10 Outback Steakhouse Menu Hacks To Make It More Affordable

Eating on a budget can be difficult, especially if you like to go out to eat more often. Luckily, there are various menu hacks you can use at your favorite restaurants — like Outback Steakhouse — to save some money while still enjoying a delicious meal out.

Outback Steakhouse has several identifiable menu hacks and offers limited-time deals and items to help you save money when you dine out. Here are 10 to try.

Did you know that you can build your own plate of chili cheese fries? Melted cheese, crispy bacon, and the coolest of ranch dressings taste incredible on top of their Aussie Cheese Fries, which are about $11.99 on the regular menu.

Make a meal out of this popular appetizer by adding your favorite protein like the fan-favorite Tasmanian chili. Order a cup or bowl of chili and pour it over your fries.

Much like the chili cheese fries hack, order a side of the Tasmanian chili to add to your cheeseburger if a chili cheeseburger is really what you’re craving. It makes the meal extra hearty, making it ideal to split between two people instead of having to order two full-price entrees.

Outback Steakhouse is known for its bread, and not just because it is free. If you like sweeter breads like their popular honey wheat bread, you may be into this menu hack.

Order raspberry sauce and mix it with your whipped butter. Slather that on your bread, and experience pure sweet, creamy bliss.

If you’ve gone to Outback, you have probably fallen in love with their whipped butter. If you like savory flavors, the restaurant also makes incredible roasted garlic butter for several of their steaks.

The chain also has honey butter specifically for their sweet potato dish. You can request either as a substitute for whatever meal you have.

Another affordable way to enjoy your basket of delicious free bread is to order a side of the restaurant’s chocolate sauce. It currently comes drizzled on desserts like the Chocolate Thunder from Down Under and New York-Style Cheesecake.

Using the sauce as a fondue dip for your bread and other sides — or a drizzle on desserts — can really elevate your dining experience (and fill your belly), whether you’re there for a full meal or just for dessert.

If you’re serving a crowd, consider a budget-friendly Bloomin’ Bundle Meal. You can grab the “Grilled Chicken for 4” — a meal including chicken, salad, two sides, and two loaves of honey wheat bread — for $50, or center-cut sirloin, coconut shrimp, salad, three sides, and three loaves of bread for $95. Meals start at just $12.50 per person.

Other bundles and upgrades are available depending on your restaurant’s availability.

If you are taking your Outback Steakhouse to go, you’ll miss out on several fun perks. One of those perks is ordering from the Kids Menu. The portion sizes are quite nice, and everything is under $10.

The Joey Sirloin meal comes with a five-ounce steak, which is only one ounce smaller than the adult steak portions.

More of a timing hack, lunch menu deals are plenty on weekdays before 4 pm if you’re looking for sizable portions. There is an affordable $6.99 soup and salad combo, and $5.49 Grilled Shrimp on the Barbie or Alice Springs Chicken.

Other menu items are discounted during lunch, depending on your location.

You can use the flavorful honey wheat bread to make a sandwich out of many of the menu offerings at Outback Steakhouse.

If you order the Bloomin’ Fried Shrimp appetizer, you can craft an off-menu shrimp po’boy. Or order an Aussie Chook Ribs appetizer to make a delectable BBQ chicken sandwich.

There are two approaches to scoring more of the chain’s irresistible free bread. Before you dine, you can always contact your local Outback Steakhouse to see if you are allowed to reserve a loaf to go.

Some chains have enough stock to accommodate this and are more willing to work with you with notice.

You can also ask for more bread during your meal and make sure you have to-go boxes to accommodate what you didn’t eat.

Outback Steakhouse might be known for their steaks, but you can stretch your restaurant budget by paying attention to other potential menu hacks.

The same is true for many other chain restaurants, so do a little internet research before you dine out to get the most bang for your buck.