato already comes loaded with sour cream, bacon bits, cheese, and scallions for just $3.99, making it one of the best values on the menu. When that spicy, meaty chili gets poured on top, it becomes a completely different animal – warm, filling, and packed with protein that’ll keep anyone satisfied for hours.
This hidden combination costs less than $10 total and provides enough food to serve as a proper dinner. The textures work perfectly together – fluffy potato, creamy toppings, and that rich, spicy chili with its chunks of beef. Smart diners ask for the toppings on the side so they can layer everything just right, putting the chili directly on the potato and then adding the other garnishes on top for the perfect bite every time.
Chili cheese hamburger upgrades any burger order
Hamburgers at steakhouses often get overlooked, but Outback’s burgers become spectacular when enhanced with their signature chili. The regular Outback Burger costs $14.49 and is already pretty good, but adding that $5.99 cup of Tasmanian Chili transforms it into something that rivals much more expensive entrees. The spicy, all-beef chili gets spooned right between the top bun and the meat patty, creating layers of rich, savory goodness that regular condiments just can’t match.
One order of chili actually provides enough for multiple uses – someone could make both the chili burger and the chili baked potato from a single cup by splitting it appropriately. The messy result requires extra napkins but delivers incredible depth of flavor with that buttery bun, fresh vegetables, and double dose of beef. The cheese that comes with the chili melts into everything, creating a gooey, indulgent experience that regular burgers can’t provide.
Bloomin’ shrimp rice bowl costs less than entrees
Rice bowls are trendy at fast-casual places, but Outback accidentally created one of the best versions by combining existing menu items. The Grilled Shrimp on the Barbie normally comes as an appetizer, but when someone orders it with seasoned rice and broccoli as sides, then mixes everything together with Bloomin’ Sauce, it becomes a complete meal that’s way more interesting than typical entrees. The famous Bloomin’ Sauce – the same creamy, tangy stuff that makes the onion so addictive – turns ordinary ingredients into something special.
This creative combination runs about $21.99 for the shrimp dish, with no extra charge for the Bloomin’ Sauce at most locations. The result is a protein-packed rice bowl that’s actually healthier than most Outback options while still being incredibly satisfying. Mixing everything together in an extra bowl creates a perfect balance of textures – tender shrimp, fluffy rice, crisp broccoli, all coated in that signature sauce that people normally only get with the famous onion appetizer.
Loaded cheesesteak mac and cheese doubles the indulgence
Mac and cheese is already comfort food, but combining it with Outback’s Three Cheese Steak Dip creates something that’s almost ridiculously indulgent. The regular Steakhouse Mac & Cheese costs $5.99 and is decent on its own, but when half of that $15.49 cheese steak dip gets stirred in, it becomes a completely different dish. The dip contains chunks of steak, peppers, and three different cheeses, turning plain pasta into a loaded masterpiece that could easily serve as a main course.
Smart diners stir the dip in gradually to make sure every bite gets some of those steak chunks and melted cheese. The leftover half of the dip still works perfectly as an appetizer with tortilla chips, so one order essentially provides two dishes for around $21 total. Some people even crumble tortilla chips on top of the finished mac and cheese for extra crunch, creating a texture combination that’s impossible to get from any regular menu item.
Cheese steak rice bowl offers lighter alternative
Sometimes the cheese steak dip idea sounds great, but mac and cheese feels too heavy. The solution is creating a rice bowl version that uses the same delicious dip but balances it with rice and vegetables instead of pasta. This combination requires ordering the Three Cheese Steak Dip along with sides of seasoned rice and steamed broccoli, then mixing everything together in an extra bowl. The total cost runs about $23.47, but the portion size is generous enough to satisfy most appetites without feeling overly rich.
The rice bowl creation provides all the savory, cheesy goodness of the original dip but with better nutritional balance from the vegetables and rice. The steamed broccoli adds color and texture while the seasoned rice soaks up all those delicious cheese and steak juices. This version feels more like a complete meal and less like pure indulgence, making it perfect for people who want something satisfying but not completely over-the-top heavy.
Shrimp po’ boy uses free bread creatively
That free bread that comes to every table can become the foundation for an amazing sandwich that’s not available anywhere else. Outback’s Bloomin’ Fried Shrimp appetizer contains everything needed for a fantastic po’ boy – crispy, seasoned shrimp and that incredible Bloom sauce that’s essentially spicy mayo. The bread loaf that normally gets buttered and eaten as an appetizer transforms into sandwich bread when sliced lengthwise, creating a foundation that’s actually better than many restaurant sandwich buns.
Building this creative sandwich involves slathering the bread with that spicy Bloom sauce, piling on the fried shrimp, and topping with more sauce. The result tastes like something from a high-end seafood restaurant but costs only the price of the shrimp appetizer since the bread is complimentary. The bread’s slightly sweet, molasses-infused flavor actually works perfectly with spicy fried shrimp, creating a combination that many people prefer to Outback’s regular sandwich options.
Chocolate bread fondue turns appetizer into dessert
Who says that free bread has to be savory? Creative diners discovered that ordering a side of chocolate sauce (normally served with brownies) creates an instant fondue situation that’s way more fun than regular dessert. The warm chocolate sauce pairs surprisingly well with Outback’s slightly sweet bread, creating a dessert experience that costs almost nothing extra. This hack became popular on social media because it’s such an unexpected way to use complimentary items to create something special.
Taking this concept even further, some people order the Butter Cake dessert and ask for all the components – whipped cream, strawberries, and chocolate sauce – to be served separately. Then they cut up the cake and create their own fondue station right at the table, dipping cake chunks and strawberries into chocolate and whipped cream. This interactive dessert experience costs the same as ordering the cake normally but provides way more entertainment and customization options for everyone at the table.
Homemade cocktail sauce beats restaurant versions
Cocktail sauce might seem like a minor detail, but Outback doesn’t actually serve it despite having multiple shrimp dishes on the menu. Instead, they provide Bloom sauce or Creole marmalade, which are good but sometimes people just want that classic cocktail sauce experience with their shrimp. The solution involves combining ketchup with horseradish (which comes with the prime rib sandwich) and a squeeze of lemon to create fresh cocktail sauce that’s actually better than most bottled versions.
This simple sauce hack takes about 30 seconds but transforms any shrimp dish into a more traditional seafood experience. The fresh horseradish provides way more kick than store-bought cocktail sauce, while the lemon adds brightness that complements Outback’s perfectly cooked shrimp. Many regular customers now automatically request these ingredients whenever they order shrimp, creating their own custom sauce that’s fresher and more flavorful than anything that comes from a bottle.
These secret menu combinations prove that creativity pays off when dining out. Most of these hacks cost less than regular entrees while providing more interesting eating experiences that regular menu items can’t match. The best part is that servers are usually happy to help with these requests since they’re just combining existing ingredients in new ways.
