Culver’s Secret Menu: 8 Hacks Loyal Guests Swear By
Culver’s keeps its printed menu tidy: ButterBurgers, crinkle‑cut fries, Wisconsin Cheese Curds, frozen custard, plus a handful of dinners and salads. Yet the chain’s cook‑to‑order model, deep pantry of toppings, and mix‑in madness behind the custard counter make it a fertile playground for off‑menu creativity. Crew members know the drill—regulars love to tweak—and most ingredients are stocked in every blue‑roofed restaurant from Wisconsin to Florida. Below, find eight proven hacks complete with ordering scripts, taste notes, and pro‑level etiquette so you can craft gourmet surprises without slowing the “Please drive ahead to the pick‑up window” flow.
1. ButterBurger Harvest Veggie Melt
What it is
A vegetarian‑friendly grilled cheese loaded with Culver’s harvest sauté blend—peppers, mushrooms, onions—and a slice of Colby Jack.
How to order
Ask for a grilled cheese on sourdough bread. Then say, “Could you add a scoop of your sautéed harvest veggies inside before grilling and melt Colby Jack on both slices?” Crew usually ring the veggies at a small up‑charge.
Flavor vibe
Golden buttered bread crunch, gooey cheese pull, and sweet‑savory veggie bite. It’s comfort food without the beef.
Pro tip
Add avocado (select regions have it for salads) for creamy depth and an extra health halo.
2. Triple Pork Pile‑Up
What it is
Pulled pork from the Bar‑B‑Q sandwich stuffed onto a ButterBurger with crispy bacon.
How to order
Start with a Double ButterBurger Cheese. Ask to add pulled pork and barbecue sauce. Finally, say “Can you include a slice of bacon?” The result is beef, smoked pork, and bacon layers under melty American cheese.
Flavor vibe
Smoky, saucy overload—like a county‑fair burger that fits in one hand.
Pro tip
Swap barbecue sauce for spicy Buffalo to cut sweetness and add heat.
3. Chili Cheddar Curds
What it is
An indulgent mash‑up of Culver’s Wisconsin Cheese Curds smothered in chili and shredded Cheddar.
How to order
Order a regular cheese curds side and a cup of George’s Chili (regular or Supreme). Request an extra ramekin of shredded Cheddar. Combine at your table: dump curds into bowl, ladle chili over, sprinkle cheese. The curds’ breading stays semi‑crisp while soaking up spicy chili.
Flavor vibe
Wisconsin meets Texas in a gooey, crunchy bowl.
Pro tip
Ask for jalapeños (from Supreme chili) if your spice tolerance is high.
4. Brick Cheese ButterBurger (Midwest homage)
What it is
A nod to Detroit‑style pizza lovers: brick cheese instead of American.
How to order
Order any ButterBurger “sub Brick cheese, please.” Brick is used on Culver’s patty melt in many states, so cooks have it sliced and ready.
Flavor vibe
Rich, slightly sharper than American, melts into buttery beef like grown‑up comfort.
Pro tip
Pair it with the toasted rye patty‑melt bread to double down on the Midwest diner angle.
5. CurderBurger 2.0 (Year‑Round Hack)
What it is
Re‑creates the viral limited‑edition CurderBurger—Beef topped with an oversized fried cheese curd patty—even when it’s off the menu.
How to order
Order a Double ButterBurger Deluxe. Add a side of cheese curds. Open the bun, smash a handful of curds into a single layer, close, and press gently. It’s not the single‑disc novelty, but the flavor and crunch are near identical.
Flavor vibe
Cheese‑lava pockets burst with every bite; lettuce and tomato add freshness.
Pro tip
If you see “Wisconsin Big Cheese Pub Burger” promotional items, ask for its cheddar‑cheese‑sauce drizzle on top for extra curd glue.
6. Root Beer Concrete Float
What it is
Frozen‑custard Concrete Mixer built like a blended root‑beer float.
How to order
Request a Vanilla Concrete Mixer made with Culver’s signature Draft Root Beer instead of milk. Add one pump of marshmallow crème. Blend thick.
Flavor vibe
Creamy, icy, and fizzy‑sweet—the float you slurped as a kid, but spoon‑ready.
Pro tip
For lower sugar, ask to “go half root beer, half diet root beer.”
7. Lemon Berry Fresh‑Freeze (Summer Cooler)
What it is
Lemon ice meets blueberry and raspberry purée for a sorbet‑like slush.
How to order
Order a Lemon Ice Cooler, then say, “Add a pump each of blueberry and raspberry topping instead of vanilla.” Staff blends it, yielding a vibrant magenta drink that beats any coffee‑chain refresher.
Flavor vibe
Tart lemonade backbone with sweet berry burst—like Italian ice in sipping form.
Pro tip
Top with a dollop of vanilla custard for a creamsicle twist.
8. Midnight Mocha Shake
What it is
Chocolate custard blended with espresso and Oreo pieces: Culver’s answer to a frappé.
How to order
Ask for a Chocolate Shake. Request a shot of espresso (every store has espresso for cappuccinos) and one scoop of crushed Oreos mixed in.
Flavor vibe
Rich mocha with cookie crunch, caffeine kick, and velvety custard base.
Pro tip
If espresso isn’t on hand, sub two pumps of Culver’s chocolate syrup plus dark‑roast coffee concentrate (used in some regions).
Secret‑Menu Etiquette at Culver’s
Mind the “Welcome to Delicious” pace – Culver’s prides itself on quick yet precise cook‑to‑order timing. Complex hacks are best ordered inside, not through a busy drive‑thru.
Use clear ingredient language – Rather than “Give me the CurderBurger,” say “Add cheese curds on top of my burger.”
Expect and accept up‑charges – Extra toppings and custard mix‑ins cost more; staff must ring them honestly.
DIY assembly when needed – Health codes often prevent crew from combining sides into entrées. Bring it to your table for final assembly.
Tip if you can – Many Culver’s have tip jars for counter staff. Custom requests plus stellar service deserve gratitude.
Ingredient Availability Guide
Cheese curds, brick cheese, chili, root beer, espresso, lemon ice, fruit toppings, marshmallow crème, and custard mix‑ins are standard across nearly all U.S. Culver’s.
Avocado, jalapeños, or seasonal sauces may rotate; always ask politely if something isn’t visible on boards.
Nutrition Snapshot—Know Before You Hack
Most hacks add calories fast. A Root Beer Concrete Float with marshmallow can push 650 calories. The Triple Pork Pile‑Up may cross 900. If you care about macros:
Choose single‑patty burgers, skip extra sauces, or share sweet hacks.
Opt for diet root beer, fat‑free frozen custard (if offered), or half‑sweet syrups.
Moderation lets you enjoy secret creativity without derailing wellness goals.
Final Scoop
Secret‑menu hacking turns Culver’s from a familiar Midwestern staple into a playground of melted brick cheese, chili‑curd decadence, and root‑beer‑infused desserts. The chain’s made‑to‑order ethos means employees are already comfortable customizing; meet them halfway with clear requests and gratitude. Whether you’re crunching into a DIY CurderBurger or spooning a Root Beer Concrete Float under the glow of that blue roof, these eight hacks unlock new levels of Delicious—no secret handshake required.
