Burger King Is Releasing a Football-Themed Whopper

BK is also testing nacho-flavored chicken fries as part of its Game Day-inspired menu

Burger King’s Game Day Pretzel Whopper and Nacho Chicken Fries | ©Image Credit: Burger King
Burger King’s Game Day Pretzel Whopper and Nacho Chicken Fries | ©Image Credit: Burger King

Burger King is bringing the excitement of game day to its menu with a special football-themed lineup. The fast-food giant is testing a bold new Whopper variation and a new crave-worthy version of its chicken fries, both inspired by classic stadium flavors. If you love the winning combination of savory, cheesy, and crunchy ingredients, then these two limited-edition menu items are sure to elevate your game-day experience. Intrigued? Read on to discover more about these Game Day snacks from Burger King and why they could become the next ultimate tailgating treats.

Burger King’s Game Day Pretzel Whopper

Burger King’s Game Day Pretzel Whopper takes inspiration from a classic stadium snack: pretzels with cheese sauce. While the flame-grilled ¼-pound beef patty remains unchanged, the new version is stacked with American cheese, crispy bacon, pickles, nacho cheese, and crispy onions, all served on a SuperPretzel bun.

Bailey Fink of AllRecipes.com gave the Game Day Pretzel Whopper a try, and while she appreciated some elements, she wasn’t entirely impressed with the execution. She noted that the combination of beef, bacon, and pickles made for a solid fast-food burger, and the crispy onions added a nice crunch. However, the “game day” flavor was underwhelming, largely due to the lack—or near absence—of nacho cheese sauce, which was supposed to be a defining ingredient. Without it, the burger relied on American cheese, which didn’t quite deliver the bold pretzel-and-cheese sauce experience she expected.

Despite this, Fink praised the SuperPretzel bun, calling it the true standout of the burger. She enjoyed its buttery, slightly sweet taste and felt it was a great addition to the Whopper. In fact, she said she’d love the option to order a pretzel bun on any Burger King burger moving forward.

Burger King’s Nacho Chicken Fries

Burger King is also shaking up its side game with new Nacho Chicken Fries. These aren’t your average Chicken Fries; they’re breaded in tortilla chips and served with a side of nacho cheese sauce, giving a nod to the popular nacho-fries concept.  This move could be seen as a direct challenge to Taco Bell’s similar offerings.

As a self-proclaimed Chicken Fry enthusiast, and someone who missed out on Taco Bell’s discontinued tortilla chip-crusted nuggets, Fink was eager to try this new iteration. According to her review, like the original Chicken Fries, the nacho version boasts an impressive crispiness, making them perfect for dipping.  The accompanying nacho cheese sauce also earned high praise.  However, Fink noted that the Nacho Chicken Fries are a bit saltier than the originals, perhaps due to the tortilla chip crust.  Ultimately, she suggests that the best approach might be to stick with regular Chicken Fries and simply order a side of nacho cheese sauce for dipping, achieving a more balanced flavor profile.

Where to find Burger King’s Game Day Pretzel Whopper and Nacho Chicken Fries

Craving Burger King’s Game Day Pretzel Whopper or Nacho Chicken Fries? For now, these limited-edition menu items are only available at select Burger King locations in Columbus, Ohio, where they’ve been undergoing a market test since January 9th.

This isn’t the first time Burger King has chosen Ohio’s capital as a testing ground. In 2024, BK introduced a Frozen Cherry Float inspired by the Ohio State Buckeyes, along with a scarlet and gray OSU-themed crown. However, the Game Day menu marks the first time Columbus is testing a football-inspired product that could expand nationwide.

Once the testing phase wraps up, Burger King will decide whether to roll out these items across the country. History suggests there’s a good chance—Columbus has previously hosted test runs for menu items like the Impossible Whopper, Mozzarella Fries, and Churro Fries, all of which made it to national menus. Fans are hopeful that if Columbus gives these new items the thumbs-up, the rest of the U.S. will get a taste soon, too.

Source: All Recipes