Arby's Updates Menu With New Mac-and-Cheese Option

Arby's is bringing barbecue back to its menu alongside the debut of a new comfort‑food offering, the company announced Monday.

According to parent company Inspire Brands, Arby's BBQ lineup is returning for a limited time and will feature two familiar sandwiches along with a brand‑new Mac Bowl option.

What To Know

The updated lineup includes:

• Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwich: Made with a quarter pound of pulled pork that Arby's says is hickory‑smoked for four hours
• Chopped Brisket BBQ Sandwich: Featuring chopped brisket smoked for up to 13 hours and served on a toasted brioche bun
• New Mac Bowl: A fresh menu addition combining a quarter pound of pulled pork or chopped brisket over white cheddar mac and cheese, topped with crispy onions and a choice of barbecue sauce

Arby's said the chopped brisket includes both tender meat and caramelized bark to enhance flavor and sauce absorption. Customers can choose between sweet or spicy barbecue sauce options with each item.

"This is BBQ done right-smoked low and slow with no shortcuts," Arby's chief marketing officer Jeff Baker said in a statement, describing the new brisket as "authentic BBQ" with a smoky, caramelized finish.

The BBQ menu is available nationwide for a limited time at participating locations and can be ordered in‑restaurant, through the drive‑thru, online, or via the Arby's app.

The menu update comes as Arby's continues to experiment with limited‑time offerings and comfort food to drive traffic and differentiate itself in the crowded quick‑service restaurant space.

The company has previously used similar strategies to promote its roast beef and protein‑heavy brand identity.

Arby's remains the third‑largest sandwich chain in the U.S. by systemwide sales, behind Subway and Panera, but its performance has lagged behind some competitors in recent years. Arby's sales declined in 2024, making it the weakest‑performing brand among Inspire Brands' six major chains during that period, according to Nation's Restaurant News.

The company has also closed dozens of underperforming locations. Arby's shut more than 40 restaurants between 2023 and 2025 as rising food, labor, and operating costs combined with softer consumer demand.

At the same time, Inspire Brands, which also owns Dunkin', Buffalo Wild Wings, Sonic, Jimmy John's, and Baskin‑Robbins, continues to expand overall. The privately held company reached a reported valuation of $20 billion this year and operates a franchise footprint of more than 33,000 locations worldwide.

For Arby's, limited‑time menu launches like the returning BBQ items and the new Mac Bowl appear to be part of a strategy aimed at boosting visits while reinforcing its "We Have the Meats" branding.

"Over the last year, we've seen countless new menu items and promotions from restaurant chains in an attempt to win back customers who are increasingly favoring dining at home to save money," Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek. "Arby's latest brisket and Mac bowl additions are the latest new items the company believes will garner interest and potential new sales."

Quick‑service chains are increasingly relying on bold flavors, premium proteins, and mash‑up items to stand out as consumers become more selective about where they spend dining dollars.

"Other chains have been enjoying a profit boost due to menu revisions, and the same could be true for Arby's if customers find these options more appealing," Beene said.

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This story was originally published April 20, 2026 at 7:53 AM.