Foodie News
Pizza Hut Challenges Burger Chains with the Irresistible Cheeseburger Melt: Try It for Free!
Pizza Hut surprises burger lovers with their Cheeseburger Melt, a crispy thin crust loaded with beef, bacon, and melty cheese. Try it now!
In a surprising move, Pizza Hut has announced its entry into the burger business with the introduction of their new Cheeseburger Melt. The parmesan-crusted thin crust Melt is filled with beef, applewood-smoked bacon, onions, mozzarella, and cheddar, served with Burger Sauce on the side. Pizza Hut’s Cheeseburger Melt ditches the traditional burger bun and instead wraps all the flavors of a cheeseburger into a crispy thin crust.

To promote their new menu item, Pizza Hut is encouraging burger enthusiasts to cheat on their usual burger chain. The company is dispatching delivery drivers to certain fast-food burger chain drive-thrus, equipped with a QR code displayed on their back windows. Customers who see the cars and scan the QR code to request a better burger will be entered to receive a coupon for a free Cheeseburger Melt and a refreshing Pepsi drink.
Pizza Hut’s decision to venture into the burger business comes as a surprise, but the company is confident in their ability to deliver a superior cheeseburger experience. Lindsay Morgan, Chief Marketing Officer at Pizza Hut, expressed excitement about the brand’s foray into the burger industry, stating that they wanted to make a bold move and give burger lovers something new and delicious.
The Cheeseburger Melt is the perfect meal option for lunch or dinner, with Pizza Hut’s signature Thin N’ Crispy crust loaded with toppings and cheese and baked to melty perfection. The Melt is complemented by a dipping sauce that pairs perfectly with the individual-sized meal. In addition to the cheeseburger variety, Pizza Hut offers Melts in four other flavors: Pepperoni Lover’s, Buffalo Chicken, Chicken Bacon Parmesan, and Meat Lover’s.
Rachel Antalek, Chief Food Innovation Officer at Pizza Hut, explained that the Cheeseburger Melt provides a unique twist on traditional cheeseburgers. The Melt can be dipped into what Pizza Hut claims is the best burger dipping sauce, creating a burger and sauce experience that is unmatched.
Customers can order the Cheeseburger Melt as part of Pizza Hut’s new My Hut Box offer, which allows guests to choose between Melts or a 2-topping Personal Pan Pizza, along with a side of fries or boneless wings and a 20oz drink. The offer starts at $6.99 and is available at select Pizza Hut locations nationwide. Click here to find the closest Pizza Hut location.
*INCENTIVES AVAILABLE FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED, WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. QUANTITIES ARE LIMITED. Open to legal US residents physically residing in the 50 US/DC who are 18+ years of age. Ends at 11:59:59 pm CT on 5/20/24, or when all available Incentives are depleted (whichever comes first). A minimum of 7,350 Incentives are available. Limit one (1) Incentive per person. Other restrictions apply. For full Terms, visit thecheeseburger.com/terms.
**My Hut Box and Cheeseburger Melts are offered for a limited time only at select participating locations. My Hut Box Pricing varies based on selection. Pizza entrée includes up to 2 pizza toppings and wings side includes selection of 4 Boneless Honey BBQ or Buffalo Medium wings only. Additional charge for wing sauce. Melts come with 1 dipping sauce, no substitutions. Beverage extra. Exclusions apply.
Pizza Hut’s move into the burger business marks a new chapter for the iconic pizza brand. Pizza Hut has established itself as a leader in the digital and technology space, with over half of its transactions worldwide coming from digital orders. With their entry into the burger industry, Pizza Hut aims to provide an easy and delicious burger experience for its customers.
As a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Pizza Hut operates over 19,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries. The company is committed to unlocking opportunities for its team members and communities around the world. For more information about Pizza Hut and their new Cheeseburger Melt, visit their website or follow them on social media.
PepsiCo, the parent company of Pepsi, is also involved in Pizza Hut’s venture into the burger industry. PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers worldwide, and the company generated over $91 billion in net revenue in 2023. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes popular brands such as Lay’s, Doritos, Gatorade, and Quaker.
Pizza Hut’s press release, has generated excitement among fast-food aficionados. By introducing the Cheeseburger Melt, Pizza Hut aims to offer customers a distinctive and delightful burger experience. Through this bold initiative, Pizza Hut seeks to entice burger enthusiasts to explore beyond their regular burger joints and discover a new favorite cheeseburger at their pizza establishment. https://blog.pizzahut.com/pizza-hut-enters-the-burger-business-with-new-cheeseburger-melt/
https://stmdailynews.com/category/food-and-beverage
Food
Have a ‘Hoppy’ Easter with a Holiday Ham
Last Updated on April 4, 2026 by Daily News Staff
(Feature Impact) When your kitchen is full of colorful eggs, candy baskets, tempting sweets and all that comes with Easter, sometimes a holiday classic is just the answer for simplifying the season. Perfect for pairing with deviled eggs, potato salad and a traditional Sunday feast, this Maple-Glazed Easter Ham provides a hands-off approach to the main dish.
With an easily prepared glaze and your oven doing most of the work, you can keep your attention on time spent with loved ones. Visit Culinary.net to find more seasonal favorites, both classic and contemporary.
Maple-Glazed Easter Ham
Recipe adapted from Southern Living
Total time: 3 hours
Servings: 10
- 1 bone-in spiral-cut ham (8-9 pounds)
- 1 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1/2 cup (4 ounces) bourbon
- 1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- orange slices and wedges, for garnish
- fresh rosemary sprigs, for garnish
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- Place ham in large roasting pan and fill with 1/2 inch of water. Cover pan with aluminum foil and bake about 2 hours, basting every 30 minutes with juices from pan, until meat registers 120 F at thickest portion.
- In medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stir maple syrup, brown sugar, bourbon, ginger and cinnamon; bring to boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 6-8 minutes. Remove from heat. Cover to keep warm and set aside.
- Remove ham from oven and discard foil. Increase oven temperature to 400 F. Using pastry brush, glaze ham with 1/3 cup maple-bourbon mixture.
- Bake ham about 30 minutes until top is lightly caramelized and meat registers 145 F at thickest portion, brushing with remaining glaze every 10 minutes.
- Remove from oven and transfer ham to serving platter. Let rest 15 minutes and garnish with orange slices, orange wedges and rosemary sprigs.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
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Visit our Food & Drink section to get the latest on Foodie News and recipes, offering a delightful blend of culinary inspiration and gastronomic trends to elevate your dining experience. https://stmdailynews.com/food-and-drink/
Food
🌯 Fun Fact: When Is National Burrito Day?

If you needed a reason to celebrate your favorite wrapped meal, here it is.
National Burrito Day is observed every year on the first Thursday of April—a moving food holiday that always lands just in time to kick off spring cravings.
In 2026, National Burrito Day fell on April 2, giving burrito lovers across the U.S. the perfect midweek excuse to indulge.
A Quick Bite of History
While the burrito itself has deep roots in Mexican cuisine, the modern celebration of National Burrito Day is largely driven by restaurants and food brands that turned it into an annual event—complete with deals, giveaways, and social media buzz.
Today, it’s widely embraced by chains like Chipotle Mexican Grill and Qdoba Mexican Eats, along with local taquerías that join in the celebration.
Why It Matters (Beyond the Food)
National Burrito Day is more than just a marketing holiday—it reflects how a simple, portable dish became a staple of American food culture.
From classic bean-and-cheese to fully loaded carne asada burritos, the options are endless—and so are the reasons to celebrate.
External Related Reading
- National Day Calendar: National Burrito Day
- Smithsonian Magazine: A Brief History of the Burrito
- Chipotle Mexican Grill – Official Website
- Qdoba Mexican Eats – Official Website
Related Reading
Food and Beverage
Survey Finds Cooking Oil Now Influences Where Many Americans Choose to Eat
A new survey suggests cooking oil is no longer just a kitchen detail. Coast Packing found that 43% of Americans say a restaurant’s cooking oil influences where they choose to eat.
Last Updated on April 2, 2026 by Daily News Staff

New national survey data suggests cooking oil is becoming a visible factor in restaurant selection, with younger diners showing the strongest preferences.
A new national survey suggests that cooking oil is no longer just a back-of-house decision for restaurants. It is increasingly becoming part of how consumers decide where to eat.
According to new data released by Coast Packing Company, 43% of Americans say a restaurant’s cooking oil influences their dining choice. The survey, based on responses from 1,005 U.S. consumers, points to a clear shift in how ingredient decisions are perceived by the public.
The strongest signal comes from younger diners. Among adults ages 18 to 34, 52% say knowing whether a restaurant uses Beef Tallow or seed oils affects where they choose to eat. Among consumers 55 and older, that number falls to 33%.
The preference gap also shows up when diners are asked to choose between two otherwise identical restaurants. In that scenario, 31% of adults ages 18 to 34 say they would choose the restaurant using Beef Tallow, compared with 19% of adults 55 and older.
The survey also found that 24.7% of diners prefer restaurants to use traditional animal fats such as butter or Beef Tallow, while 15.6% prefer seed or vegetable oils. That suggests ingredient choices once treated mainly as operational decisions may now be influencing brand perception, menu appeal, and customer loyalty.
For restaurant operators, the findings point to a broader change in consumer behavior. Diners, especially younger ones, appear increasingly interested in how food is prepared and what ingredients are used behind the scenes. That shift aligns with wider food industry trends that emphasize transparency, flavor, and traditional preparation methods.
Coast Packing says the data builds on years of tracking consumer attitudes toward animal fats. Earlier research showed growing openness to ingredients such as Lard and Beef Tallow, particularly among younger consumers who associate them with flavor and old-school cooking. This latest survey goes a step further by suggesting those views are now influencing actual dining behavior.
The findings also match broader market signals. Whole Foods Market’s 2026 food trend forecast identified Beef Tallow as an emerging ingredient gaining visibility, while analysts continue to project growth in the global tallow sector through 2030.
Restaurants are unlikely to overhaul kitchen practices overnight. Still, the survey suggests cooking oil is becoming more than a technical ingredient choice. For a growing share of consumers, it is part of the dining experience itself.
For more information, visit Coast Packing Company.
External Links
- Back to Flavor, Back to Tallow white paper
- Email to request the full survey results
- Coast Packing Company official website
- Coast Packing TasteMap
- Healthy Fats Coalition
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