---
title: "Why So Many Franchises Are Saying ‘Cheese’ This Fall"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/4a958bc5-8389-4928-a25f-30a1b04f91d9
source: "Entrepreneur Franchise"
original_url: https://www.entrepreneur.com/buying-a-franchise/why-so-many-franchises-are-saying-cheese-this-fall
author: "Jon Small"
category: "Franchise Industry"
industry: "Franchise Industry"
published: 2026-09-11T14:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T13:17:11.697Z
image: https://www.entrepreneur.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/cheese-fall-frachises-0926_g2251786980.jpg
---

# Why So Many Franchises Are Saying ‘Cheese’ This Fall

**TL;DR:** Several franchises, including Applebee's, Golden Chick, and Freddy's, are incorporating cheese into their menus this fall, following a trend of comfort and value-driven food options. Dr. Chad Moutray, chief economist for the National Restaurant Association, explains that melted cheese checks the boxes of familiarity, filling, and indulgence without high production costs.

*By Jon Small, originally published in Entrepreneur Franchise on 2026-09-11. [Read the original](https://www.entrepreneur.com/buying-a-franchise/why-so-many-franchises-are-saying-cheese-this-fall).*

## Story

Applebee’s just launched its O-M-Cheese-adilla Burger, a burger stuffed inside a quesadilla and dunked in a skillet of melted cheddar and queso. Golden Chick rolled out its own queso for $1. Freddy’s is melting over its Baconfest, which layers bacon onto cheese-covered tots and burgers through Nov. 3, according to Restaurant Business.

The ooey-gooey trend shows up everywhere. Denny’s built its entire new burger lineup around American cheese. Panera added a Three-Cheese Lasagna Soup to its fall lineup, and Qdoba is running a whole “Diptember” promotion built around 14 dips and sauces, headlined by a new Queso Fundido.

What’s so pleasing about cheesing? “Comfort and value are the twin pillars shaping America’s menus right now,” explains Dr. Chad Moutray, chief economist for the National Restaurant Association, whose 2026 What’s Hot Culinary Forecast identified comfort, value and global flavor as the industry’s biggest bets this year. Melted cheese checks both boxes. It’s familiar, filling, and makes a menu item feel indulgent without costing much to produce.

## Entities

- General (sector)
- menu pricing (topic)
- Entrepreneur (publication)
- Applebee's (company)
- Denny's (company)
- Qdoba (company)
- Freddy's (company)
- Golden Chick (company)
- National Restaurant Association (regulator)
- Panera Brands (company)
- comfort food (topic)
- Jon Small (person)

---
Originally reported by Jon Small, Entrepreneur Franchise (https://www.entrepreneur.com/buying-a-franchise/why-so-many-franchises-are-saying-cheese-this-fall). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/4a958bc5-8389-4928-a25f-30a1b04f91d9).