Chili's® Grill & Bar Takes Bite Out of Pizza, Introducing Southwestern Flavor Profile to this Favorite American Dish

DALLAS , April 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time in the brand's 38-year history, Chili's® Grill & Bar is bringing the bold taste of the Southwest to a popular menu item enjoyed by millions of Americans – pizza. Available now in participating restaurants nationwide, guests can share a slice of life over a slice of Chili's new pie when dining for lunch or dinner.

With four mouth-watering pizzas to choose from, there is a flavor for everyone. Traditional pie lovers can delight in Five Cheese or Pepperoni, and those who prefer theirs served with a little flare can feed their cravings with the unique, Chili's recipes of Southwestern Chicken and Taco. The new pizzas are the first in a line of upcoming menu innovations set to excite guests as they share moments of More Life Happens Here℠with friends and family.  

Perfect as a shareable appetizer to start the meal or individual entree, Chili's pizza features classic ingredients, such as mozzarella and Monterey Jack, as well as bold flavors like house-made pico de gallo and cumin-lime sour cream. To achieve the crust's fluffy inside and crisp finish, pizzas are baked to order and delivered straight from the oven to guests' table with all the fixings, including red pepper flakes and Parmesan.

"After 38 years of delivering cult-like favorites such as our Baby Back Ribs, guest feedback and preference is telling us now is the time to bring pizza to Chili's, but with our signature, Southwestern flavor profile," said Krista Gibson, senior vice president of brand strategy for Chili's Grill & Bar. "Our brand made recent and significant investments in kitchen technology, culinary research and team member training to ensure we could deliver on guests' expectations of Chili's – and this new menu platform." 

Whether dining in-restaurant or ordering To Go, guests can enjoy a freshly made 9-inch pizza any time of the day. For the value-oriented consumer, the 9-inch Pepperoni Pizza is offered as an entree selection on the brand's $20 Dinner for Two menu complete with a shareable appetizer and second entree.

Furthering its appeal, pizza is also featured on both Chili's Lunch Break and Pepper Pals kids' menu. At lunch, guests can treat themselves to a perfectly sized 6-inch pizza available in Five Cheese or Pepperoni and served with salad or soup for $6. Just like mom and dad, children 12 and under receive their choice of a 6-inch classic Pepperoni or Cheese Pizza – in addition to a drink and side – when ordering from the Pepper Pals menu.

"When guests think of Chili's, pizza is not necessarily one of the first menu items to jump to their minds," added Gibson. "To change this perception and drive trial, we are highlighting this culinary innovation in several categories of our menu as well as looking for opportunities to expand the platform, including the launch of flatbreads in May 2013."

Chili's Pizza Menu features:   

• Five Cheese – topped with cheddar, mozzarella, Monterey and pepper Jack, Parmesan, diced tomatoes and green onions.
• Pepperoni – topped with mozzarella, Monterey Jack, Parmesan and classic pepperoni.
• Southwestern Chicken – topped with chile-rubbed chicken, chipotle, pesto, cheddar, mozzarella, Monterey and pepper Jack, green and red bell peppers, red onion and house-made pico de gallo.
• Taco – topped with seasoned ground beef, salsa, cheddar, mozzarella, Monterey and pepper Jack, red onion and cilantro with a drizzle of cumin-lime sour cream and house-made pico de gallo.

Chili's also offers customization of the pizzas to satisfy guests' taste buds. For $1 each, pizza lovers can add even more flavor to their dish with toppings such as mushrooms, jalapenos and seasoned ground beef.

Chili's Grill & Bar is the flagship brand of Dallas-based Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE: EAT), a recognized leader in casual dining. Chili's offers a variety of Southwestern-inspired, classic American favorites at nearly 1,600 locations in 33 countries and two territories. Brinker's wholly-owned restaurant brands include Chili's® Grill & Bar and Maggiano's Little Italy®.

At Chili's, More Life Happens Here℠ around every table, every day, at every Chili's across the country. Guests are encouraged to share their stories of More Life Happening at their Chili's by connecting with the brand on Facebook (http://facebook.com/chilis), Twitter (http://twitter.com/chilis), YouTube (http://youtube.com/chilis) and Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/chilis). For more brand-related information, please visit http://www.chilis.com.

SOURCE Chili's Grill & Bar