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Devoted fans simply couldn’t bear to see their cherished queso disappear without a fight.
In a surprising twist, Chili’s is reversing its decision to remove the iconic Skillet Beef Queso from its menu, much to the delight of cheese enthusiasts everywhere. The popular restaurant chain, based in Dallas, has acknowledged its mistake less than a month after the controversial removal.
Chili’s took to social media on Monday to express their change of heart, saying, “OKAY WE HEAR YOU and we hate when y’all are mad at us. We’re working on bringing Skillet Queso back to Chili’s very soon.” The post was accompanied by a clever graphic declaring, “We tried to killet, but you love the skillet.”
Customers were quick to celebrate the news, with one commenting, “Proof that bullying works.” Another humorously remarked, “This just saved my marriage.”
“This just saved my marriage,” another posted.
The reversal comes after Chili’s replaced its 1990s-era Skillet Beef and White Skillet Quesos with a new Southwestern Queso earlier this month, sparking what can only be described as a cheese-fueled social media uprising.
At the time, the chain said its skillet quesos accounted for just 1% of sales, and the new Southwestern version was designed to be more widely appealing and higher quality. Chili’s said it spent around two years developing the Southwestern Queso recipe and that nearly 70% of consumers reported they liked the new queso over the previous skillet beef version.
Social media did not seem to agree with that assessment.
Fans were swift and sharp on social media about the news. Chili’s has been flooded with social media comments from a vocal group of Skillet Queso lovers who were sad to see the item go. On Sunday, the brand teased an announcement on a reply to a comment begging for “justice for skillet queso,” assuring fans that “justice is coming.”
The good news for everyone: Chili’s appeared to confirm the Skillet Beef Queso and Southwestern Queso will coexist, with the returning Skillet Beef Queso keeping the same recipe, “skillet included.” The White Skillet Queso will not be returning.
“There is room for two baddies on the menu,” the brand said in a reply to a rare outspoken fan of the new Southwestern Queso (and confirmed more professionally to the Dallas Morning News.)
Chili’s told one X follower the skillet queso would return before the holidays, though an exact date hasn’t been announced.
Justice for skillet queso, indeed.
Not yet returning to Chili’s at this time are the chain’s Original Chicken Crispers, another longtime menu item with a small but loyal fan base. The fight continues.