9 (Slightly Disturbing) Reasons Outback Steakhouse Is So Affordable

When you compare a McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese Meal to a 6-ounce Sirloin Meal at Outback Steakhouse, the steak only costs about $4 to $5 more — which is surprisingly affordable.

Outback has some peculiarly cheap (and delicious) options that allow you to stretch your restaurant budget. But just how do they do it? According to several alleged former employees and reports, here are some of the ways Outback Steakhouse keeps prices so low.

If your go-to dish at Outback is the Kingsland or Queensland pasta, you may be surprised to learn that the pasta is pre-bagged and microwaved.

While the sauce used to be made on-site, according to an alleged employee, in 2016, the steakhouse chain switched to entirely pre-made options. Instead of freshly made pasta, customers now receive something the chef just pops in a microwave. That makes the $17.99 base price seem a little outrageous.

Enjoying a well-done steak is a surprisingly controversial preference, but does it warrant a lower quality steak than those who choose medium-rare? According to an alleged former employee, Outback opts to reserve lower-quality cuts for well-done orders.

This could help the chain disguise the imperfections and inferior quality of the cut, ideally lowering the amount of food waste from being sent back. It could also contribute to the popularity of their competitor, Texas Roadhouse, and their choose-your-own steak policy.

In 2020, The Humane Society rated Outback's parent company, Bloomin' Brands, an "F" for animal welfare conditions, including overbred chickens, caged hens, and crate-confined pigs. The company pledged to transition to more humane practices by 2025 and has implemented an animal welfare advisory council, although Bloomin' Brands pushed its cage-free egg goal back to 2030.

If you've ever thought the Mac and Cheese Bites tasted like a ball of glue, it's because the Asiago, Mozzarella, and Parmesan blend advertised on the menu is actually a processed cheese sauce rather than fresh cheese. The steakhouse likely opts for frozen convenience over freshness, and it could leave some customers disappointed.

Cutting down payroll expenses can save money, but it comes at the sacrifice of quality. According to the most recent data from Statista, the average hourly wage in the U.S. is $19. Glassdoor reports that the average line cook base salary at Outback is $17.

While the menu prices may be lower, underpaid workers may not bring their "A" game. The quality of your meal could suffer as a result.

Steamed lobster tails strongly implies boiling water and a steaming rack, but Outback has been accused of zapping them in the microwave. A viral video from 2022 claimed that the chain microwaves them before serving, and Reddit users have alleged that some stores microwave the tails unless directly asked to grill them.

Outback might be using pre-made, frozen French onion soup that only requires adding water and heat, according to an alleged former employee. Sure, it's a more affordable option than making the time-consuming dish on-site. But if customers wanted to microwave a meal, they could make this at home — and spend less money doing so.

High-end steakhouses opt for Prime quality meat, which is the highest grade of beef and has the most marbling, which makes it more tender and flavorful. Outback opts for Choice beef, which has less marbling but is still a high-quality cut. Choice-grade beef is considered the second highest quality beef, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Outback Steakhouse is owned by Bloomin' Brands, which also operates Bonefish Grill, Carrabba's Italian Grill, and Fleming's Prime Steakhouse. That gives them more leverage for better bulk deals on base ingredients because they're buying for more than just Outback.

Outback Steakhouse is an affordable restaurant compared to other steak-centric options, but let's be real — if we wanted microwaved food, we would have stayed at home. The steaks and the Bloomin' Onions skip the lazy oven, though, which means the money you spend may be more justified.

To keep more cash in your wallet when eating at Outback, consider signing up for their rewards program. You can use Dine Rewards to earn five points for every dollar you spend and put those points toward future purchases.