Chili’s Bar and Grill Removes Longtime Skillet Beef Queso from Menu

Dallas-based Chili’s Bar and Grill is removing its longtime Skillet Beef Queso and White Skillet Queso in favor of a new cheese dip called Southwest Queso. This decision has been made after customers expressed dissatisfaction with Chili’s queso lineup for the last few years. The two skillet quesos will be served until Oct. 6, 2025, then replaced by Southwest Queso on Oct. 7, 2025.

Skillet Beef Queso had been on Chili’s menu for 35 years. We can practically hear millennials gasping over the news. Skillet Quesos accounted for 1% of total sales, the company said. The Skillet Beef Queso recipe had changed over the years, but it didn’t improve customer satisfaction, the company said.

The Reason Behind the Change

According to George Felix, chief marketing officer for Chili’s, the decision to remove the Skillet Beef Queso was made after customers expressed their dissatisfaction with the queso lineup. Felix stated that the company recognized the need for improvement in terms of flavor and quality. As a result, they developed a new queso recipe that is expected to meet customer expectations.

This new appetizer “finally gives guests the queso they deserve,” according to a Chili’s statement. The new recipe is made with American cheese, cheddar cheese, green chiles, onions, and lime, and served with Chili’s tortilla chips. Unlike the Skillet Beef Queso, the Southwest Queso is vegetarian.

Skillet Queso: a Wistful History

Skillet Beef Queso, on menus at Chili’s since 1990, is being removed in October 2025. The chief marketing officer said it wasn’t popular with consumers.

Sarah Blaskovich/Staff

Skillet Beef Queso was a staple on Chili’s menu since 1990 — an item as iconic as Chili’s Southwestern Eggrolls. Its White Queso was added within the past 10 years, a spokesperson said. The shift away from the Skillet Beef Queso might be the biggest recipe change from the Dallas-born company since it nixed the original recipe for Chicken Crispers in 2022. There’s more than one online petition to bring the O.G. C.C.s back.

Will Chili’s Fans Care?

Time will tell whether nostalgic Chili’s fans will have a similar reaction to the death of Skillet Queso. Felix stands firm, stating that the company understands some guests have a lot of love for the Skillet Beef and White Skillet Queso, but there was room for improvement from both a flavor and quality standpoint.

“Low sales numbers told us that our guests were clearly looking for a better queso from Chili’s, so we set out to develop an improved option,” Felix said. In the past few years, Chili’s has made several changes to upgrade ingredients and appeal to a younger audience. It changed its baby back ribs and frozen margaritas recently.

It also announced “3 For Me” meal deal starting at $10.99, which led to a resurgence — a “boom” for Chili’s, as The Wall Street Journal put it. Parent company Brinker International saw a 21% increase in revenue year over year during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, according to a report in Yahoo Finance.

The New Cheese

Since fall 2023, Chili’s culinary team in Dallas worked on a new queso recipe. They tested it on 300 consumers at Curion Insights in Atlanta, and 70% of them picked Southwestern Queso over Skillet Beef Queso, the company reported.

Chilis’ new Southwest Queso will be sold four ways: as an appetizer, as part of the Dip Trio, as a side to the fajitas, and atop the new Chicken Bacon Ranch Nachos. Southwest Queso becomes available Oct. 7, 2025 at all Chili’s restaurants, including 80 in Dallas-Fort Worth. Those enrolled in the My Chili’s program can try Southwest Queso for free Oct. 7 through Oct. 21, 2025. Limit one per member.

Conclusion

The removal of Skillet Beef Queso from Chili’s menu marks a significant change for the company. With the introduction of Southwest Queso, Chili’s aims to provide a better queso experience for its customers. Only time will tell if this decision will pay off, but one thing is certain – Chili’s is committed to evolving and improving to meet the changing tastes and preferences of its customers.

FAQs

Q: Why is Chili’s removing Skillet Beef Queso from its menu?

A: Chili’s is removing Skillet Beef Queso due to customer dissatisfaction with the queso lineup and low sales numbers.

Q: What is the new queso recipe that Chili’s is introducing?

A: The new queso recipe is called Southwest Queso, made with American cheese, cheddar cheese, green chiles, onions, and lime, and served with Chili’s tortilla chips.

Q: When will Southwest Queso be available at Chili’s restaurants?