How To Get Free Food From Fast Food Restaurants Apps

UPDATE:While National Fast Food Day is over, the deals continue. Many chains have ongoing updates and roll out new specials on their mobile apps. Starbucks also has a free reusable cup giveaway Thursday and McDonald's has a deal on its Egg McMuffin.

A week after National Fried Chicken Sandwich Day, it's time for another day to "celebrate" food.

Tuesday is the National Fast Food Day, and burger joints and chicken chains have specials for the made-up food holiday, held annually on Nov. 16.

A recent study released by SeeLevel HX, a customer experience measurement company, found wait times for receiving a drive-thru order increased by more than 25 seconds in 2021.

The study found that of the 10 big fast-food brands, Chick-fil-A ranked first in order accuracy this year, followed by Taco Bell and a three-way tie between Arby's, Burger King and Carl's Jr.

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We've rounded up the deals and ongoing offers available at restaurants nationwide Tuesday.

The following are available at participating locations nationwide Tuesday unless otherwise stated. Some deals may require a mobile app, and most are while supplies last. Offers can vary by franchise, so check with your closest location.

Wendy's free fries with app offer

Wendy's is offering free fries, any size, with a purchase Tuesday and an offer on the chain's app. There's also the "Wendy's Hot & Crispy Guarantee" on the new fries. The chain says if your fries aren't hot and crispy when you receive them, it will replace them, "no questions asked."

Throughout November, Wendy's also has a free drink with any purchase offer in the app.

Subway: Footlong sub deal

Subway has a buy-one-get-one 50% off deal on footlong subs Tuesday for app and online orders with promo code BOGO50, the chain announced in an email promoting the Fast Food Day special. The deal excludes "Footlong PRO" and wraps.

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Del Taco: BOGO combo meal

Del Taco's Del Yeah! Rewards members get a buy-one-get-one combo meal offer Tuesday. Rewards registration is required to access deals, and there's a limit of one offer per customer.

McDonald's: Free Quarter Pounder with $1 purchase on app Tuesday

McDonald's doesn't have a national promotion tied to National Fast Food Day, but it does have several deals on its app through the MyMcDonald's Rewards program.

Offers and daily deals can vary by account and region. On Tuesday, there's a daily drop for a free Quarter Pounder with Cheese with a $1 minimum purchase on the chain's app.

Don't have the app? McDonald's says on its website that you'll get free large Fries when you download the app and join MyMcDonald's Rewards. Then after your first purchase, you get the choice of Hash Browns, Vanilla Cone, McChicken or a Cheeseburger for free.

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Krispy Kreme free donut with vaccine card

With a valid COVID-19 vaccination card, get a free glazed doughnut through Dec. 31 for showing the card.

Panera free coffee subscription trial

If you haven't joined Panera's unlimited monthly coffee subscription, there's a deal for new subscribers. Sign up for free coffee through the end of the year. Some exclusions apply. The subscription is $8.99 a month starting again in 2022.

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Burger King: Get free crypto with order

Burger King has teamed up with investment platform Robinhood to offer Royal Perks loyalty members the chance to win a "side of cryptocurrency" –including Dogecoin, Ethereum or Bitcoin.

Through Nov. 21 or while prizes last, Royal Perks members who spend $5 or more on the Burger King app, website or in-restaurant using "My Code" (a code requested during checkout) at participating locations will be rewarded with cryptocurrency.

Eligible Royal Perks members will be given a crypto coin when making a qualifying purchase with a limit of one prize code per day. Registration for the app is required.

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Wawa: Free coffee on Tuesday through end of year

Wawa is giving away free coffee to its rewards members. New members can sign up at Wawarewards.com.

Taco Bell gives new loyalty members free Cheesy Gordita Crunch

For a limited time, new Taco Bell Loyalty Rewards members get an offer for a free Cheesy Gordita Crunch when signing up at Tacobell.com/rewards or on the app.

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Chick-fil-A: Sign up for free Peppermint Chip Milkshake

Chick-fil-A launched a way to get a free Peppermint Chip Milkshake for you and a friend with a new holiday campaign at EvergreenHills.com. At the site, there's a short film and you can sign up to get a printed recipe card with the free shake that will be mailed, while supplies last.

Chick-fil-A told USA TODAY that the recipe cards with the free shake coupons will take approximately seven to 10 business days to arrive and you can choose to have both cards sent to you or one to a friend. They are shipped for free and no purchase is necessary to redeem the free shake offer.

Zaxby's free sandwich with app

New Zax Fanz Club members get a free Signature Sandwich when downloading the Zaxby's app for the first time or signing up on the website. This offer is available systemwide at participating locations while supplies last.

Popeyes free chicken sandwich with $10 app purchase

The New Orleans-style chain told USA TODAY that it is offering a free Chicken Sandwich for any new app user who orders $10 or more. Sign up at Popeyes.com/rewards.

Also at participating restaurants through Dec. 31, donate $1 to No Kid Hungry to get a coupon sheet with various deals.

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KFC free fries with $5 purchase

Through Dec. 27, KFC is giving away free large orders of its "Secret Recipe Fries" with $5 purchases placed through its app or website. KFC also said it has launched "Quick Pick-Up, the new and finger lickin' quick way to order from KFC without waiting in long drive-thru lines."

More National Fast Food Day deals

The following offers are available at participating locations nationwide Tuesday or otherwise noted.

BurgerFi: Restaurants are offering the Ultimate Bacon Bash meal with free delivery with the chain's app through Nov. 21.

Carl's Jr.: Get a Big Carl Small Combo for $6.29 Tuesday.

D'Angelo Grilled Sandwiches: Get $4 off $20 with coupon code 9017 Tuesday. Some exclusions apply.

Hardee's: Get a Big Hardee Small Combo for $5.49 Tuesday.

Papa Gino's: Get $4 off $20 with coupon code 9016 Tuesday.

Pollo Campero: Through the end of the year, get 22 pieces of the chain's signature hand-breaded fried chicken or citrus-marinated grilled chicken and four sides for $40.

Qdoba: Not a special for National Fast Food Day, but guac and queso are free with any entrée daily.

White Castle: Buy one, get one free Combo Meal or Breakfast Combo with a coupon Tuesday that will be posted on the chain's social media.

McDonald's will have a throwback deal on its Egg McMuffin Thursday, Nov. 18.

McDonald's Egg McMuffin deal Thursday for sandwich's anniversary

Two days after Fast Food Day, McDonald's will have a throwback deal on its Egg McMuffin, its original breakfast sandwich, in honor of its 50th anniversary. Only on Nov. 18, get the breakfast sandwich for 63 cents through the McDonald's app.

Contributing: Brett Molina and Morgan Hines, USA TODAY

Follow USA TODAY reporter Kelly Tyko on Twitter: @KellyTyko. For shopping news, tips and deals, join us on our Shopping Ninjas Facebook group.