Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s, the sister restaurant chains best known for their creative burger offerings, have launched the new Bacon 3-Way Burger, available at participating restaurants nationwide.
Served on a brioche-style bun, the Bacon 3-Way Thickburger comes piled high with lettuce, tomato, American cheese, and three types of bacon, on top of a juicy one-third pound, charbroiled 100 percent Black Angus beef patty. In addition to featuring two traditional bacon ingredients, thick-cut, Applewood-smoked bacon strips and crumbled bacon, the Bacon 3-Way Burger will introduce another fast food first: bacon jam, which combines bacon pieces, balsamic vinegar, caramelized onions, and molasses to create a game-changing new condiment.
“There’s no question that bacon has become one of the most popular and beloved food items in America, not only found on menus everywhere in its traditional strip form, but it’s showing up in new ways all the time,” says Brad Haley, chief marketing officer for Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s. “At Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s, we pride ourselves on our ability to bring things to fast food consumers that they previously could only get at sit-down restaurants for a lot more money, which led us to the Bacon 3-Way Burger. Sure, the Bacon 3-Way Burger has plenty of bacon in the form of thick-cut, Applewood-smoked bacon strips and crumbled bacon, but the real star is the bacon jam, which is starting to show up on fine-dining and casual-dining menus across the country. It’s a little sweet, a little savory, and a lot bacon-y, so what’s not to love?”
According to Diana Kelter, foodservice analyst with global market intelligence agency Mintel, bacon jam saw a compound annual growth rate of 50 percent on U.S. menus between 2013 and 2016. Kelter says that bacon jam fits squarely within the trend towards sweet and savory menu combinations, and within burgers, it provides a new flavor sensation, while still utilizing ingredients diners are familiar with, creating a stronger sense of comfort.
The Bacon 3-Way Burger is available as a single patty for $4.49, a double patty for $5.49, and as a 100 percent Black Angus beef, one-third pound Thickburger for $5.49, all of which can be ordered as a combo meal with fries and a drink starting at $6.99.
In addition, Hardee’s is introducing the $5 Frisco Combo, featuring a Frisco Thickburger, small fry, and a small drink.
The Frisco Thickburger includes a quarter-pound 100 percent Black Angus beef patty, two strips of crispy bacon, creamy onion-flavored mayonnaise, Swiss cheese, and fresh tomato stacked between two slices of buttered and grilled sourdough bread. Patterned after the original Frisco Burger, whichmade its debut on the Hardee’s menu 25 years ago this summer.
Hardee’s is also bringing back the Blueberry Biscuit. The “Made From Scratch Biscuit” is combined with blueberries and topped off with a drizzle of icing. The Blueberry Biscuit is now available as a single entrée for $1.29, a two-pack for $2.29, or a 6-pack for $6.49, each of which can also be ordered as a combo with hash rounds and a drink starting at $2.99.
