Burger King is putting its fans front and center in 2026 with a bold new addition to its menu: the Ultimate Steakhouse Whopper. Beating more than 600,000 submissions, this fan-created recipe has officially gone nationwide, proving that sometimes the best ideas come straight from the customers themselves. Wondering how a regular fan’s creation became the latest addition to Burger King’s menu? Read on to discover what sets this winning recipe apart from half a million other entries.
Meet Burger King’s Ultimate Steakhouse Whopper
Building on the success of last year’s Whopper By You platform, Burger King is turning up the flavor in 2026 with a brand-new fan-inspired creation: the Ultimate Steakhouse Whopper. Whopper By You empowers BK guests to put their stamp on the menu, and with more than 600,000 submissions so far, this latest offering captures exactly what Whopper fans nationwide have been craving.
Making its U.S. debut on January 6th, the Ultimate Steakhouse Whopper features 4.4 oz of 100% flame-grilled beef, nestled on a toasted sesame seed bun and stacked high with golden onion rings, crispy bacon, sautéed mushrooms, melty Swiss cheese, and creamy peppercorn aioli. Each bite delivers the bold, rich steakhouse flavors fans have been asking for.
“Burger King has an incredibly passionate fanbase that loves the Whopper and constantly inspires us with creative new flavor ideas to bring to America’s best burger,” said Joel Yashinsky, Chief Marketing Officer, Burger King US&C, in a statement. “We’re excited to start the year with this delicious new guest-inspired Whopper sandwich, and fans can look forward to even more Whopper By You creations later this year.”
While Burger King has long invited guests to “Have It Your Way,” the fast-food chain took that promise to a new level with the official launch of the Whopper By You platform in July 2025. This initiative evolved from the viral Million Dollar Whopper contest that ran throughout 2024. While the Million Dollar Whopper contest was a one-time event where fans competed for a cash prize, the Whopper By You series serves as the ongoing, permanent platform for releasing these fan-designed burgers nationwide.
Since its debut, the platform has become a high-stakes arena for culinary creativity among Royal Perks members. The Ultimate Steakhouse Whopper marks the third successful release in the series, following in the footsteps of previous fan-led innovations:
- July 2025: The platform launched with the BBQ Brisket Whopper, the first guest-inspired creation to hit nationwide menus.
- August 2025: The momentum continued with the launch of the Crispy Onion Whopper, further cementing the platform’s popularity.
By gamifying the menu-making process through the BK app and website, Burger King has effectively turned its customer base into its largest R&D department. Guests can continue to share their next great Whopper innovations via the Whopper By You platform by visiting BK.com/WBY.
Source: People