Wendy’s Baconator Cheez-Its: Everything We Know

What a time to be alive. Late last month, snack journalist Markie Devo reported that Wendy’s Baconator-flavored Cheez-Its are probably coming later this year. Everything he stated is speculative, but I’ll vouch for him. I don’t think he’d report all this without good evidence. So, all signs point to Wendy’s and Cheez-Its working together.

I was confused about this partnership until I remembered something unique that Wendy’s and Cheez-Its have in common that sets them apart in their respective fields. You’ve got the whole article to think about what that could be and I’ll tell you at the end. Consider it a critical thinking exercise or something.

Cheez-Its and Wendy’s? Is Taco Bell gonna get jealous?

That’s what I’m saying! Big Cheez-Its were on sale at Taco Bell as recently as September 2024. If all you had told me was that Cheez-It was working on a fast food-inspired flavor, I would have been so confident that it’d be Taco Bell due to the brands’ previous working relationship. These days, we see a lot of mutually-beneficial collaborations. (See last year’s Hidden Valley Ranch-flavored Cheez-Its and Cheez-It-flavored Hidden Valley Ranch.) Wendy’s and Taco Bell don’t share a parent company either, so this is a wholly separate interaction from their recent dealings. 

Is this Wendy’s first time in the snack space?

Not quite, but this would be their first time working with Cheez-Its specifically. Back in 2020, Wendy’s collaborated with Cheez-Its’ parent company Kellanova to release Baconator-flavored Pringles. The following year, we saw a Wendy’s-branded Spicy Chicken Sandwich Pringle flavor on shelves. Wendy’s is no stranger to the snack aisle; for them, this is just a new fling in a familiar bar.

If Baconator Cheez-Its come out, when can we expect them?

Per Markie, these are expected to be released in summer of 2025. These don’t sound like they’d be exclusive to any particular retailer, but stranger things have happened. Once I know more, I’ll be sure to update this piece with more details. As someone born in the city where Cheez-Its were invented, I’m invested, y’all.

So, what do Cheez-Its and Wendy’s have in common?

Okay, here’s what I realized these two brands have in common. Wendy’s and Cheez-Its are both uniquely square in a space full of round alternatives. If that’s the angle they’re taking, it’s kinda genius. The “We Don’t Cut Corners” ad with a Wendy’s patty and Cheez-Its cracker is gonna hit even harder than the Coke/Oreo ads.