Shake Shack Debuts an Innovative Baby Back Rib Sandwich and Mac and Cheese for the Summer
Shake Shack’s latest summer release is getting a lot of attention. The chain picked one of the toughest comfort foods to pull off at scale and went all in. It officially launched its Smoky BBQ summer menu nationwide on April 28, and the centerpiece is a brand-new BBQ Boneless Baby Back Rib Sandwich priced at $12.99.
Going Bigger for BBQ Season
Unlike the processed rib-style patties fast-food fans usually expect, this sandwich uses actual baby back pork ribs, marinated in apple cider vinegar and a proprietary spice blend, then slow-cooked for nine hours. The ribs are then hand-deboned and stacked onto a toasted potato bun with coleslaw, pickles, and the chain’s smoky BBQ sauce.
The company called it a “first-of-its-kind” sandwich for the chain. Even restaurant consultants interviewed about the launch noted that the sandwich seems designed to energize existing Shake Shack fans rather than to chase bargain fast-food customers.
The Mac and Cheese Might Steal Attention Too
The side dish uses cavatappi pasta, mixed into a cheddar and American cheese sauce, then topped with toasted breadcrumbs. It’s priced at $5.99 and rounds out the menu’s backyard barbecue angle.
Early reviews focused heavily on the texture, especially the choice of pasta shape and the breadcrumb topping. That may sound like a small detail, but it helps the dish feel closer to something served at a summer cookout.
The Rest of the Summer Menu Embraces Comfort Food
The Smoky BBQ lineup also brings back several returning favorites, including the Smoky Classic BBQ Burger and Smoky Classic BBQ Chicken Sandwich, both priced at $10.49. Spicy Fries with Ranch and Spicy Cheese Fries with Ranch are also returning, along with a lineup of seasonal drinks and shakes that push the summer theme even further.
New drinks include Strawberry Lemonade, Tropical Mango Lemonade, and Sparkling Cucumber Basil. Shake Shack also added a Key Lime Pie Shake, a Chocolate Toasted Marshmallow S’mores Shake, and a Tropical Mango Shake topped with passionfruit popping boba.
Shake Shack also picked an interesting moment to launch the rib sandwich. The McRib is currently absent from McDonald’s locations, which leaves a noticeable gap in a category that still has strong nostalgia among fast-food fans.