I tried Chili's new Big Smasher burger and thought it was far superior to a Big Mac

I tried Chili's first new burger in three years, the Big Smasher. I'd come back for it again.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

• I tried Chili's Big Smasher burger, the chain's first new burger in three years.
• The half-pound burger comes with lettuce, crunchy pickles, and a creamy Thousand Island dressing.
• The burger was juicy on the inside but had a mouthwatering, crispy crust on the outside.

Chili's just came out with its first new burger in three years in the hopes of competing with fast-food chains like McDonald's.

The burger, which launched on April 29, has similar ingredients to a Big Mac but twice the meat. It's available for $10.99 when included in the chain's value meal — something the chain is advertising to attract value-driven customers as fast-food prices climb.

I tried the burger for the first time at Chili's headquarters in Dallas a few weeks before its official launch. After it landed in restaurants nationwide, I tried it again at my local Chili's.

Here's what I thought of Chili's new Big Smasher burger.

I tried the Big Smasher for the first time at Chili's headquarters in Dallas a few weeks before its official launch on April 29.

The Big Smasher at Chili's headquarters.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I was invited to Chili's headquarters to try the brand's newest burger and other new menu items in development.

I made the burger myself, hand-smashing the half-pound patty with a large iron and arranging the toppings on the freshly buttered bun.

I was really impressed by the juicy yet crispy burger when I tried it in the company's test kitchen, but I wanted to see if I'd be just as blown away trying it in an actual restaurant, like any other customer.

To get a more realistic experience, I also tried it at my nearest Chili's after its launch.

The author outside Chili's in Glendale, New York.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I was looking forward to heading back to a Chili's restaurant. I went to Chili's for the first time last year, and I have been back several times since then, both for work-related taste tests and just to hang out with friends.

I live in Brooklyn, New York, so the closest Chili's restaurant is located in Glendale, about a 20-minute drive from my apartment.

When I arrived at around 5:30 p.m. on a weekday, the restaurant was already filled with customers.

For a limited time, the burger is included in Chili's 3 For Me value deal, which is how I ordered it.

The Chili's menu opened to the 3 For Me section.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The Big Smasher starts at around $12.99 on its own, but the price differs slightly by location. At my local Chili's, the burger cost $14.39, excluding tax.

This meant that ordering the burger as part of the 3 For Me was a no-brainer because the deal starts at $10.99, excluding tax.

With the deal, you get an appetizer like bottomless chips and salsa, a drink, and an entrée. I decided to add a margarita instead of a bottomless soft drink to my order, which added an additional $3.99.

The burger comes topped with shredded lettuce, diced red onions, pickles, American cheese, and Thousand Island dressing.

Chili's Big Smasher burger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I went with fries as my side, but you can also choose from options like mashed potatoes, rice, and steamed broccoli.

The ingredients burger are similar to a Big Mac, but I've admittedly never been a fan of the iconic fast-food burger. I find it too bready, and the patties too thin. So I was excited to see if this similar burger would correct those personal qualms I have with the fast-food staple.

The star of the show truly was the burger patty.

Chili's Big Smasher burger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The burger was juicy and slightly pink, but it had a delicious char on the outside. The cheese was perfectly melted onto the patty, but it didn't drip from the burger.

The burger patty was also thicker than I expected.

Chili's Big Smasher burger.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The burger patty weighs about a half pound, which is thicker than most fast-food burgers. I also thought this was one of the best chain restaurant burgers I've ever had because it was so classic.

While it didn't have all the bells and whistles like bacon, barbecue sauce, and vegetables piled high on this burger, that's what I really liked about it.

Each ingredient complemented and didn't overpower the others, from the fresh-tasting shredded lettuce to the pickles, red onion pieces, and the layer of tangy Thousand Island sauce.

Time will tell if the Big Smasher wins over customers, but it certainly impressed me.

The outside of Chili's.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

It's hard to say whether the Big Smasher will become as iconic as some of Chili's other menu items, namely the chain's baby back ribs and appetizers.

However, I thought the large, juicy burger was certainly good enough to take on fast-food staples like the Big Mac, as well as burgers available at other chain restaurants.

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