# Brisket-Topped Macaroni Bowls Arby’s New Mac Bowl Celebrates the Return of BBQ to the Menu By Katherine Pendrill | Published 2026-04-20 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mac-bowl References: [newsweek](https://www.newsweek.com/arbys-updates-menu-new-mac-and-cheese-option-11854060) & [stories.inspirebrands](https://stories.inspirebrands.com/arbys-bbq-is-back-with-new-mac-bowl/)  BBQ is coming back to [Arby’s](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/loaded-chicken-bacon-ranch-mac-n-cheese) and the brand is celebrating with the return of two fan-favorite BBQ sandwiches, as well as the launch of a new [Mac Bowl](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/devils-smoke-sauce). Perfect for the coming summer season, [Arby's](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/brisket-bacon-beef) BBQ lineup is cooked low and slow to perfection. Both of the returning BBQ Sandwiches feature a quarter pound of slow-smoked pulled pork or tender chopped brisket, paired with pickles, and your choice of sweet or spicy BBQ sauce on a toasted brioche bun. Alongside the returning BBQ Sandwiches, Arby's is also adding a brand-new Mac Bowl. This new dish features a generous helping of creamy white cheddar mac and cheese, topped with crispy onions, BBQ sauce, and either savory pulled pork or smoky chopped brisket. Image Credit: Arby’s ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.7/10 - Popularity: 33% | Activity: 37% | Freshness: 71% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **BBQ Revival in Fast Food:** Renewed consumer appetite for smoked and sauced BBQ offerings is enabling fast-food chains to differentiate menus through bold regional flavor profiles. - **Protein-forward Comfort Bowls:** Hearty bowls that combine indulgent carbs with large portions of meat are reshaping expectations for value and portable comfort meals. - **Menu Nostalgia and Limited-time Returns:** Bringing back fan-favorite items taps emotional loyalty and creates recurring spikes in traffic through time-limited menu rotations. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Quick-service Restaurants:** Chains that integrate smokehouse techniques and bowl formats can disrupt midday and late-night dining occasions by blending premium-sandwich appeal with convenience. - **Food Manufacturing and Ingredients:** Demand for slow-smoked proteins and creamy cheese blends is driving opportunities for co-manufacturers to offer ready-to-heat, restaurant-quality components at scale. - **Foodservice Packaging and Logistics:** The rise of saucy, layered bowl items creates pressure for innovative packaging solutions that preserve texture and temperature across delivery and grab-and-go channels. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Cheesy Macaroni-Flavored Spreads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kraft-mac-cream-cheese-schmear.md) - [Cheesy Artisan-Style Pastas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/noodles-company-mac-cheese.md) - [Macaroni Streamer-Approved Pizzas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mac-caseoh-pizza.md) - [Meaty Macaroni-Topped Sandwiches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smokestack-pork-mac-sandwich.md) - [Simplistic Pasta Recipes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/two-ingredient-mac.md) - [Cheesy BBQ Chicken Pastas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mac-n-cheese-dishes.md) - [Thick Mac and Cheese Recipes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cheesy-macaroni-dish.md) - [Flavor-Packed Macaroni Dishes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wing-snob-mac-and-cheese.md) - [Quadruple Cheese Macaronis](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fourcheese-mac-and-cheese.md)