Chili's replaces skillet queso on its menu. Some customers are outraged.

Chili's triple dipper has been marked safe from a recent menu shakeup, but another fan-favorite appetizer wasn't so lucky.

On Oct. 2, the restaurant chain announced the addition of a new southwestern queso to its menu, in exchange axing the existing queso options.

As of Oct. 7, skillet beef and white skillet queso, long-time customer favorites, are no longer available at locations nationwide.

The change was prompted by low sales. Chili's said the skillet beef and white skillet quesos each only accounted for about 1% of sales.

"Guests are clearly looking for a better queso from Chili's. The grill and bar recognized it was time to invest in this area and set out to develop the best queso to enjoy alongside its fan-favorite chips and salsa," Chili's said.

Fans of the chain took to social media to express their disappointment in the menu change, but Chili's was quick to defend the new queso.

"It sucks to see the Skillet Queso go," one customer wrote on X, prompting Chili's to reply, "We know it’s tough to say goodbye, but the new Queso will win you over fast! Happy dipping times are ahead!"

Chili's is also offering customers a chance to try the new queso for free. Here's what to know.

What's replacing Chili's skillet queso?

Chili's has a new queso on its menu, replacing the skillet beef and white skillet options.

According to the chain, the southwestern queso features a blend of American and cheddar cheeses, green chiles, sweet onions and a hint of lime.

"The new queso delivers a smooth texture and Southwestern flavors that are the perfect pairing for Chili's iconic tortilla chips," Chili's said.

The company also said that in a recent taste test, 70% of respondents said they prefer the new southwestern queso over the previous skillet beef queso.

How to get new Chili's queso for free

As part of the rollout of its new southwestern queso, Chili's is offering customers a chance to try it for free.

From Oct. 7 to Oct. 21, all My Chili's rewards members can get a free order of southwestern queso and chips.

The deal can be redeemed by signing into My Chili's online and selecting "redeem your reward" at checkout.

'I'm fully outraged': Chili's customers react to menu shakeup

Chili's fans are not quite giving the menu shakeup a stamp of approval.

"I just found out @Chilis got rid of it's Skillet Queso and I'm fully outraged. What happened to this country I love," user @jga41agher wrote on X.

User @jakotasain wrote on X, "Hey @Chilis I saw you were getting rid of your skillet queso.. apperntly it’s one of the least ordered items. Well.. I must be the one nation wide that kept that number up. I order it every time I am now sad."

On TikTok, many users paid tribute to the old skillet quesos by sharing videos of their last time eating it.

"What a loss. Chili's, you were the one chain I could count on. How could you?" user @kellycheyenne1 wrote in a video.

Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at [email protected].