How the Wendy's 4 for $4 Was Created

Wendy's 4 for $4

There are many things I love about Wendy's. For one, the food is incomparable. Their dedication to high-quality food using fresh ingredients that are never frozen is unparalleled in the fast food industry. But more than just offering old-fashioned, great food, they want to make sure everyone can afford their delicious food. And that is why their iconic 4 on $4 value meal is one of the most beloved and often-copied menu offerings in fast food history.

Honestly, this Wendy's meal deal is one of the very reasons why I keep coming back to this burger joint that "doesn't cut corners." It has also been dubbed by Wendy's chief concept and marketing officer, Kurt Kane, as the best meal in America, and I couldn't agree more.

In this section, I'll talk about how the Wendy's 4 for $4 was created, a little bit about its history, and what's included in the meal, as well as other variations of the value meal.

How the Wendy's 4 for $4 Was Created

Wendy's value meal history goes way back to 1989. There was a price war between the burger franchise giants in the US at the time. McDonald's and Burger King, which are Wendy's main competitors, reduced the prices of their signature burgers, the Big Mac and the Whopper, respectively, to only $0.99 each. To get in on the action, Wendy's concocted a different concept, and that is the Super Value Meal.

Wendy's became the very first restaurant to offer this concept, and it used a concept called, "bundling." Bundling is the method used to compel customers to purchase more than one item offered at lower prices. Instead of buying one major entree at the regular price, bundling can make customers buy more since buying more items together gives them more value or savings.

In Wendy's Super Value Meal, they introduced several items at $0.99 each to complete a meal, such as an entree, a side dish, and a drink. For a full meal, customers will only get to pay $2.97, making it one of the cheapest fast food meals you can have. When this $0.99 price point was stopped a few years later, new and loyal Wendy's customers eventually asked the restaurant to bring it back. But because of inflation and higher costs of ingredients, Wendy's could not bring back the dollar menu, instead, decided to create different offerings, such as affordable value meals.

In 2015, Wendy's created the 4 on $4, partly in response to the demand of customers for more affordable yet filling value meals. The first 4 on $4 consisted of a Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger, 4 pieces of chicken nuggets, a small order of natural fries, and a small drink. It was so popular that Mcdonald's and Burger King created their very own versions but Wendy's 4 for $4 continued to prevail.

In 2018, Wendy's even made the value meal better by offering 8 options for the entrees, including the latest addition of their Spicy Chicken Sandwich. Their original concept of offering a simple, fixed-price $4 Wendy's meal was scrapped, evolving, and changing with the times. They removed the fixed main entree of the Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger and offered other options to make the value meal more diverse and cater to more food preferences, especially in the chicken sandwich department.

To make an even better value meal, Wendy's decided to create the 5 for $5 Biggie Bag, which offered a bigger burger and more pieces of sea salt seasoned natural cut fries for bigger appetites. Further variations of the 4 for $4 by Wendy's are the $6 Biggie Bag and the 2 for $6 Wendy's deal.

The 4 for $4 Wendy's Value Meal

I can't stress enough how amazing this Wendy's meal is. It is a lifesaver for anyone looking for a good, delicious, and hearty meal at an affordable price. You get to eat well but without breaking your wallet. It's the golden standard for all meal deals in the fast food industry. Let me introduce to you what this value meal is.

What's Included in the Wendy's Value Meal:

• 1 Main Entree Out of 8 Options
• 4 Pieces Crispy or Spicy Chicken Nuggets
• Small Size Natural-Cut Fries
• 1 Small Drink

Let's break down each of these menu items:

Main Entree

Originally, the main entree was just a Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger, but in 2018, Wendy's 4 for $4 deal started offering 8 different options for the main entree, and these are:

• Jr. Cheeseburger
• Cheeseburger Deluxe
• Double Stack Cheeseburger
• Crispy Chicken Sandwich
• Spicy Chicken Sandwich
• Grilled Chicken Wrap
• Spicy Chicken Wrap
• Crispy Chicken BLT

No matter which entree you choose, the total calories for this Wendy's best meal deal are between 700 to 1,350, which can make up half of your daily 2000-calorie needs. This is based on an average calorie diet but of course, there are different calorie needs.

Chicken Nuggets

When it comes to the chicken nuggets, you also get to choose between crispy or spicy, and it also comes with a choice of 6 different dipping sauces, which are: sweet and sour sauce, BBQ sauce, ghost pepper ranch, honey mustard, hot honey, and buttermilk ranch. I especially love the ghost pepper ranch sauce but if you don't like any of these dipping sauces, classic ketchup is always available.

The chicken is made of 100% pure white chicken that's juicy and cooked fresh, breaded in Wendy's signature herb-breaded mix.

Natural-Cut Fries

You also get a serving of small natural fries with this Wendy's cheap-value meal. The fries are hand cut with the skin on and seasoned with sea salt. It's the perfect side dish to this great value meal. You have the option to replace it with a bigger size but there's an added cost.

Small Drink

To finish off the famous 4 for $4 meal, you get a small size drink. Get to choose from the following beverages:

• Coca-Cola drinks
• Iced Tea
• Bottled Water
• Frosty (chocolate or vanilla)
• Lemonade (strawberry, natural, pineapple, blueberry pomegranate)
• Hi-C Flashin' Fruit Punch
• Honest Kids Fruit Punch
• Fresh-Brewed Coffee (hot or iced)
• Chocolate milk or milk
• Simply Orange Juice
• Vanilla Frosty-ccino

Get a small drink with your $4 meal at Wendy's and if you wish to have a bigger beverage size, simply pay for an upgrade.

My favorite 4 for $4 Wendy's meal is a Double Stack Cheeseburger, with two Jr. beef patties, melted American cheese, and a vanilla Frosty for the ultimate Wendy's meal. I love this combination because you get the best value with two beef patties, onion, pickles, ketchup, and mustard in a toasted bun. For drinks, you have to get the iconic Frosty. If you visit Wendy's for the first time, you have to have a taste of their beef burgers and Frosty, with their natural cut fries dipped in the vanilla milkshake/dessert. It's the perfect way to eat fries at Wendy's.

When they first opened, these two items were the very first food options on the menu, and having a taste of the old-fashioned and original food served at Wendy's is an experience you need to have to fully appreciate the taste and love Wendy's gives to its customers.

$5 Biggie Bag

Wendy's created the $5 Biggie Bag to respond to the needs of bigger appetites but continue to offer the cheap meals that everyone loves. The $5 Biggie Bag is similar to the 4 for $4 but the main entree is different, offering bigger sandwiches and a bigger size of natural fries. The $5 Biggie Bag meal includes the following items for $5:

• 1 Main Entree
• 4 pieces chicken nuggets
• Jr. Size Natural Fries
• Small Drink

At first glance, this may seem like it's the exact 4 on a $4 value meal but at $1 higher for the Jr. size fries. However, there's a difference with one of the main entrees, and that's the option to have the Bacon Double Stack Cheeseburger. You get to order a burger with two beef patties and 2 layers of Applewood-smoked bacon, onion, melted American cheese, pickles, ketchup, and mustard, making it a bigger and better meal in terms of size and toppings. Basically, there's double the amount of toppings with the $5 Biggie Bag and more fries compared to the 4 for $4 value meal.

Aside from the Double Stack Bacon Cheeseburger, customers can also choose the Crispy Chicken BLT Sandwich, Crispy Chicken Sandwich, Cheesebugery Deluxe, Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger, Spicy Chicken Sandwich, and the Jr. Cheeseburger.

This is the Wendy's $5 value meal that's perfect for anyone watching their budget but also wants to give in to their burger meal cravings.

2 for $6 Value Meal

While the 4 for $4 and the $5 Biggie Bag are the main staples in the menu, the restaurant also started offering the 2 for $6 Wendy's meal deals. This Wendy's deal was offered on February 6, 2023, and will end on June 2023, making it a limited-run $6 cheap meal offer.

This Wendy's value deal gives you two items for the price of $6, and you get to choose the following menu items:

• Dave's Single
• 10-Piece Chicken Nuggets (Crispy or Spicy)
• Spicy Chicken Sandwich
• Crispy Chicken Sandwich
• Medium Lemonade

You can mix and match the menu items, such as ordering a Dave's Single and lemonade, or a 10-piece chicken nugget item with a Spicy Chicken Sandwich, or you can order 2 of each item. You can order 2 Dave's Single burgers or 2 Crispy Chicken Sandwiches for only $6.

$3 Breakfast Meal

Also offered in a limited run, Wendy's cheap deals also include the $3 Breakfast value meal. Offered late in March 2023, this value meal is offered until June of the same year and is available in limited participating locations. Please check with the Wendy's location near you if they offer this Wendy's promotion deal.

The $3 Breakfast Meal includes the following:

• A choice of Bacon or Sausage Egg and Swiss Cheese Croissant
• Small order of seasoned potatoes

This is a low-cost breakfast meal that gives you a big flavor and volume at a small cost.

Best Deals at Wendy's: Other Cheap Options on the Wendy's Menu

If you're low on cash but still want to give in to your Wendy's cravings, you can still get your fix of delicious burgers and other items on Wendy's menu. If the 4 for $4 meal deal or the 2 for $6 isn't your fancy, you can order individual items that don't break the bank.

Some of the most affordable yet great value options on Wendy's menu include:

• Jr. Cheeseburger
• Jr. Hamburger
• Crispy Chicken Sandwich
• Natural-Cut Fries
• 6-Piece Spicy Chicken Nuggets

These are the cheapest yet great quality food that can satisfy your cravings and hunger without putting a dent in your wallet. These are personally my recommendations, with prices ranging between $2 to $4.

Other great value options include the 10-Piece Wendy's Chicken Nugget Meal with a side of fries and drink, and the Classic Chicken Sandwich combo.

There you have it, all the information you need for the cheapest and best value Wendy's meals available in the US. The 4 for $4 and the $5 Biggie Bag are the hottest and best-selling Wendy's meal deals but every now and then, the restaurant chain offers limited deals such as the $3 Breakfast Meal and the 2 for $6 Wendy's meal deal.

Former iterations of the value meals include the 2 for $5 meal deal, Wendy's 2 for $2 in the past, 5 for $5 meal deals, and the $5 Wendy's meals. Though only offered in a limited run in select locations, these Wendy's menu combos and value meals are evident in their commitment to making sure customers continue to enjoy their amazing food at a low cost.

Whether you're heading to Wendy's for their four-for-four dollar meals, or the $5 and $6 Biggie Bags, one thing's for sure, you'll always satisfy your cravings and hunger at Wendy's even when you're on a budget.

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Disclaimer: Our blog is not affiliated or associated with the Wendy's menu or the Wendy's brand. While we strive to provide accurate information and prices, they may not always be up to date or reflective of current prices. Additionally, all images used on our blog are taken from the Wendy's official website, and we give full credit to the Wendy's brand for their use.