Applebee's 2 for $25 gets you one appetizer and two full-size entrées for $25, or two side salads in place of the appetizer. The newest entrée is the O-M-Cheese-adilla Burger, added August 31, 2026 and served in a skillet of molten queso. Drinks and dessert aren't included. On a typical order you save about $16.
How the 2 for $25 Works
Three picks, one price.
- A starter. Any appetizer on the deal, or two side salads.
- Two entrées. Each person picks their own. They don't have to match.
- $25. That's $12.50 a person before drinks, tax and tip.
The entrées are the same size as the regular menu. Plenty of value menus shrink the plate to hit a price. This one doesn't.
The Side Salad Swap Most People Miss
You can skip the shared appetizer and take two side salads instead, at no extra cost.
It sounds like a small detail. It isn't. A shared appetizer runs 590 to 1,170 calories and is built for splitting, while a House Side Salad is 160 calories each. When both entrées already sit above 1,000 calories, choosing the salads is the biggest single change you can make to the meal. It also ends the argument when one person wants wings and the other doesn't.
2 for $25 Entrées in 2026
New this year
- O-M-Cheese-adilla Burger (new August 31, 2026, dine-in only). The Quesadilla Burger, with bacon and Pepper Jack, served sizzling in a skillet of molten queso and melted Cheddar, with white corn tortilla chips, pico and cilantro. If you order it, you're eating in.
- Grilled Cheese Cheeseburger. A beef patty stacked with four slices of American cheese and sweet and savory jam on toasted potato bread, with tomato basil soup for dipping. 1,420 calories.
- Chicken Parmesan Fettuccine. Breaded chicken, marinara and mozzarella over fettuccine, with a garlic breadstick. 1,480 calories.
- California Grilled Chicken Salad. Grilled chicken with avocado cucumber salsa, tomatoes, bacon and Parmesan. 920 calories, the lightest entrée on the deal.
Still on the deal
- Fiesta Lime Chicken. Grilled chicken with Mexi-ranch, cheese, tortilla strips and Spanish rice. 1,190 calories and 61g of protein. See chicken.
- Oriental Chicken Salad. Applebee's signature salad, and a trap for anyone ordering light. Crispy, it's 1,560 calories, heavier than a Classic Bacon Cheeseburger by 340. Grilled, it's 900. See salads.
- Bourbon Street Chicken & Shrimp. Cajun chicken and blackened shrimp on a sizzling skillet. 1,010 calories and 57g of protein. See skillets.
The line-up isn't identical everywhere. Franchisees pick which entrées they offer, and some charge a few dollars more to swap in a steak. The insert on your table is the final word.
2 for $25 Appetizers
| Starter | Regular price | Calories | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two side salads | $9.98 | 320 | 12g |
| Chicken Wonton Tacos | $11.49 | 590 | n/a |
| Mozzarella Sticks | $9.99 | 860 | 41g |
| Spinach & Artichoke Dip | $10.49 | 990 | 21g |
| Boneless Wings | $12.99 | 1,080–1,260 | 40–42g |
| Brew Pub Pretzels & Beer Cheese Dip | $10.99 | 1,160 | 34g |
| Chicken Quesadilla | $11.99 | 1,170 | 49g |
Applebee's also pushed the Bacon Cheeseburger Wonton Tacos as a new 2 for $25 starter in 2026: wonton shells filled with seasoned beef, cheddar, bacon and pickles. Ask if your restaurant still has them.
Which starter to pick: For value, the Boneless Wings. At $12.99 they're the most expensive appetizer on the list, so they get you the most out of the $25. For protein, the Chicken Quesadilla at 49g. For a lighter meal, the side salads, and it isn't close.
What You Actually Save
About $16 on a normal order, and more if you pick the priciest items.
Take Spinach & Artichoke Dip at $10.49, a Classic Bacon Cheeseburger at $14.49 and Fiesta Lime Chicken at $16.49. Off the regular menu that's $41.47. On the deal it's $25.00, so you keep $16.47, which is 40% off.
Push it the other way with Boneless Wings ($12.99) and two entrées at $16.49 and the regular price is $45.97. Same $25. You save $20.97.
| Order for two | Cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| 2 for $25 | $25.00 | Starter + two entrées, no drinks |
| Two Really BIG Meal Deals | $19.98 | Two sandwich entrées, fries and drinks |
| Two half price apps | about $11 | Two appetizers, 3–6 PM or 9 PM–close, dine-in |
So which should two people order? If you both want a burger or chicken sandwich and no starter, two $9.99 Really BIG Meal Deals win by $5.02 and include drinks. If either of you wants pasta, a salad, the O-M-Cheese-adilla Burger or an appetizer, the 2 for $25 is the better deal.
How Many Calories Is the 2 for $25?
It swings by more than 1,600 calories depending on what you pick. Two real orders from the list above:
- Lightest: two side salads (320), California Grilled Chicken Salad (920) and Fiesta Lime Chicken (1,190). That's 2,430 calories for two people.
- Heaviest: Boneless Wings (1,080), a crispy Oriental Chicken Salad (1,560) and a Grilled Cheese Cheeseburger (1,420). That's 4,060.
The starter is the biggest lever. Swapping a 1,000-calorie appetizer for two side salads changes the meal more than any entrée swap. The second lever is grilled instead of crispy chicken, which takes 660 calories off the Oriental Chicken Salad alone. Every figure is on the nutrition page.
Dine-In, To Go and Delivery
The 2 for $25 works for dine-in, Carside To Go and delivery. The exception is the O-M-Cheese-adilla Burger, which Applebee's serves dine-in only because it arrives in a hot skillet.
Order delivery through the Applebee's app instead of DoorDash or Uber Eats. The apps set their own prices, so the same deal can cost more there. If it's traveling, pasta holds up best and anything fried goes soft. More on takeout and delivery.
What to Know Before You Order the 2 for $25
The strongest pair is the Bourbon Street Chicken & Shrimp and the Chicken Parmesan Fettuccine. The skillet shows up sizzling, with charred Cajun chicken and shrimp over potatoes that soak up the garlic butter. The fettuccine has thick noodles and properly crispy chicken. One of each and you've ordered the best of the deal.
The O-M-Cheese-adilla Burger is a lot of cheese. It's messy, the tortillas soften in the queso, and you'll finish it with a fork. Order it for the experience, not for a neat burger. Asking for less queso keeps the chips and tortillas from going soggy.
Fiesta Lime Chicken is bright, the rice less so. The lime and pico keep the plate fresh, but the rice can come out dry. Swap it for another side if your restaurant lets you.
Think twice about the crispy Oriental Chicken Salad. The dressing is heavy and it's 1,560 calories. Order it grilled and it's lighter and better balanced.
For the starter, pick Mozzarella Sticks or Boneless Wings. They're the most reliable. The Spinach & Artichoke Dip changes the most from one visit to the next.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's on the Applebee's 2 for $25 menu?
One appetizer, or two side salads, plus two full-size entrées for $25. Entrées in 2026 include the new O-M-Cheese-adilla Burger, Grilled Cheese Cheeseburger, Chicken Parmesan Fettuccine, California Grilled Chicken Salad, Fiesta Lime Chicken, Oriental Chicken Salad and Bourbon Street Chicken & Shrimp.
Can I get side salads instead of an appetizer on the 2 for $25?
Yes. Two side salads can replace the shared appetizer at the same $25 price.
What is the O-M-Cheese-adilla Burger?
The Quesadilla Burger with bacon and Pepper Jack, served sizzling in a skillet of molten queso and melted Cheddar, with tortilla chips, pico and cilantro. Applebee's added it to the 2 for $25 on August 31, 2026, and it's dine-in only.
Are drinks included in Applebee's 2 for $25?
No. Drinks, dessert, tax and tip are extra. The $9.99 Really BIG Meal Deal is the Applebee's deal that includes a drink.
Does Applebee's still have the 2 for $20?
No. The deal used to be 2 for $20 and is now 2 for $25. There's no national 2 for $20 in 2026.
How much do you save with the 2 for $25?
About $16 on a typical order. An appetizer and two entrées cost $41 to $46 off the regular menu.
Can I order the 2 for $25 for takeout?
Yes, for Carside To Go and delivery. The O-M-Cheese-adilla Burger is the one entrée you can't take home.
Can one person order the 2 for $25?
Yes. Nothing stops you, and the second entrée makes tomorrow's lunch. Pick pasta for the leftover. It reheats better than anything fried.
Why does my Applebee's charge more than $25?
Franchisees set their own prices. In expensive cities a restaurant can price the same deal above $25.
More Deals Worth Comparing
For one person, the $9.99 Really BIG Meal Deal is cheaper. Eating between 3:00 and 6:00 PM? Half price apps start at $5.00. Every running offer, with end dates, is on the specials and deals page.