2 min read- Shake Shack brought back its Smoky BBQ menu with returning burgers, chicken sandwiches, and sides.
- Two new items—a rib sandwich and mac and cheese—are the main additions this year.
- The rib sandwich stands out for its real slow-cooked meat, while the mac and cheese delivers a creamy, well-balanced texture.
Shake Shack is bringing back its Smoky BBQ lineup starting today, along with a few seasonal drinks and shakes, but the real focus is on two new items: a rib sandwich and mac and cheese.
The returning menu sticks to what worked last year. You’ve got the Smoky Classic BBQ Burger and Chicken Sandwich, both layered with American cheese, applewood-smoked bacon, crispy onions, pickles, and BBQ sauce. The spicy fries are also back, with or without cheese, plus a side of ranch.
Then there are the summer drinks and shakes: Strawberry and mango lemonades are back in the mix, along with a cucumber basil sparkling drink. On the dessert side, there’s a Key Lime Pie Shake, a s’mores-inspired Chocolate Marshmallow Shake, and a Tropical Mango Shake with popping boba. It’s a full seasonal rollout, even if most of it isn’t brand new.
What’s New On The Shake Shack Summer Menu?
The rib sandwich and mac and cheese are new this year. The BBQ Boneless Baby Back Rib Sandwich is Shake Shack’s first attempt at this kind of sandwich, and it’s clearly meant to compete with fast food versions that have come before it (like the McRib from McDonald’s). The difference here is the meat. Instead of a formed patty, this uses actual baby back rib meat that’s been slow-cooked and hand-deboned.
That shows up in the texture right away. The meat is tender and closer to something you’d expect from a sit-down BBQ spot than a drive-through sandwich. The BBQ sauce is classic and slightly sweet, which complements the richness of the pork. The coleslaw adds a needed contrast, bringing in a cool crunch.
The mac and cheese is the bigger surprise. Fast food versions tend to be inconsistent, but this one lands in a much better place. It uses cavatappi pasta, which holds onto the sauce in a way that actually makes a difference. The cheese blend is thick and creamy without feeling overly processed, and each bite is evenly coated.
The breadcrumb topping adds texture, but it doesn’t overpower the dish. It stays soft enough to blend in while still giving you a slight contrast.
Overall, this is a menu that leans on familiarity while quietly improving a few key areas. The returning items give people a reason to come back, but the new additions are what make it interesting.