Outback Steakhouse
Outback Steakhouse fries illustration
CASUAL DINING · NATIONAL · FOUNDED 1988

Outback Steakhouse

Aussie Fries with cheese and bacon. Beef tallow cooking medium.

Last verified October 21, 2026 COOKING OIL BEEF TALLOW
01

At a glance

Vegetarian
Not suitable
Beef tallow fry oil; Aussie Fries topping includes pork bacon.
Vegan
Not suitable
Beef tallow + cheese + bacon. Not vegan.
Gluten-Free
Not suitable
Shared fryer with wheat-breaded Bloomin' Onion, coconut shrimp, and other items.
Dairy-Free
Not suitable
Aussie Fries contain cheese topping as a direct ingredient.
Kosher
Not suitable
Non-kosher beef tallow and pork bacon; disqualifying.
Halal
Not suitable
Non-halal beef tallow and pork bacon; disqualifying.
Outback Steakhouse — the ~700-US-location Australian-themed casual-dining chain owned by Bloomin' Brands — cooks its fries in beef tallow, per industry reporting. The chain's signature side is Aussie Fries: steak-cut potatoes loaded with melted cheese and bacon crumble. A plain Steak Fries side without toppings is also available. Both share the beef-tallow fryer, which disqualifies the fry for vegetarians, vegans, alpha-gal syndrome diners, halal observers, and anyone keeping kosher. The chain's steakhouse positioning makes the mammalian-fat choice brand-coherent, but the implications for restricted diners are real.
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Nutrition facts

Outback publishes full nutrition data for its menu. Figures below reflect the standard Aussie Fries and plain Steak Fries portions.

Serving Calories Fat (g) Sat fat (g) Sodium (mg) Carbs (g)
Steak Fries (plain, small side)42020951053
Aussie Fries (cheese + bacon, full appetizer)1,08068261,75076

Saturated fat is high because of both the beef tallow cooking medium (~50% saturated vs. ~15% for canola) and the bacon-and-cheese topping on Aussie Fries. The appetizer portion exceeds the FDA daily sodium guideline on its own.

03

Ingredients, line by line

The base Steak Fries ingredient list is short. The Aussie Fries topping adds cheese and bacon, which multiply the ingredient and allergen footprint considerably:

Potatoes
Steak-cut, skin-on. Russet variety.
Beef tallow
Rendered beef fat; cooking medium. Not plant-based.
Salt
Applied after frying.
Cheese topping (Aussie only)
Cheddar cheese + processed cheese blend. Milk allergen.
Bacon topping (Aussie only)
Pork bacon crumble. Pork is non-halal; the preparation involves cured pork.
Seasoning blend
Dextrose, modified food starch, paprika, garlic, various.
04

Oil & fryer setup

Oil: Beef tallow. Outback is listed in industry roundups (Chowhound, 2026) as one of the small number of US casual-dining chains cooking fries in a traditional animal fat. The beef tallow is sourced from standard commercial rendering operations.

Fryer: Shared. The fry fryer at Outback is used for all breaded appetizer items including coconut shrimp, Bloomin' Onion, chicken strips, and other wheat-coated dishes. For celiacs, the shared-fryer cross-contact is disqualifying. The fries themselves also contain the cheese/bacon toppings on the Aussie preparation, which adds milk and pork cross-contact to even plain Steak Fries orders prepared in the same equipment.

The beef tallow at Outback is historical, not a recent reformulation. The chain's Australian-steakhouse positioning makes the fat choice brand-coherent (steak and tallow align). From a MAHA-criteria standpoint, Outback's cooking medium scores well; from a dietary-restriction standpoint, it disqualifies the fries for a large population of diners. The cheese-and-bacon topping on Aussie Fries adds a second layer of restrictions regardless of oil choice.

05

Top-9 allergen status

Allergen Status
Milk✗ Contains
Wheat! Caution
Egg! Caution
Soy! Caution
Peanut✓ Free
Tree nut✓ Free
Fish! Caution
Shellfish! Caution
Sesame✓ Free

Aussie Fries contain milk (cheese topping) as a direct ingredient. Plain Steak Fries are milk-caution via shared equipment with Aussie prep. Wheat, egg, and seafood allergens appear via shared fryer with Bloomin' Onion, coconut shrimp, and breaded sides.

06

Frequently asked questions

Are Outback's Aussie Fries vegetarian?
No. Aussie Fries are topped with pork bacon, making them non-vegetarian immediately. Even the plain Steak Fries without topping are not vegetarian: the fry oil is beef tallow (mammalian fat), which disqualifies them for vegetarians.
Are Outback's fries vegan?
No. Beef tallow in the fry oil; cheese and bacon in the Aussie preparation. Not vegan under any standard.
What oil does Outback use for their fries?
Beef tallow — rendered beef fat. Outback is listed in industry roundups (Chowhound, 2026) among the small group of US casual-dining chains cooking fries in animal fat. The choice is brand-coherent with the chain's steakhouse positioning.
Are Outback's fries halal?
No. The beef tallow is not sourced halal, and the Aussie Fries topping includes pork bacon. The fries are not halal under any interpretation. The chain is not halal-certified.
Are Outback's fries safe for alpha-gal syndrome?
No. Beef tallow is mammalian fat; pork bacon is mammalian meat. Both are classic AGS triggers. Outback's fries are included on the Frypedia alpha-gal syndrome avoid list.
Are Outback's fries gluten-free?
No. The fryer is shared with wheat-breaded appetizer items including Bloomin' Onion and coconut shrimp. The fry itself contains no gluten as an ingredient, but the shared fryer cross-contact is disqualifying for celiac disease.
How many calories are in Outback's Aussie Fries?
The full Aussie Fries appetizer portion contains approximately 1,080 calories, 68g total fat (26g saturated), 1,750 mg sodium, and 76g carbs. The plain Steak Fries side is 420 calories, 20g fat (9g saturated), 510 mg sodium. Full dinner contexts with multiple sides can push totals considerably higher.
Does Outback use beef tallow in their fries?
Yes. Outback is included on the Frypedia Tallow Club list of chains cooking fries in beef tallow — alongside Steak 'n Shake, Bojangles, Portillo's, Smashburger, and Buffalo Wild Wings (which calls it "beef shortening" but is chemically the same).
08

Sources

  • Chowhound: Restaurant Chains With Beef Tallow Fries On The Menu — Industry roundup confirming Outback among US casual-dining chains using animal-fat frying medium. Published 2026.
  • Outback Nutrition & Allergen Guide — Chain-wide nutrition and allergen disclosure for sides and appetizers.
  • Bloomin' Brands corporate filings — Parent-company context for Outback positioning and operations.

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