21 Popular Outback Steakhouse Menu Items, Ranked Worst To Best

When you want a good steak in a casual atmosphere (or you just want to enjoy an American interpretation of Australian food), Outback Steakhouse is the place to be. It's the kind of restaurant likely to suit everyone in your family. Sure, it's a steakhouse first and foremost, but even the most beef-averse eaters will find plenty of options on the menu, ranging from salad to pasta to fish. That's why it's a good chain to visit if you're trying to please everyone in your group.

But if you haven't been to Outback Steakhouse many times before (or you're planning your very first trip to the chain), you may find yourself at a loss for what to order. There are so many different dishes to choose from that it can be overwhelming if you don't have some direction. We've taste-tested a wide variety of dishes from Outback Steakhouse, and we've consulted online reviews to provide a subjective but illuminating ranking of 21 of Outback Steakhouse's most iconic dishes. Wondering how your favorites stack up? Keep reading.

Looking for a deeply boring, unimaginative pasta dish that you could probably have just as easily made at home? Then you should order the Queensland Chicken and Shrimp Pasta from Outback Steakhouse. It's essentially just a fettuccine alfredo with seasoned chicken and shrimp. Yes, the protein is seasoned well, but that's basically the only flavor you're getting in the dish — the pasta is otherwise flavorless.

Sure, this dish might be a good option if you're trying to get plenty of protein and carbs into your diet in one go or if you want to opt for a pasta dish instead of steak. But if you want something with varying flavors that you won't get bored with after just a few bites, you're better off ordering something else.

Mac and cheese can be really hit or miss, probably because it's technically so simple. After all, it seems difficult to mess up pasta and cheese sauce. But when it goes wrong, mac and cheese can lack texture and taste bland, which can make eating it feel like a chore. That's the case with Outback Steakhouse's Mac and Cheese. This side dish just seems like an afterthought to the meat on the menu.

The pasta is cooked to oblivion, so you don't get that nice al dente bite you crave in a pasta dish. The cheese sauce is as bland as it gets — you're going to need to douse the dish in an unholy amount of black pepper. There are much better side dishes to choose from on the Outback menu.

When it comes to a steak, what matters most is who's cooking it, so the quality can vary drastically from one Outback Steakhouse location to another. That being said, we didn't have the best experience when we ordered the Sirloin & Coconut Shrimp from the chain. The center-cut sirloin was a nice size — substantial but not large enough that we had a ton of leftovers — but it was cooked far past the point of medium rare, which we'd specified. The flavor wasn't bad, but the texture was much tougher than expected.

The coconut shrimp were just okay. The breading is delicious, with a lovely hint of sweetness from the coconut. The shrimp themselves, though, were lackluster. They were small and didn't seem to pack a lot of flavor. Rather, the dish relied on the breading to pull it all together. Even though this wasn't a terrible meal, it's probably not something we'd ever want to order again.

Sometimes, you go out to eat because you're interested in the fare at a specific restaurant. Other times, you go out to eat for convenience or because you're meeting with friends, even if you may not be super excited about the restaurant's food. If you order the Grilled Chicken on the Barbie from Outback Steakhouse, we're going to assume you're in the latter situation. Why else would you order a chicken breast at a steakhouse?

According to some diners, the grilled chicken at Outback is cooked and seasoned well. But ultimately, it's hard to make a grilled chicken breast that exciting. This dish may be a good choice if you're trying to reach certain fitness goals or if you're just not super hungry, but there are more interesting options on the menu to choose from.

Pork chops may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you're ordering a meal at a steakhouse, but the Caramel Mustard Glazed Pork Chops at Outback aren't bad. When we had these pork chops, they were moist and tender, which isn't always the case with pork — perhaps it's because they decided to use bone-in chops here. The only downside here is the glaze that they top the pork chops with. It's made with caramel and creole mustard, and although we like the savory note of the sauce, the caramel makes it a bit too sweet. However, if you like a lot of sweetness with your pork, then there's a good chance you'll love this dish.

These pork chops come with your choice of two sides. We suggest pairing them with mashed potatoes, which can sop up all that extra sauce and temper the dish a bit.

Want a light, fresh side? Then you definitely shouldn't order the Aussie Cheese Fries from Outback Steakhouse. This isn't the leanest appetizer you could order, but that's why it's delicious. These fries are topped with two types of cheese (Monterey Jack and cheddar) and bacon. If that wasn't already enough, they added some ranch on top to finish it all off. The result is a cheesy, dairy-heavy appetizer that has undeniable appeal.

Would this be better if they added something fresh, like chopped scallions, into the mix? Absolutely, since it is lacking on the freshness front. But it's pretty darn good as is, especially if you're looking for something hearty. Just consider sharing this appetizer — after eating several of these fries, you may not have enough appetite left for your entree.

Your entree may be your first priority when you go out to eat, but you don't want to forget about dessert, particularly when you're still hungry after finishing your main. There are a few different options to choose from at Outback Steakhouse, and we just happen to be fans of the Salted Caramel Cookie Skillet. First of all, anything with salted caramel in it is bound to be good, as long as it's salty enough (which is certainly the case here).

We love that this salted caramel cookie also contains white chocolate, almond toffee, and most importantly pretzels, which add both flavor and texture to an otherwise simple cookie. The fact that this cookie is toasted enhances the flavors even more, and the vanilla ice cream on top brings the whole dish together.

Mashed potatoes are amazing in any form, but they're even better when they're topped with a ton of other flavorful ingredients, as is the case with the Loaded Mashed Potatoes from Outback Steakhouse. The creamy mashed potatoes feature sour cream, bacon, green onions, Monterey Jack, and cheddar cheese. The green onions provide just the right amount of freshness, while the bacon offers a crispy addition to the otherwise ultra-creamy dish.

This combo of ingredients is a pretty classic recipe, but we think Outback Steakhouse does it particularly well. There are many different side dishes to choose from, but this is one of our favorites at the chain. Enjoy these potatoes on the side of your steak, or order them for the table to share.

Sometimes, desserts at mid-priced chain restaurants like Outback Steakhouse can be too sweet, too cloying, and absolutely overwhelming with a bunch of competing flavors. But that's not what you're going to get when you try the Butter Cake. This is our favorite dessert offered at the chain, and once you take a bite, you'll understand why. It's sweet but not too sweet, and the texture is smooth, buttery (of course), and ultra-rich.

They top the cake with strawberries, which add some nice acidity to the dish, along with whipped cream, which — let's be honest — makes everything taste better. The serving size is not small, so consider sharing it with someone else, but it's definitely worth a try if you're interested in a simpler dessert.

Filet mignon may not be the fattiest cut of meat, but it is ultra tender. We also like that it's on the smaller side, which makes it the perfect cut for pairing with a seafood dish for a surf and turf situation. The Victoria's Filet Mignon & Lobster entree at Outback Steakhouse offers just that: Both meat and seafood for the ultimate indulgent experience. We suggest asking for your filet mignon cooked medium rare for the most flavorful experience, but feel free to order it however you prefer your meat cooked. The lobster tastes fresh and has that bit of chewiness we love in seafood.

This is a simple surf and turf combo that, when cooked well, is bound to taste delicious. It feels a little elevated, and a little fancy, but since you're having the dish at Outback, it's not ridiculously expensive.

We visited Outback Steakhouse several times in a few different cities taste testing most of the items on this list. For dishes we didn't try personally, we consulted online reviews and comments to offer a well-rounded perspective on the dishes featured here.