Menu versatility hacks every operator should know
SUMMARY: Reduce waste, ease labor pressures and drive traffic with versatile ingredients and smart menu tweaks.
Make kitchen magic with less
As the foodservice industry faces rising food costs, labor pressures and flat customer counts, operators are looking to their menus for solutions. Operators can increase profitability if they streamline menus, employ versatile ingredients and update dishes to appeal to consumers eager to try new menu items.
Here are three menu hacks that can help foodservice businesses grow:
Boost traffic with fresh takes on classics
Consumers continue to crave familiarity, but with a fresh twist. Research shows that 1 in 4 consumers are willing to try a new menu item if it’s a unique spin on something they already love.1 This gives operators an opportunity to innovate without straying too far from the core dishes guests expect.
At the same time, diners are increasingly motivated by discovery and excitement. According to Datassential’s Social Media Sensations, 31% of consumers seek an “experience” when dining out, and craveable mashups and bold flavor twists often drive their menu choices.2
Take, for instance, this Pull Apart Fry Loaf using McCain® Redstone Canyon™ Skin-On Spiral Fries. It’s a fun and crave-worthy creation with creamy BBQ Ranch, Cajun Ketchup and mouthwatering Comeback Sauce!
As operators refresh legacy favorites, it’s also important not to overlook longtime guests who still value the comfort and consistency of familiar dishes. Offering modern twists alongside classic preparations helps operators satisfy newer, more adventurous diners without alienating loyal customers.
Using versatile ingredients such as fries in several dishes makes it easier for kitchen staff to prepare a variety of menu items.
Streamline back-of-house operations
Menu planning begins with input from the chain’s culinary experts as well as operations and marketing teams. New menu items must be simple. For instance, products that offer easy, consistent execution, like McCain’s Moore’s® Homestyle Breaded Onion Rings (which deep‑fry from frozen in just 1½ to 2½ minutes) help operators introduce new builds without adding back‑of‑house complexity.
These onion rings can be used across the menu, whether topping burgers and sandwiches, served as a classic side or featured in loaded appetizer applications. Our Breaded Onion Ring Topped Grilled Chicken Sandwich is always a winner.
Having a versatile palette of ingredients and straightforward sandwich-making instructions can help simplify operations. That’s important in the current labor environment.
Full‑service restaurants faced significant payroll pressures in 2024 as labor expenses climbed, with 78% of operators also experiencing price increases. By February 2025 employment levels were still 255,000 jobs (4.5%) below pre‑pandemic levels,3 underscoring the continued staffing challenges in the segment.
Keep food costs low with versatile ingredients
Rising food costs are a factor in planning any menu. Rising food costs are shaping every menu decision, and 82% of operators expected expenses to climb even higher in 2025.3
One way for operators to manage food prices is to limit food waste. Using ingredients that can flex across multiple menu applications helps kitchens get the most out of what they’re already purchasing. McCain® SureCrisp® Skin-On Waffle Fries are a strong example. The same product can be served as a side, transformed into a loaded appetizer, used as a snack or shareable, topped with proteins or sauces for a premium add-on or paired with different seasonings and dips to create variety without introducing new SKUs.
A menu idea like Queso Fundido Loaded Fries shows how a single ingredient can anchor multiple builds while keeping prep simple and waste low.
By focusing on a few ingredients, restaurants require little storage space, so they don’t have to invest in extra refrigerators or freezers. That’s a key consideration when deciding whether to add an ingredient.
When operators rethink their menus through the lens of versatility, they gain opportunities to cut waste, control costs and build dishes that resonate with both new and loyal guests alike.
SOURCES
1CEU; Appz Trends and Insights.
2Datassential; Social Media Sensations, Oct 2024.
3Restaurant365; 2025 Report on Restaurant Industry Reveals Trends.
