Culver's Sandwich Hacks You Should Try On Your Next Order

The beauty of Culver's is that you always know what to expect: Succulent ButterBurgers, golden and gooey grilled cheese, lightly toasted sandwiches filled with "the works", and of course, those famous Wisconsin cheese curds. We were content to go on in this fashion, piling our sandwiches with as many Culver's add-ons as possible. But then, a moment of clarity: What if we could make our favorite Culver's sandwiches even more exciting? 

So, we scoured the internet to find out how true Culver's connoisseurs customize their sandwiches. As it turns out, the Midwest is chock-full of generous sandwich-lovers who are ready and willing to share their Culver's sandwich hacks with the rest of us. 

If you go into the right Culver's at the right time, you can walk out with something you'd never find on the menu: the cheesiest sandwich you can conceive of; a DIY version of a Canadian delicacy; and even a Franken-meat sandwich that would likely make anyone's cardiologist do a double-take. All of these and more are possible if you have the confidence (and the creativity) to ask for them. Who knows? Maybe you'll discover your own sandwich hack in the process. 

One of the most popular Culver's food hacks is also one of the simplest. Depending on the location, Culver's is known to swap the standard bun for sourdough when requested. "10/10 would recommend," said one Reddit user. Another Redditor also vouched for sourdough's supremacy: "On another level," they said. 

One employee told a curious Reddit user that the request is "simple for the register/order taker and simple enough for the kitchen," which makes this the best kind of sandwich hack: It's easy for everyone involved. And according to satisfied customers, it meaningfully improves the quality of the sandwich. After all, there's just something about sourdough, especially when toasted, that makes even the most basic sandwiches feel a little fancier, a little more elevated. 

Imagine swapping out a Grilled Reuben Melt on Rye for sourdough, or even a Beef Pot Roast sandwich for sourdough. Can you hear the slight crunch of the toasted bread, feel the way it counteracts with the softness of fresh tomato and lettuce? Cue that bread appreciation scene from "Ratatouille". The Kaiser and hamburger buns at Culver's are great and all, but sourdough? The tangy taste and chewy texture add a welcome complexity to any sandwich.

Adding cheese to a meal has never hurt anyone (except people with lactose intolerance, of course). And according to Reddit, delicious Culver's cheese curds are a famously versatile addition to any meal, from the Crispy Chicken Sandwich to the grilled cheese to, well, pretty much any Culver's sandwich you want. If you think cheese is missing from every sandwich you've ever eaten, then you've found the solution to your problem.

An order of medium Wisconsin cheese curds costs just under $5, depending on location, which obviously isn't cheap. But think about what you're getting with this Culver's staple: Self-described as a "dairyland delicacy" per the company's website, the cheese curds add a complex, buttery crunch to any sandwich. This is Wisconsin cheese — ask any Wisconsinite, and they'll tell you that their home state's cheddar cheese can't be beat. So why not layer a few Wisconsin cheese curds in between the corned beef and sauerkraut on your Grilled Reuben Melt?

The sandwich-plus-cheese curds equation is so delicious, in fact, that Culver's created the CurderBurger. If this sounds like a joke, that's because it was, at least at first. Culver's announced the CurderBurger as an April Fool's Day prank in 2021. The unexpected enthusiasm for the curd-covered burger led to the very real debut of the CurderBurger later that year. Now, we still can't get enough of the gooey cheesiness that cheese curds bring to every sandwich and burger.

Ready for the simplest of all hacks? All you need to do to bring an ordinary fish sandwich from "good" to "great" is utter two simple words: "Extra crispy" or "well done" (though we'd recommend adding "please" to the end). This is all it takes for a Culver's employee to leave your fish filet in the fryer for a little longer than they usually would. Redditors swear that ordering fish sandwiches "extra crispy" doesn't only add a lovely crispy crunch, but deepens the fish's flavor. After all, extra crispy fried fish tends to keep the fish nice and juicy while maintaining that satisfyingly crunchy crust.

This hack has been circulating the internet for several years, based on one Reddit user's comment: "Anything that is cooked in the fryers can be made extra crispy," they said. This isn't the case at every Culver's location, especially during a busy time of day. But if you can't get the thought of a succulent cod or walleye filet out of your mind, it's definitely worth asking.

Culver's describes its North Atlantic Cod Sandwich as being "hand-filleted [...] and fried to perfection after you order." If your definition of "perfection" is a thoroughly browned, crispy filet slathered in tartar sauce and sandwiched between a buttered hoagie roll, then yeah — it's worth the extra time it will take in the fryer. Wouldn't you rather sink your teeth into a hot, crispy fish sandwich than a soggy or rubbery one, anyway?

Culver's sandwiches are already tasty, but you can turn those delicious flavors up to 11 with a few acidic ingredients. Take Culver's fried pickles, for example. The crispy, breaded exterior and the briny interior brings a satisfying contrast to, say, Culver's standard Grilled Chicken Sandwich or even to a basic grilled cheese. Then there's Culver's creamy coleslaw, which brings an unexpected tangy flavor to any Culver's sandwich.

Culver's fans of Reddit — there's plenty of them — swear that the chain's flavor-packed sides are perfect for sandwich stacking. "It's nice because the acidity from the coleslaw meshes well together with the savory and spicy chicken and the sweetness from the brioche bun," one person, who tried this hack on one of Culver's Spicy Chicken Sandwiches, said on Reddit. They also said that Culver's pickles and crispy onions are "nice for texture and tang." You really only need one acidic ingredient to add dimension to any sandwich, but adding all three would bring each ingredient, and the overall meal, to another level. 

This hack is no longer confined to fan forums. Culver's Fried Pickle Pub Burger is a limited-time offering that gives you a little bit of everything: earthy cheddar cheese, a sweet pretzel bun, smoky beef, and, of course, those acidic, salty fried pickles. The best part? You can customize with acidic ingredients when you order the sandwich, or after you bring it home. 

The only thing better than a pretzel is a pretzel bun, especially when it's warm, crispy, and housing meat and cheese. "The pretzel bun with grilled chicken, Swiss, and bacon is really good," one person said on Reddit. The bun's unique flavoring plays off of, for example, the simplicity of the grilled chicken, making for a one-of-a-kind experience. Another person on Reddit simply spoke their truth: "I will consume the [pretzel] bun straight."

We can't say we blame them. Even by itself, a pretzel bun is just novel enough to make a meal memorable. But when you toast the pretzel bun, you elevate the experience even further. Another Reddit user suggested that customers ask employees to "Toast bun as normal" and then "Butter & salt top crown, [and] Toast bun backwards." The employees may not do this for you in-store, but you can absolutely do it at home. 

You may get some looks if you order one of Culver's limited-time pretzel bun burgers without, you know, the burger part. But take it from us, or at least from the good people of Reddit: A toasted pretzel bun is the treat you didn't know you needed. Order it medium-toasted with the burger, and you get an even more flavorful experience. The pretzel bun doesn't come around very often at Culver's, so you'd better take advantage of it while you can.

Yes, you can enjoy a version of the Canadian classic, poutine, at the Midwest's favorite burger joint. All it takes is a bun-less Beef Pot Roast, two types of Culver's cheeses, small fries, and a little ingenuity (and maybe a few cheese curds, if you're so inclined). One Redditor calls this a "simple, yet delicious, poutine." And to think: It all started with a pot roast sandwich.

What if your nearest Culver's doesn't serve the Beef Pot Roast? What is a poutine-loving American to do? Thanks to the internet, you can still hack your way to something resembling poutine. "I used to get fries with cheese sauce and a side of beef gravy to make poutine," another Redditor said — and you could add cheese curds, too. Keep in mind that Culver's mashed potatoes come with gravy, but it isn't technically part of the chain's sauces and dressings menu, so you may not be able to get gravy without also ordering mashed potatoes.

Culver's knows all about people's love for poutine, and their attempts to make the Canadian delicacy themselves with Culver's menu items. When it comes to cheese sauce, Culver's encourages customers to "let your creativity run wild and apply the cheese sauce as you wish." The cheese curds may hail from Wisconsin and not from the Great White North, but one bite is all it takes to burst out into a patriotic rendition of "O Canada."

Culver's take on a classic Mushroom & Swiss Burger is a popular menu item thanks to its "fresh, never frozen beef" (per the company's website). A double Mushroom & Swiss from the main menu is approximately $7.89, depending on your location. But what if we told you there's a way you can finagle a slightly cheaper version of the same burger, and with a fun (and delicious) surprise on the side? All it takes is a little ingenuity — and a Culver's employee with an extra minute to spare. 

Here's the hack: Order a ButterBurger Cheese Kids' Meal, but swap the American cheese the meal usually uses for Swiss, and request the additional topping of sauteed mushrooms. Now, this version may not be a double. But the most important difference is in the price: Your DIY Kids' menu Mushroom & Swiss would come to around $7.29, which is a whole 60 cents cheaper. Or, as the Reddit user who shared this hack put it, this version of the burger is "hella cheap" compared to the regular double. 

Ordering the burger this way doesn't only save you precious cents, but gives you something arguably more precious: a free scoop of Fresh Frozen Custard, which comes with every kids' meal. If you ordered your sandwich from the regular menu, a scoop of custard would've been over $3. But now, you get it for free. Mushrooms, Swiss cheese, and custard never sounded like a better combo than they do right now.

No restaurant wants customers to order a grilled cheese and say, "I could've made this myself at home." Some might say that Culver's version of the classic sandwich falls into this trap — but there may be a solution. Swap the American cheese in a standard grilled cheese sandwich for cheddar. "I always ask for a cheddar substitute instead of American," one Reddit user said of their Culver's grilled cheese order. "I love it." Chances are, this customer doesn't only love cheddar over American because it tends to have a sharper, earthier flavor, but because it's an altogether more substantial and even more satisfying type of cheese for making a perfect grilled cheese.

American cheese is known for having a more rubbery consistency and taste, making cheddar seem more authentic, and even more complex, in comparison. It's a cheese you can easily build upon with extra ingredients; this is especially true if you add bacon to your order for an extra $1.50. You may be adding to the overall price tag, but you're also adding to the flavor, so it's a fair trade.

One customer on Reddit highly recommends "always getting the cheddar and making the burger more Wisconsin." Wisconsin is the cheese state, after all; if we're going to order a grilled cheese sandwich, it had better be as high-quality as possible. American cheese may create a more Instagram-worthy cheese pull, but is that really more important than flavor? (Hint: No, it is not.)

Culver's may have a diverse selection of sandwiches to choose from, but sometimes, you just can't help craving a classic BLT. The problem is, Culver's doesn't have a BLT on the menu ... unless you're willing to go a little rogue. If you find yourself at a Culver's at the same time as an agreeable employee, you just might be able to turn an ordinary grilled cheese into a bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich, according to Reddit. 

We warn you: This process is not for the faint of heart. For one, it requires ordering a grilled cheese without any cheese, which is bound to raise a few eyebrows (although you may prefer it with cheese anyway). It also means adding bacon and tomatoes to your order, which costs an extra $1.50 and 40 cents, respectively (there is no additional charge for lettuce). The extra costs are worth it in order to bring an authentic BLT to life. Mashed once referred to the BLT's ingredients as a "sensory symphony," so you know we're passionate about this. 

If you don't mind subbing toasted rye or sourdough for a less traditional type of grilled cheese bread, like a Kaiser or brioche roll, then you can also customize a BLT from a Harvest Veggie Burger. Going the Harvest Veggie route will almost certainly cost more money, but it's good to know there are other options for all you BLT lovers out there.

Secret menu items tend to capture the imagination, and it's easy to see why: There's a forbidden air about them that adds to their overall allure. Who doesn't want to stroll out of their favorite fast food joint with a unique concoction only they seem to know about? The three proteins involved in McDonald's Land, Sea, and Air burger — beef, fish, and chicken, respectively — have long captured the public's imagination in this way. After all, what on earth does this combo even taste like? Aren't there far too many dominating flavors? Isn't there such a thing as "protein overload?"

The answer to these questions seems to be "yes" — and also, "It's so wild, it just might be delicious." One Redditor called the Culver's version of this sandwich a "monstrosity," but others were intrigued, and one person specifically asked how to order or make it. It's admittedly an expensive process: Order three sandwiches and/or burgers that use beef, fish, and chicken, and then stack the proteins between two slices of bread or a roll. Chances are, a Culver's employee will have you assemble this bad boy yourself, just like at McDonald's.

Culver's take on a Land, Sea, and Air burger may be an expensive, artery-choking experience, but that doesn't mean it isn't worth a try (if you're physically up for it, of course). At best, it's a unique new dinner option. At worst, it's a good story.

You go to Culver's for simple, wholesome, and fulfilling Midwestern fare, not for Italian cuisine. But the heart wants what the heart wants, and so does the stomach. Sometimes, both of them want a succulent chicken tender slathered in tomato sauce and melted parmesan cheese. Luckily, DIY chicken parm is possible at Culver's if you know how to make it (and if you find an employee who's willing to get creative with you).

There are a few ways you can make this off-the-menu recipe work, but the best may be to order a Crispy Chicken Sandwich, nix toppings like tomatoes, pickles, and lettuce, but add cheese curds. The most important part? Order a side of marinara sauce, which you can usually get alongside an order of chicken tenders. And here's the biggest surprise yet: You may not have to DIY this recipe at all, if rumors floating around the internet are to be believed.

Culver's has been rolling out limited-time Pub Burgers throughout 2026; at the time of writing, it's the Fried Pickle Pub Burger's time to shine. A few lucky Culver's locations got to test out two new recipes in June: the Buttery Parmesan Pub Burger and the Buttery Parmesan Chicken Sandwich. These aren't quite the same as chicken parm, but they're as close as we've gotten so far — and they just might pop up in your local Culver's at any time.