Cheddars Menu With Prices

Cheddar’s Menu With Prices (2026): Calories & Scratch Kitchen Favorites

Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen prices start near $2.79 for a side and top out around $22 for a 14 oz. ribeye, with most entrees priced between $13 and $17. This guide lists reported menu prices and calories by category.

The figures below come from third-party menu surveys published between 2023 and 2026, checked against Cheddar’s official pages for deals and policies. Prices vary by restaurant, so treat every number as an estimate and confirm it locally.

Cheddar’s was founded in 1979 by Aubrey Good and Doug Rogers, and Darden Restaurants bought the chain in 2017 for $780 million. Recent reports put the count near 190 restaurants. The pitch has not changed: scratch cooking, big portions, modest checks.

Quick Price Snapshot

Most readers want one number before anything else. Sides cost under $5, weekday lunch plates sit near $9 to $12, dinner entrees cluster between $13 and $17, and steaks and ribs push higher. The table shows the full spread.

CategoryTypical Price Range
Made-from-scratch sides$2.79 to $4.28
Appetizers$6.79 to $17.39
Entree salads$12.49 to $15.28
Weekday lunch$8.59 to $12.49
Chicken entrees$13.29 to $15.79
Steaks and ribs$13.79 to $22.29
Seafood$14.49 to $16.49
Burgers and sandwiches$9.49 to $11.79
Desserts$6.49 to $7.99
Kids meals$4.99 to $5.99
Cocktails$4.49 to $10.49

These are reported ranges, not guarantees. One guest review from early 2026 describes lunch plates at $6.50 to $8.00, well under the survey numbers, which shows how far a single restaurant can drift from the average.

How Cheddar’s Prices Have Moved

Older price lists make a useful baseline. Comparing a September 2023 survey, a 2024 survey and the latest reported list shows steady increases on core items, and the family salad rose the fastest of everything tracked.

Item20232024Latest
Trio Sampler$11.99$12.29$12.99
Cheese Fries$9.49$9.49$9.99
Family House Salad$8.29$8.29$10.29
Monster Cookie$7.29$7.49$7.49
Painkiller$7.49$8.49$8.49

Appetizers rose roughly 5 to 8 percent, the cookie stayed within 3 percent, the family salad jumped about 24 percent, and the Painkiller gained 13 percent. Different surveys may cover different restaurants, so read the direction, not the exact percentage.

Cheddar’s Food Menu and Prices

Cheddar’s Family Bundles Menu and Prices

Family bundles are among the cheapest ways to feed a group at Cheddar’s, and they are built for To Go orders. Bundles typically include the entree, sides and Honey Butter Croissants. Plan on four to six servings depending on appetite.

BundlePriceCalories (Whole Bundle)
Chicken Tender Bundle$31.494,430 to 9,570
Baby Back Ribs Bundle$50.494,640 to 9,540
Grilled Salmon Bundle$41.493,690 to 8,590
Salmon & Tenders Bundle$39.494,510 to 9,410
Ribs & Tenders Bundle$43.494,950 to 9,850
Family House Salad$10.291,050 to 1,840
Gallon Iced Tea$5.791,470 to 1,890
Gallon Lemonade$5.791,320 to 1,690

Here is the detail most guides skip: calorie figures cover the entire bundle, not a plate. A 9,570 calorie ceiling divided among five people is about 1,900 each, which is a normal dinner, not a warning.

Watch the limited-time pricing too. Cheddar’s official Features page currently advertises a $24.99 Tender Bundle for To Go or delivery orders only. Against the reported $31.49 standard price, that is a $6.50 gap worth checking before you order.

Shareable Appetizers and Starters

Shareable Appetizers and Starters

Starters are where Cheddar’s portions get serious. The Trio Sampler lets you pick three items from chips and queso, spinach dip, hand-breaded tenders, Wisconsin Cheese Bites or Queso Fries, and it lands at about 2,400 calories.

StarterPriceCalories
Chips & Homemade Queso$6.791,030 to 1,080
Homemade Onion Rings$7.991,140
Wisconsin Cheese Bites$8.491,200
Buffalo Beer-Battered Shrimp$9.29810
Santa Fe Spinach Dip$9.291,300
Cheddar’s Cheese Fries$9.992,250
Cheddar’s Trio Sampler$12.992,360 to 2,410
Loaded Nacho Dip$13.191,060
Chicken Tender Basket$14.39727
2 Dips & Tenders$17.391,390

Cheddar’s own nutrition materials use 2,000 calories a day as the general reference. One Cheese Fries order, at 2,250 calories, exceeds that whole budget, so treat it as a table-sized dish for four, not a personal side.

Honey Butter Croissants appear on some lists at $1.99, yet dine-in tables typically receive them with the meal. Menus differ by restaurant, and older articles claim onion rings were dropped, though a current survey still lists them. Ask your server.

Fresh Salads and Comforting Soups

Fresh Salads and Comforting Soups

Salads at Cheddar’s are full meals priced like entrees. The Grilled Chicken Pecan Salad is the leanest at 620 calories, and the Salmon Caesar Pasta Salad is the priciest at $15.28, with 940 calories.

ItemPriceCalories
Crispy Chicken Tender Salad$12.49750
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad$12.79860
Grilled Chicken Pecan Salad$13.49620
Salmon Caesar Pasta Salad$15.28940
Side House Salad$3.99250 to 420
Side Caesar Salad$3.99290
Baked Potato Soup$3.99330 to 570

Here is a counter-intuitive truth: the salad section is not automatically the light section. The Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad carries 860 calories, which is more than the Lemon Pepper Chicken entree at 520 and the 8 oz. sirloin at 330.

The soup calorie spread, 330 to 570, most likely reflects cup versus bowl sizing, though the survey does not say. A cup of Baked Potato Soup with a side salad is one of the cheapest full lunches on the menu.

Cheddar’s Weekday Lunch Menu and Specials

Weekday lunch is the strongest value play at Cheddar’s. One survey reports these plates Monday to Friday until 3 PM, though hours and prices shift by restaurant, so call ahead if lunch is your plan.

Lunch PlatePriceCalories
Veggie Philly$8.59610
Classic Cheeseburger$8.59830
Classic Chicken Sandwich$8.59860
Cajun Chicken Bowl$9.99570
Fish and Chips$9.99710
Homemade Chicken Pot Pie$9.99940
Philly Cheesesteak$10.99960
Grilled White Fish$10.99350
Beer Battered Fish & Shrimp Platter$12.491,310

Cheddar’s has marketed lunch under the Quick Picks banner, a build-your-own combo format that launched with prices from $5.99. Whether your restaurant still runs that format varies, so ask what the lunch section looks like locally.

Compare the lunch pot pie at $9.99 with its dinner price near $12. For one pie, the weekday window saves about $2. The lunch Grilled White Fish, at 350 calories, is also among the lightest hot entrees on the menu.

Cheddar’s Scratch Chicken Entrees

Cheddars Scratch Chicken Entrees

Chicken is the backbone of the dinner menu, and hand-breaded tenders are the signature. Country Fried Chicken swings widely in calories, from 830 to 1,250, because the sides you pick change the total more than the chicken does.

EntreePriceCalories
No. 8 Special Tender Platter$13.291,680 to 1,810
Lemon Pepper Chicken$13.79520
Country Fried Chicken$12.99 to $13.99830 to 1,250
Grilled Chicken Alfredo$14.791,550
Key West Chicken & Shrimp$15.49550
Dijon Chicken & Mushrooms$15.791,060

Key West Chicken & Shrimp and Lemon Pepper Chicken are the two outliers here. Both come in near 500 calories, while the Grilled Chicken Alfredo, despite the word grilled, sits at 1,550 because of the sauce.

The Dijon Chicken & Mushrooms is the most restaurant-style plate in the group. At $15.79 it is also the priciest chicken entree, so it makes sense when you want a gravy-free dinner without leaving the chicken category.

Steaks and Slow-Smoked Ribs

Steaks and Slow-Smoked Ribs

Steaks and ribs carry the widest price range on the menu. Cheddar’s describes its Baby Back Ribs as house smoked for at least four hours, and a full rack at $16.79 costs far less than a ribeye.

ItemPriceCalories
6 oz. Top Sirloin$14.49250
8 oz. Top Sirloin$16.49330
Baby Back Ribs (Full Rack)$16.791,630 to 3,260
Country Fried Steak$13.791,030
Texas T-Bone$21.99810
14 oz. Ribeye$22.29890

Look at the sirloin rows. A 6 oz. top sirloin at 250 calories is among the lowest-calorie entrees anywhere on the menu, and pairing it with steamed broccoli and green beans keeps the whole plate under 450.

The rib calorie spread, 1,630 to 3,260, almost certainly reflects half versus full racks. Ordering a half rack in a combo plate, covered next, is the better move if you also want sides and croissants.

Satisfying Combination Plates

Combination plates solve the indecision problem. Each pairs two proteins, so you taste ribs and tenders, or steak and shrimp, for one price. Choose carefully, because calories vary sharply and the gap between the lightest and heaviest combo nears 1,000.

ComboPriceCalories
Chicken Tenders & Shrimp$15.991,460
Half Rack Ribs & Tenders$19.491,540
Half Rack Ribs & Shrimp$19.491,120 to 1,230
Top Sirloin & Tenders$18.49980
Top Sirloin & Ribs$20.991,070
Top Sirloin & Shrimp$18.49560 to 670

The steak and shrimp pairing is the quiet winner. It costs $18.49 and delivers 560 to 670 calories. Swapping tenders for shrimp on the same sirloin saves roughly 300 to 400 calories, according to the reported figures.

Tenders and ribs together are the heaviest pick at 1,540 calories. If you want that pairing, skip the appetizer, ask for a to-go box at the start, and set aside half the plate for tomorrow’s lunch.

Fresh Seafood Entrees

Seafood at a casual chain is easy to dismiss, but Cheddar’s grilled options are among the leaner hot dinners on the menu. Grilled Salmon runs 590 to 750 calories, and the Grilled White Fish stays near 500.

EntreePriceCalories
Grilled White Fish$14.49490 to 510
Cornmeal White Fish Platter$14.491,080
Grilled Salmon$15.49590 to 750
Creamy Garlic Tilapia & Shrimp$15.79600
Grilled Shrimp Alfredo$16.291,610
Beer-Battered Shrimp Platter$16.29790
Bourbon-Glazed Salmon & Shrimp$16.49600

Notice the two white fish rows. Same fish, same price, yet the cornmeal version doubles the calories to 1,080. Breading and frying are the only difference, which makes preparation style, not the protein, the number to watch.

Alfredo is the other trap. Grilled Shrimp Alfredo lands at 1,610 calories, more than twice the Bourbon-Glazed Salmon & Shrimp at 600, and costs only 20 cents less. The cream sauce, not the shrimp, accounts for the difference.

Sandwiches and Half-Pound Burgers

Burgers at Cheddar’s are half-pound builds, which explains the four-digit calorie counts. The Smokehouse Burger is the lightest of the reported builds at 1,000 calories, and the Classic Cheeseburger, oddly, runs the highest at 1,240.

ItemPriceCalories
Classic Cheeseburger$9.491,240
Smokehouse Burger$10.491,000
Bacon Cheeseburger$10.991,050
Philly Cheesesteak$10.99960
Monte Cristo$11.791,460

The Monte Cristo is the oddball here, at $11.79 and 1,460 calories. A Monte Cristo is traditionally a battered, griddled sandwich, which explains the weight, and it is rich enough that many guests split it with a side salad.

The gluten-sensitive version of the Bacon Cheeseburger is reported at 710 calories, about 340 fewer than the standard build. That gap likely reflects a missing bun or a different side, so confirm what comes on the plate.

Comfort Food Classics

Comfort food is Cheddar’s home turf. Homemade Chicken Pot Pie and Homestyle Meatloaf read like a diner menu, and the calorie counts show the kitchen does not hold back on portions, so plan for leftovers.

ItemPriceCalories
Vegetable Plate$10.49560 to 1,960
Homemade Chicken Pot Pie$11.49 to $12.49940 to 1,190
Country Fried Steak$13.29 to $13.791,030
Homestyle Meatloaf$13.29620
Grilled Pork Chops$13.49650
New Orleans Pasta$14.791,540

The Vegetable Plate has the widest swing in the entire article, 560 to 1,960 calories, because you choose the sides. Four sides of green beans, carrots, broccoli and corn stay near the bottom of that range.

Chicken Pot Pie appears at three different prices across one survey, from $9.99 at lunch to $12.49 at dinner. That inconsistency is a reminder that menu pricing is local, and that lunch portions may differ from dinner.

Made From Scratch Homestyle Sides

Sides are the cheapest part of the menu and the biggest swing factor in your final bill and calorie count. Most standard sides cost $2.79, which makes them the best way to customize a plate.

SidePriceCalories
Sweet Baby Carrots$2.7935
Southern Green Beans$2.7960
Fresh Steamed Broccoli$2.79100
Buttered Off-the-Cob Corn$2.79110
Seasoned Rice$2.79150
Idaho Mashed Potatoes$2.79160
Freshly Made Coleslaw$2.79170
Broccoli Cheese Casserole$2.79220
Red Beans & Rice$2.79230
Loaded Baked Potato$2.79430
French Fries$2.79460
Cheese & Bacon Mashed Potatoes$4.28350
Queso & Bacon French Fries$4.28650

Swapping fries for Southern Green Beans cuts about 400 calories at no change in price. That one substitution often saves more than a shared slice of cheesecake costs you, and nobody at the table has to give anything up.

Broccoli Cheese Casserole, at 220 calories, is the sleeper pick. It tastes indulgent, costs $2.79, and Cheddar’s has featured it as a topping for grilled chicken in past promotions, which says plenty about how well regarded it is.

Kids Menu

The kids menu keeps prices between $4.99 and $5.99, with options spanning tenders, a junior burger, grilled chicken and pasta. Chicken tenders are the default order, though Grilled Chicken at 390 calories is the lightest option.

ItemPriceCalories
Grilled Cheese$4.99420
Penne Pasta Alfredo$4.99700
Chicken Tenders$5.99630
Junior Burger$5.99450
Grilled Chicken$5.99390
Fried Shrimp$5.99410
Grilled Chicken Alfredo$5.99870

Kids entrees cost about $7 to $8 less than the cheapest adult entrees reported, which makes them the budget pick for small appetites. Most restaurants reserve kids menus for young children, so ask before ordering one for yourself.

Cheddar’s Dessert Menu

Cheddar’s official Features page calls the Fried Apple Pie its new number one dessert, listing it from $6.49 with caramel, cinnamon sugar and vanilla bean ice cream. That tells you where the kitchen wants your attention.

DessertPriceCalories
Fried Apple PieFrom $6.49Not listed
Classic Cheesecake$6.49760
Carrot Cake$6.991,100
Legendary Monster Cookie$7.491,390
Hot Fudge Cake Sundae$7.992,510

The lightest dessert with a reported count is the cheesecake at 760 calories. The Hot Fudge Cake Sundae, at 2,510, delivers more calories than most entrees, so treat it as a dessert for the whole table.

Join the eClub and Cheddar’s sends a complimentary dessert offer on your birthday and again at your half birthday. Several price guides claim the birthday gift is an appetizer, but the official FAQ says dessert, so trust that.

Cheddar’s Drinks Menu

Cheddar’s Drinks, Cocktails and Alcohol Menu

The drink menu runs from fresh-brewed iced tea to full-strength frozen cocktails. Prices swing from $2.99 for a soft drink to over $10 for a premium margarita, and alcohol rules depend entirely on your state.

Cheddar’s calls happy hour all day, every day, so the lowest-priced cocktails, around $4.49 to $4.99, carry no time window. That policy appears on the official FAQ and is the biggest reason to order drinks here.

The Famous Cheddar’s Painkiller Drink Explained

The Painkiller is Cheddar’s best-known cocktail, a sweet, tropical drink with coconut cream, served in a large stemmed mug with toasted coconut around the rim according to guest reports. It is reported at $8.49 and 350 calories.

Menus label it with a limit of two per person, and guests mention that limit often. The cap likely exists because the drink is large and sweet enough to hide its alcohol, so pace yourself and order food first.

The to-go Painkiller is reported at $6.99, which is $1.50 below dine-in. Ask why before assuming a bargain, since a different pour or cup size could explain the gap. Cheddar’s also built a Painkiller Mini Cake for dessert in the past.

Dine-In Cocktails and Margaritas

Cheddar’s margarita lineup runs from a basic Classic at $4.99 to the El Patron at $10.49. If you want a mid-priced upgrade, the Texas Margarita at $6.49 sits in the middle, and the Maui at $7.49 adds a tropical twist.

CocktailPriceCalories
Tito’s & Cranberry$4.49130
Jack & Coke$4.99150
Blue Chair Bay Rum & Coke$4.99150
Classic Margarita$4.99230
Texas Margarita$6.49340
Long Island Iced Tea$6.49230
Texas Sweet Tea$6.49230
Strawberry Texas Frozen Swirl$6.79420
Sangria Texas Frozen Swirl$6.79390
Classic Mule$7.49130
Coconut Pineapple Mule$7.49160
Maui Margarita$7.49470
Presidente Sangria$7.49170
Painkiller$8.49350
Island Tiki$8.49230
Tropical Blue Chiller$8.99170
Grande Top Shelf Margarita$9.49470
El Patron Margarita$10.49230

For calorie-conscious guests, the Mule and the vodka cranberry are the lightest picks at 130 calories. The sugary frozen swirls and the Maui Margarita push past 400, which is roughly the calories in a side of fries.

To-Go Beverages

Where state law allows, Cheddar’s sells cocktails to go with a food order, which is a quiet convenience for a family night in. Availability depends on your state and your restaurant, so confirm before building the order around it.

To-Go DrinkPriceCalories
Bottled Beer$4.49100 to 290
Painkiller (To-Go)$6.99350
Texas Margarita (To-Go)$6.79340
Sangria Texas Frozen Swirl$6.79390
Strawberry Texas Frozen Swirl$6.79420

Gallon jugs of tea and lemonade are the other to-go staple. At $5.79 each they cost less than two glasses at the table, and they are easily the best drink value on any family bundle order.

Teas, Lemonades and Soft Drinks

Non-alcoholic drinks are straightforward. Fresh-brewed iced tea, hand-crafted lemonade and fountain soft drinks all run $2.99 in the survey, and the calorie spread depends on whether you pick sweet tea, flavored lemonade or a diet soda.

DrinkPriceCalories
Fresh-Brewed Iced Tea$2.99140 to 200
Hand-Crafted Lemonade$2.99120 to 180
Soft Drinks$2.990 to 160
Gallon Iced Tea (To-Go)$5.791,470 to 1,890
Gallon Lemonade (To-Go)$5.791,320 to 1,690

A gallon of tea at $5.79 holds about sixteen cups, which works out to roughly 36 cents a glass. Table service charges $2.99 for one. For a group of five at home, the math is not close.

Deals, Nutrition and Ordering

Cheddar’s Happy Hours and Daily Specials

According to Cheddar’s FAQ, happy hour is all day, every day, from open until close, with the same value offered throughout. There is no clock to beat, so you can order a $4.99 margarita at lunch.

Daily specials are less clear. The official pages reviewed publish no fixed weekday specials calendar. Instead, the Features page rotates limited-time offers, like the $24.99 Tender Bundle for To Go or delivery, and restaurants may announce local specials in person.

The eClub is the most reliable deal source. Signing up earns free Chips & Homemade Queso, plus birthday and half-birthday dessert offers. Pair a weekday lunch plate with a happy hour drink and the check shrinks noticeably.

Gluten Sensitive Menu Guide and Nutritional Information

Cheddar’s publishes a gluten-sensitive menu online and keeps printed copies at the restaurant on request. For allergens, the official instruction is to contact Guest Relations with the ingredient you want to avoid and the dishes you plan to order.

Gluten-Sensitive PickReported PriceCalories
6 oz. Fire Grilled Sirloin$13.49250
8 oz. Fire Grilled Sirloin$15.49330
Key West Chicken & Shrimp$14.49440
Lemon Pepper Chicken$12.79520
Grilled White Fish$13.49490
Grilled Salmon$16.49590 to 600
14 oz. Ribeye$21.29890

Notice that gluten-sensitive prices in this survey run about a dollar under the main menu prices for the same dishes. That pattern suggests different snapshot dates, which is another reason to rely on your restaurant’s current menu for exact numbers.

Gluten-sensitive is not a celiac guarantee. Tell your server about the severity of your reaction and ask how the kitchen handles cross-contact. For full calorie, sodium and allergen data, download the chart from the Nutritional Info page on cheddars.com.

Online Ordering, Delivery and Catering Guide

Ordering from Cheddar’s is simple, and the official site now handles delivery directly. Cheddar’s states that delivery carries the same prices as the restaurant, with availability varying by location and delivery and service fees applying.

  1. Go to cheddars.com and choose To Go or delivery.
  2. Enter your address or pick your restaurant.
  3. Build the order, starting with bundles if you are feeding a group.
  4. Review fees before paying, then confirm the pickup or delivery window.

Third-party delivery apps may show different prices than Cheddar’s own site, since each may add its own fees, so compare totals before checking out. Orders can be changed or cancelled by calling the restaurant directly.

Cheddar’s does not advertise a separate catering menu on its standard pages. Family bundles and gallon drinks are the closest equivalent, and for larger events you should call your local restaurant and ask what it can prepare.

Gift cards are sold in restaurants and online, including eGift cards. Cheddar’s also warns about gift card scams: if anyone insists you pay with gift cards, decline the request and report the incident to the FTC.

Operating Hours and How to Find Your Local Branch

Hours vary by location, but the common pattern among published listings is 11 AM to 10 PM Sunday through Thursday and 11 AM to 11 PM on Friday and Saturday. Some restaurants open at 10:30 AM or close at midnight.

DayTypical Hours
Sunday to Thursday11 AM to 10 PM
Friday and Saturday11 AM to 11 PM
Thanksgiving and Christmas DayClosed

Cheddar’s is open every day of the year except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, with special hours on Christmas Eve. Use the location search on cheddars.com to see your restaurant’s exact schedule before driving over.

For seating, the official FAQ points guests to an online waitlist for parties of up to six, and asks larger parties to call. Joining the waitlist from your phone is the best way to shorten a Friday night wait.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best thing at Cheddars?

The Honey Butter Croissants and the baby back ribs are the most praised items, with the pot pie close behind. For value, the weekday lunch plates and the $2.79 scratch sides lead.

What are Cheddar’s daily specials?

Cheddar’s runs all-day happy hour, weekday lunch deals and rotating limited-time features such as the $24.99 Tender Bundle. Check the Features page and ask your server.

What’s the healthiest thing to eat at Cheddar’s?

The 6 oz. top sirloin at 250 calories is the leanest entree. Grilled White Fish and Lemon Pepper Chicken also stay near 500 calories. Pair them with green beans or carrots.

What is Cheddar’s known for?

Cheddar’s is known for scratch cooking, Honey Butter Croissants, hand-breaded chicken tenders, smoked baby back ribs, large portions and the Painkiller cocktail.

Conclusion

Cheddar’s still delivers what its slogan promises: a lot of food for a modest check. The best strategy is simple. Eat at weekday lunch and join the eClub, then swap fries for vegetable sides.

Remember that every price here is a reported estimate, and calories shift with sides and sizes. Confirm your restaurant’s menu on cheddars.com, download the Nutritional Info chart if you are tracking intake, and use the waitlist before you head out.

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