I Tried 14 Popular Chili’s Menu Items—These Are the Dishes I’ll Order Again and Again

Chain restaurants can be both a gift and a curse. Unlike chef-driven spots or mom-and-pop establishments, their menus often sprawl, coming off less curated and more like a never-ending list of options. The upside? There’s usually something for everyone. The downside? Figuring out what to order can feel overwhelming.

Take Chili’s, for example. The menu covers everything from Southwestern Eggrolls and famous Baby Back Ribs to pasta, salads, burgers, handhelds, fajitas, desserts, cocktails, and more. And if you’ve spent any time on TikTok, you’ve likely noticed the obsession. Every time I scroll, another Chili’s dish seems to go viral.

But after years of covering food trends, I’ve learned not to trust every buzzy post. Social media has a way of making anything look irresistible, and I’ve lost count of how many disappointing dishes I’ve tried after falling for a flashy clip.

Scroll through Chili’s-Tok and you’ll find creators raving about the mozzarella sticks, Crispy Chicken Crispers, and more. But are they really as good as they seem? And with such a massive menu, are there other items that actually deserve your attention instead?

To help you avoid the heartbreak of ordering a letdown, I rounded up Chili’s most popular dishes and put them to the test. I tasted them all, ranked them head-to-head, and figured out what’s actually worth ordering, so you don’t have to guess the next time you go.

How I Tested the Chili’s Menu Items  

This taste test required serious research because Chili’s offers nearly 75 items on its menu. To find the standouts, I dug through recommendations across appetizers, entrées, desserts, and drinks. I leaned on social media platforms like TikTok and Reddit, along with word-of-mouth from Chili’s servers, to narrow down my list.

Normally, I avoid sampling too many items in one sitting when doing these taste tests. But for this one, I tackled my full list of top picks in one visit to compare them head-to-head and find out which ones actually delivered.

I made sure to try each item hot or cold, depending on how it’s meant to be served, to give every dish a fair shot at tasting its best.

After sampling 14 different menu items (and confusing my server in the process), I found a few that soared above the rest. Read on for my hot take on the best things to order at Chili’s.

The Best Chili’s Menu Items, Ranked

14th Place: Margarita of the Month

Chili’s promotes a Margarita of the Month, and social media users often rave about it—mainly because it’s only $6. During my visit, the Berry Dragon drink, which was available, combined tequila, orange liqueur, dragonfruit syrup, strawberry purée, and the chain’s house-made sour mix.

Despite the hype, the drink tasted overly sweet and artificial. For something more refreshing, I’d skip the monthly special and go with one of Chili’s classic margaritas or an ice-cold draft beer instead.

13th Place: Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas 

The most disappointing menu item I tried from Chili’s (despite its high praise on TikTok!) was the Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas. They arrived dry and stuffed with very little filling. The grilled chicken inside had an off flavor and an unpleasant texture that ruined the quesadillas.

The only redeeming aspect of this menu item was the house-made ranch sauce served on the side. Its creamy, zesty flavor provided a much-needed boost that helped keep this dish from tasting completely off. 

12th Place: Fajitas

Besides the ribs and Crispy Chicken Crispers, I quickly realized I didn’t enjoy Chili’s proteins much during my taste test. The grilled chicken, steak, and shrimp all had a rubbery texture and an artificial taste that was hard to overlook.

I was excited when the sizzling fajitas arrived, loaded with fixings like guacamole, salsa, warm tortillas, cheese, sour cream, and sides of rice and beans. Unfortunately, the low-quality proteins made it difficult to fully enjoy the dish despite the abundance of flavorful accompaniments.

11th Place: Peanut Butter Pie Made With Reese’s

Chili’s surprised fans last year by finally launching a new dessert—peanut butter pie made with Reese’s. As a longtime Reese’s lover, I couldn’t wait to try it, especially after seeing all the buzz on social media and news outlets.

This dessert delivers a rich peanut butter and chocolate chip filling set over a chocolate crust and topped with a layer of ganache. Reese’s peanut butter cups and a drizzle of white chocolate round it out as a rich garnish.

The filling has a light, fluffy, and smooth texture similar to cheesecake. It definitely caters to peanut butter fans like me. That said, the decadence builds quickly, so anyone who prefers lighter or less sweet desserts might find it overwhelming.

10th Place: Bacon Ranch Burger

With mixed opinions online about which Chili’s burger is the best, I asked my server for a recommendation. Without hesitation, they pointed to the Bacon Ranch Burger, a popular choice among regulars.

This burger stacks two beef patties with six slices of bacon, American cheese, sautéed onions, pickles, and a generous drizzle of house-made ranch. It promises decadence, and while it delivers on classic bites, the flavor felt fairly standard. Nothing about it stood out beyond the expected.

The burger arrived slightly dry, too, lacking the bold punch I was hoping for. I ended up asking for extra ranch and barbecue sauce just to give it more life.

9th Place: Chips and Salsa

Chili’s chips and salsa deserve more credit. The tortilla chips come out warm with a crisp, airy crunch without feeling greasy or heavy. The salsa is made with blended sweet tomatoes, herbs, and vegetables, and its smooth texture makes it easy to dip without breaking the chips or leaving them soggy.

Bonus: Joining the chain’s rewards program earns you a free order of chips and salsa to start your meal.

8th Place: Santa Fe Salad 

Chili’s offers plenty of decadent menu items, but during the peak of summer, something more refreshing can hit the spot. When I visited the chain for this taste test, the temperature hovered near 90 degrees, so I was very excited to dig into a salad. 

Social media users recommended the Santa Fe Salad, which arrives with mixed greens topped with grilled chicken, pico de gallo, house-made guacamole and ranch, cilantro, crunchy tortilla strips, and a drizzle of the chain’s Santa Fe sauce.

Each bite delivered something different: zesty flavors, crunch from the tortilla strips, and creamy richness from the guacamole. The pico de gallo added a refreshing note, too. 

My biggest critique? The grilled chicken. It tasted rubbery and artificial. If I order this salad again, I’ll skip the chicken altogether or swap in Crispy Chicken Crispers.

7th Place: Crispy Chicken Crispers

I judge a good chicken tender by four things: a crunchy exterior, tender meat, bold seasoning, and enough substance so it doesn’t feel like you’re just chewing on crispy breading. Chili’s Crispy Chicken Crispers delivered on all counts. Unlike the grilled chicken, these tasted real, and not rubbery or artificial.

The crispy skin shattered with each bite, offering a satisfying crunch. I asked to try every sauce—Buffalo, honey mustard, BBQ, Buffalo ranch, and sweet chili zing—and each one elevated the tenders in its own way. The house-made ranch added a creamy, zesty finish that worked well, too.

6th Place: Southwestern Eggrolls

Across social media, there’s one Chili’s item consistently earning high praise: the Southwestern Eggrolls. For this taste test, I set out to see whether the appetizer lives up to the hype or simply lives on because of online buzz.

The eggrolls arrived with a crisp, golden shell. As I picked one up, melted cheese oozed out. The first bite delivered tender beans, corn, peppers, and spinach—a combination that came together nicely. However, a faint artificial taste lingered throughout. I couldn’t pinpoint the source, but it kept me from finishing the full basket.

Chili’s homemade ranch helped mask that off flavor. If most people are dunking these in that flavorful sauce, I can understand why the dish gets so much love.

5th Place: Cajun Pasta

While scouring Reddit threads, I noticed users frequently recommending Chili’s Cajun Pasta, so I had to give it a try. When my plate arrived, it was filled with penne covered in Alfredo sauce, topped with chile, Cajun spices, Parmesan, tomatoes, and green onions. It also came with a piece of garlic Texas toast. 

From the first bite, I was impressed by how decadent and creamy it tasted. The sauce was cheesy and velvety, with smoky and spicy hints. I couldn’t stop dipping my buttery garlic toast into it.

For protein, you can choose grilled chicken, shrimp, or follow TikTok’s advice and add Crispy Chicken Crispers on top. While I found the creamy, well-seasoned pasta impressive overall, the grilled chicken in my dish fell short; it tasted rubbery and artificial.

Next time I visit Chili’s, I’ll plan on ordering the pasta with Crispy Chicken Crispers or perhaps without any protein at all.

4th Place: Molten Chocolate Cake 

“When I was a kid, my parents took me to Chili’s for every birthday, and I always ordered one thing: the Molten Chocolate Cake,” a server told me during my visit to the chain. That sealed it. After also seeing the dessert all over TikTok, I knew I had to try it.

I had one major concern that the cake’s molten center wouldn’t deliver. But once I dug in, warm chocolate poured out.

The dessert arrived warm, filled with molten chocolate and topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream encased in a crisp chocolate shell. Altogether, it was decadent and deeply comforting.

3rd Place: Mozzarella Sticks

I recently reviewed mozzarella sticks and ranked Chili’s third out of eight contenders. For this taste test, I sampled all of the chain’s new flavors of this cheesy appetizer, including its original, Honey-Chipotle, and Nashville Hot.

I appreciated the addition of Chili’s signature sauces, which elevated this classic mozzarella stick to something more exciting and flavorful. Each order came with a choice of marinara or ranch for dipping, and both complemented these rich, fried cheese sticks nicely.

As a cheese-obsessed person, I adored the mounds of melted mozzarella oozing out from each fried stick. They also have a satisfyingly crunchy crust, and the sweet-smoky Honey-Chipotle and fiery Nashville Hot sauces delivered even more flavor to these bites. Honestly, skipping this appetizer on a trip to Chili’s feels almost unthinkable.

2nd Place: Triple Dipper 

A quick TikTok search for “Chili’s” pulls up tons of creators sharing their favorite menu item to order: the Triple Dipper. It lets you choose three appetizers, with a portion of each served together in a basket.

Though I’ve ordered it many times before, I wanted to judge it fairly, so I asked my server which combo customers request most often. Without hesitation, she named Big Mouth Bites, Crispy Chicken Crispers, and Southwestern Eggrolls.

The Triple Dipper works like an entrée, but without forcing you to settle for just one item. The Big Mouth Bites came on buttery buns, each with a flavorful beef patty, melty American cheese, sautéed onions, crispy bacon, and house-made ranch. The Chicken Crispers packed a hearty bite, coated in a Nashville Hot-inspired sauce. The eggrolls rounded things out with a crispy shell stuffed with cheesy corn, spinach, peppers, and beans.

Together, the combo hit every mark: comforting and an assortment of delicious bites.

1st Place Winner: Baby Back Ribs

These baby back ribs from Chili’s hit the table coated in a sticky, house-made barbecue sauce that I can best describe as jammy, with subtly sweet, smoky, and tangy notes. I enjoyed it so much, I asked for extra to pour onto my burger.

One bite into these ribs, and the near-caramelized spice crust gave way to tender, flavorful meat. I ordered a half rack and finished it all on my own. This Chili’s menu item comes as a full meal with two sides, but if you’re extra hungry, you can upgrade to the Smokehouse Combo and add items like Crispy Chicken Crispers or Jalapeño-Cheddar Smoked Sausage to your tray.

If you’re out with a group, I highly recommend ordering the whole rack and splitting it across the table. For barbecue lovers, this is a must-try on your next Chili’s run (and I dare you not to start singing the jingle).