Baked Potato Flavors You Didn't Know Wendy's Used To Have
We're here to clue you in on a little known fact: Wendy's Mexican-style baked potato walked so that Taco Bell's Fiesta Potatoes could run. And now, here we are, without either one to show for it.
Okay, that may have been a bit dramatic, but let's clear things up. When it comes to potatoes, Wendy's takes the top fast food spot. No other burger or chicken nugget joint can compare, and that's because they're lacking one thing: the baked potato.
Nowadays, Wendy's menu proudly features far more carb-loaded starch options than just the average hand cut fries. There's the classic Baked Potato, clocking in at a measly 270 calories when compared to a 480 calorie large fry. And then, of course, there are the loaded baked potatoes: Sour Cream and Chive, Bacon and Cheese, and the holy grail Chili & Cheese (don't ask us about the calories on that one — ignorance is bliss, after all).
Wendy's debuted unique Hot Stuffed Baked Potatoes in the '90s
Back to that Mexican-style potato...we're definitely intrigued to see if Wendy's might feature this one for a nostalgic menu throwback. Taste of Home explains that the classic burger joint spent the 1980s fighting for its spot in the fast food world by trying something out of the box with its offerings, especially when it came to its potato flavors.
Some of the currently-offered potato options hit menu boards back in 1983, with one (definitely missed) exception. According to this commercial, '80s customers had the rare option to add some veggies onto their carb-dense meals with the Broccoli and Cheese baked potato.
By 1990, even more Hot Stuffed Baked Potatoes were born. As advertised in this quintessential '90s commercial, patrons could choose between two interesting flavor combos: the Italian and Mexican Hot Stuffed Potatoes. The Italian potato was loaded with zesty pizza cheese, crumbled sausage, and red sauce. The Mexican potato took a spicy turn with a picante sauce, nacho cheese, and sour cream, all loaded onto a generous helping of taco beef. Like we said: Fiesta Potatoes, who?
Loaded baked potato flavors continue to make surprise appearances on Wendy's menu
If you're stuck on the ridiculous (yet somehow so enticing) flavor combos of Wendy's past, then get ready, because there have been even more potato ventures in the restaurant's history — some of which are considerably tame in comparison. In 2012, Wendy's introduced the Baked Sweet Potato in an attempt to refocus on its potato-loving patrons. While the original Hot Stuffed Potatoes were advertised as a healthy side to a meal, Wendy's take on a sweet potato was anything but (via Herald Extra).
The side was nearly as many calories as a regular hamburger, and packed a day's worth of sweets into a melted brown sugar and cinnamon topping. One review even said that "two bites were the max" thanks to the sweet drizzle on top, which was likened to "Cinnabon sugar mixed with butter and something slightly sour" (via Cooking Channel).
The superbly sugary sweet potato has since joined the ranks of the Hot Stuffed potatoes and beloved Broccoli Cheese on Wendy's shelf of long-forgotten, discontinued items. And while we're slightly jarred at the idea of a pizza potato, we're admittedly crossing our fingers that they make a comeback one day soon.