Wendy’s and Cheez-It Drop a Baconator-Inspired Cracker

Cheez-Its’ latest flavor is practically a carnivore’s dream. 

Wendy’s is teaming up with Cheez-It for its juiciest, most savory release yet — the Baconator Cheez-It. Inspired by the Ohio-based chain’s iconic bacon burger, this limited-time offering is scheduled to hit stores this summer. To recap, this classic Wendy’s order features a hefty half-pound of beef, American cheese, Applewood smoked bacon, ketchup, and mayo. 

In today’s announcement, the two companies confirm that the savory snack — which brings a “ real cheese taste” that’s “amplified with savory Applewood smoked bacon flavor” — will be available in July. (And while Cheez-Its’ original bacon flavor is ironically meatless, it remains unclear whether this one will be vegetarian-friendly.) Nonetheless, the two brands did their best to recreate the massive burger, which first appeared on Wendy’s menus in 2007.

“We took our famous Baconator — a burger known for its irresistible, beefy, bacon-loaded flavor — and reimagined it with the unmistakable cheesy crunch of Cheez-It,” Lindsay Radkoski, U.S. chief marketing officer for The Wendy’s Company, said in the announcement. “The result is a one-of-a-kind bite that gives fans a fresh, new way to enjoy their Wendy’s favorite anytime, anywhere.” 

If you’ve found yourself on the high protein side of TikTok, we have some unfortunate news for you: These collaborative crackers aren’t as protein-packed as Wendy’s original Baconator, which boasts a whopping 57 grams of protein. Cheez-Its is offering fans a flavorful alternative, though: Folks can scan the QR code on the back of the cracker box to unlock a $2 coupon for the actual bacon-topped burger. 

Customers who buy the Cheez-It x Wendy’s Baconator crackers on the brand’s website will receive early access to this collaboration. Soon, you can grab the brand-new flavor and a Wendy’s Frosty keychain on CheezIt.com (plus, complimentary shipping with the code CHEEZBURGER).

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about this savory Cheez-It collaboration. Food bloggers Markie Devo and Snackolator shared rumors of this partnership in late January—an announcement that was met with surprise, delight, and a healthy dose of skepticism from their collective Instagram followers: 

As far as new releases go, Cheez-It has been on a roll lately. The brand has also introduced Pesto & Mozzarella, Smoked Gouda, and Smoked Cheddar flavors in recent months. Meanwhile, competitor Goldfish has also refreshed its flavor lineup with burger sauce-inspired snacks and the return of Old Bay-flavored Goldfish. 

Wondering if the new Cheez-It Baconator crackers truly taste like the real thing? All that’s left is to do a side-by-side comparison of the two.