Celebrate National Cheeseburger Day on Sept. 18 as McDonald's, Wendy's serve up hot deals

If you’re feeling cheesy, Sept. 18 is National Cheeseburger Day, the happiest meal day on earth for lovers of this molten cheese classic everywhere.

That mouth-watering dairypalooza of flavor is everyone’s favorite topping. Nearly three-quarters of people in a YouGov survey said they want cheese on their burger.

Who invented one of America’s favorite sandwiches? Lots of folks claim credit but, according to the good people of Pasadena, California, the cheeseburger was first cooked up nearly a century ago by a 16-year-old short-order cook in a roadside hamburger stand there.

Hungry yet? Your favorite burger chains from Applebee's to McDonald’s are grilling up wallet-friendly deals, from freebies to BOGOs. Here's where to find the beef.

When is National Cheeseburger Day?

National Cheeseburger Day is Sept. 18 but some fast-food chains are celebrating with deals sprinkled over a few days.

Applebee’s offers cheeseburger and fries for $9

On Sept. 18, Applebee’s will offer its Classic Cheeseburger, Classic Burger and Classic Bacon Cheeseburger with fries for $8.99. Order in the restaurant, online or on the app.

National Cheeseburger Day deals and more at Wendy's

Wendy's is offering a $.01 Jr. bacon cheeseburger with any purchase from Sept. 18-22. To cash in, check the "Offers" tab in the app or online, then apply the deal to your mobile/web order or use the offer in-restaurant by adding it to your digital rewards card. From there, customers can scan their phones at the counter or drive-thru.

Other deals the restaurant is honoring this month include:

  • A free drink with any purchase from Sept. 25 to Oct. 1.

  • All month long, Wendy's customers can get $2 off any premium combo.

  • Another month-long deal is the restaurant's $2 off promo for any breakfast combo. And if customers spend at least $15, they get $3 off.

  • Delivery special every Wednesday until Nov. 8: As part of their Wendy’s Wednesdays promo, DashPass members can get free queso fries with a purchase of $20 or more on their DoorDash order.

  • Every Weekend until Oct. 1, DashPass members can get $5 off orders of $20 or more when they buy either the loaded nacho sandwich or queso fries on DoorDash.

  • Until Sept. 17, Grubhub+ members will receive 30% off orders of $20 or more.

Whataburger: Viva Whataburger! New 24/7 restaurant opening on the Las Vegas Strip this fall.

Have it your way at Burger King on National Cheeseburger Day

Burger King customers who have Royal Perks accounts can get a free cheeseburger if they make a purchase of $1 or more this year. The deal is good for all locations across the U.S. until 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 18.