Date Night on a Budget: Applebee’s Brings Back $6 Sips and Debuts a Skillet Burger Built for Sharing

Finding affordable ways to enjoy a night out has become a priority for many diners, and Applebee’s is opening the year with options that aim to feel indulgent without draining wallets. The casual dining chain is reintroducing its popular Mucho Smoocho Sips cocktails at a $6 price point while adding a new, cheese-focused burger to its menu.

The limited-time drink offerings include the returning Tipsy Cupid, which combines vodka, orange liqueur, strawberry flavors, and lemon sour into a sweet tart cocktail meant for sharing. Joining it is the Prickly Ever After Rita, a margarita that mixes tequila, citrus, and prickly pear for a balanced sip. Both drinks are finished with gummy candy lip garnishes and are priced to stay accessible. For guests avoiding alcohol, the Prickly Melon Rush Mocktail offers a mix of watermelon-flavored Red Bull, prickly pear, citrus, and lemon lime soda.

“It’s easy to find something (or someone) to fall in love with at Applebee’s,” Nate Grover, Applebee’s executive director of bar and beverage, said, explaining that the seasonal drinks are designed to make everyday outings feel more special.

On the food side, Applebee’s is introducing the O-M-Cheese Burger, a skillet served entrée built around melted cheese. The all-beef burger comes topped with American cheese, Applewood smoked bacon, and spicy honey mustard, then sits in a blend of warm queso and melted Cheddar cheeses.

 

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“Packed with flavor and (nearly) overflowing with sizzling melted cheese, there’s no burger experience like it!” Applebee’s chief marketing officer Michelle Chin said.

The burger can also be ordered as part of Applebee’s 2 for $25 menu, reinforcing the chain’s push to make budget dining feel satisfying, social, and fun rather than restrictive.