CPK’s Not-So-Secret, Pizza-Inspired Baked Mac ‘N’ Cheese is Official (For Now)

By popular demand, CPK also brings back Nashville-Style Hot Honey Pizza and introduces cocktail versions of its most popular beverages

COSTA MESA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--California Pizza Kitchen (CPK), the iconic restaurant brand that revolutionized pizza, is officially bringing its most buzzed-about, pizza-inspired “secret menu” into the spotlight. Starting today, CPK’s craveable Baked Mac ‘N’ Cheese lineup is available nationwide for dine-in guests, but only for a limited-time.

Earlier this year, CPK quietly introduced the new line of Mac ‘N’ Cheese for takeout only, featuring ‘noodle-ized’ versions of every pizza on the menu. After a tongue-in-cheek social campaign in which a rogue intern leaked the menu, fans caught on and started asking for the dishes in the restaurant.

"Something magical happens when you take our most beloved pizzas and reimagine them through the lens of comfort food," said Paul Pszybylski, VP of Culinary Innovation at CPK. “With our new Baked Mac ‘N’ Cheese lineup, we’re not only expressing pizza flavors in a new way, we’re also glowing up our iconic Mac ‘N’ Cheese, which so many of our guests grew up eating.”

Also spicing up the menu is the return of last summer’s hottest (or sweetest?) pizza, CPK’s Nashville-Style Hot Honey Pizza. This fan-favorite is the perfect mash up of hot honey pizza and Nashville hot chicken, featuring crispy hand-battered chicken with spicy cayenne seasoning, fresh Mozzarella, housemade ranchito sauce, dill pickle slices and a fiery drizzle of Mike’s Hot Honey® – Extra Hot.

To further respond to guest demand, CPK is introducing spiked versions of its longtime popular mocktails. The Strawberry Mango Cooler features fresh strawberries blended with Fresca and vibrant flavors of mango, guava and a splash of ginger, while the Cucumber Reviver mixes freshly puréed pineapple and cucumber with torn mint and agave sour, topped with sparkling water. Both beverages are now available with a choice of Tito’s Vodka, Bacardi Rum or Bombay Sapphire Gin for guests to choose their own refreshing adventure.

The new Mac ‘N’ Cheese lineup is based on the brand’s best-selling pizzas. The five varieties steal the pizza toppings and replace the crust with CPK’s signature spiral Mac ‘N’ Cheese, all baked in its hearth oven:

• BBQ Chicken Baked Mac ‘N’ Cheese – The OG legend since 1985, now in creamy, cheesy form with CPK’s iconic BBQ sauce, grilled chicken, smoked Gouda and that signature cilantro finish.
• Burnt Ends BBQ Baked Mac ‘N’ Cheese – Smoky brisket burnt ends meets molten cheese perfection, crowned with tangy pickled red onions for the ultimate flavor bomb.
• Carne Asada Baked Mac ‘N’ Cheese – Charred marinated steak meets cilantro pest magic, with roasted salsa verde that’ll make you question everything you thought you knew about comfort food.
• Five-Cheese Baked Mac ‘N’ Cheese – Pure indulgence with Mozzarella, Monterey Jack, smoked Gouda and Romano creating the ultimate cheese lover’s dream.
• Wild Mushroom Baked Mac ‘N’ Cheese – Earthy cremini mushrooms and three premium cheeses create an umami explosion that’s anything but ordinary.

CPK’s new Baked Mac ‘N’ Cheese lineup, Nashville-Style Hot Honey Pizza and spiked beverages are available at all participating locations nationwide. For more information, visit www.cpk.com and follow @cpk on Instagram, @calpizzakitchen on TikTok or @calpizzakitchen on X.

About California Pizza Kitchen

Founded in 1985, California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) revolutionized casual dining with its first restaurant in Beverly Hills, introducing the world to gourmet, California-inspired pizza. Now celebrating its 40th anniversary year, CPK is a beloved global brand, serving creative California cuisine across 26 states and in nine countries and U.S. territories. CPK continues to redefine casual dining, fueled by a passion for fresh, seasonal ingredients and bold global flavors. From iconic hearth-baked pizzas like The Original BBQ Chicken and California Club, to inventive salads like Thai Crunch, unique pastas like Chicken Tequila Fettuccine, and industry firsts like Cauliflower Crust and Take & Bake Pizzas, CPK combines familiar foods with a fresh, imaginative California twist that guests continue to crave.