Order 2 Simple Sides To Give Culver's Onion Rings 10x The Flavor

There are many types of french fries, and chili cheese fries are a standout among them, bringing saucy meatiness and gooey cheesiness to the popular side dish. The topping combination is also a dynamite addition to another deep-fried favorite: onion rings. The problem is, while you can find the french fry version on the menus of various fast food brands, chili cheese onion rings aren't so common. With some DIYing, though, you can easily create your own, and Culver's is a great place to do it.

The Wisconsin-based chain is noted for its beefy, veggie-rich chili and Wisconsin Cheddar Cheese Sauce, and customers love the brand's onion rings, touting them as some of the best in the business. So, it follows that a chili cheese onion ring hack doesn't require anything more than ordering the three components and then combining them yourself. If you don't want to do the work, though, Culver's offers Chili Cheddar Fries on its menu, so you can always ask your server to add the toppings to rings instead of fries. Culver's prides itself on cooking all of its meals to order and encourages diners to customize their food, so such a request may be possible.

Bear in mind, fans of this menu hack note that the chili and sauce don't stick particularly well to the coating on Culver's onion rings, which are battered. Ergo, dipping them works a bit better than pouring the chili and cheddar over them, so that consideration may sway you toward the DIY approach. Either way, though, you're in for some delicious munching with this melty, meaty menu hack.

After you've savored your chili cheese onion rings, we have to ask: Why stop there? Culver's has a particularly robust lineup of other side items that deserve to be smothered in the chain's cheese sauce, and some are definitely prime candidates for the chili-cheese treatment. Its famous Wisconsin Cheese Curds are a mouthwatering option, for instance, or you can opt for a kick of heat with the brand's Jalapeño Cheese Curds, which are offered temporarily during the chain's annual Curdtoberfest. Its Pretzel Bites also make for a tasty pairing, and since they already come with cheese dipping sauce, you only need to order the chili to complete the hack. If you're feeling adventurous, Culver's Fried Pickles can also bring a zesty flavor twist to chili-cheese DIYing.

On the flip side of the fryer, there are some other innovative ways to jazz up your onion rings. Culver's has a variety of dressings and dipping sauces you can choose from when ordering your rings, but one that isn't offered as an option is the Thousand Island dressing that tops the chain's Grilled Reuben Melt. We recommend requesting a cup to dunk your rings in. The creamy tanginess and subtle sweetness are an excellent pairing that cuts through the richness and heaviness of the fried onions, and many who have tried the combo now swear by it. We also recommend ordering a side of Culver's homestyle gravy (which comes standard on the chain's mashed potatoes) to dip your rings into for a hearty, savory mashup.