California Pizza Kitchen Secret Menu Guide 2026
Yes, California Pizza Kitchen has an official secret menu. It’s called the “Mac It!” Secret Menu, and it lets you turn any CPK pizza into a baked mac ‘n’ cheese. And if you’re hunting for the California pizza secret menu beyond that, regulars swear by half-and-half pizzas, cauliflower-crust swaps, and the protein-packed Smart Swaps.
Honestly, I didn’t expect CPK to have a real secret menu. Plenty of chains get rumored ones, but most of the time it’s just fan fiction. California Pizza Kitchen is different: the company officially confirmed its “Mac It!” Secret Menu, any pizza on the menu can be reborn as a baked mac ‘n’ cheese. So the California pizza kitchen secret menu is the rare one that’s actually legit.
If you haven’t browsed the full California Pizza Kitchen menu yet, start there. The secret menu builds on the regular pies, so knowing the normal menu makes ordering way easier.
What Is the “Mac It!” Secret Menu?
The “Mac It!” Secret Menu is CPK’s official off-menu option that turns any pizza into a baked mac ‘n’ cheese while keeping that pizza’s toppings. You get, say, the BBQ Chicken pizza’s grilled chicken and smoked Gouda, but folded into a cheesy baked pasta instead of sitting on a crust.
CPK confirmed it through its own marketing team. This is the chain that put BBQ chicken on a pizza back in 1985 and never looked back, so an official secret menu that remixes its greatest hits makes total sense. And here’s the thing most people get wrong: “Mac It!” isn’t one dish. The fan-favorite move is Mac It! on the Original BBQ Chicken Pizza, but the Thai Chicken and Carne Asada versions deserve love too.
How to Order From the California Pizza Secret Menu
None of this is printed on the menu or hiding in the app, so a confident, friendly ask is the whole strategy. Here’s exactly what to say:
Exact Ordering Scripts
“Mac It!”: “Can you Mac It! on the BBQ Chicken pizza?” If your server hesitates, add: “It’s the secret menu thing where my pizza becomes a baked mac ‘n’ cheese.”
Half-and-half: “Can you split it, BBQ Chicken on one half and Thai Chicken on the other?” The kitchen does this all the time.
Cauliflower crust: “Can I get that on cauliflower crust?” Any pizza can be built on it, not just the gluten-free section.
Smart Swap: Order by name, like “the Avocado Club Egg Rolls as lettuce wraps.” These are on the actual menu now, so no awkward explaining needed.
Little extras: “Can I get a jalapeño sprinkle?” or “a side of herb ranch for the crusts?” Small asks, big payoff.
Every California Pizza Secret Menu Hack Worth Knowing
Beyond “Mac It!”, the best California pizza kitchen menu hacks are the half-and-half pizza, the cauliflower crust swap, and the nine Smart Swaps from the 2026 wellness push.
1. The “Mac It!” Baked Mac ‘N’ Cheese
The headline act. Any pizza, remade as a baked mac ‘n’ cheese with the same toppings. Rich, comforting, and honestly kind of genius, for about the same price as the pizza you convert.
2. Half-and-Half Pizza
Can’t decide between the BBQ Chicken and the Thai Chicken? Ask for the California pizza kitchen half and half pizza treatment and the kitchen splits any two pizzas down the middle. Great for couples who order differently.
3. Cauliflower Crust on Anything
The California pizza kitchen cauliflower crust started in the gluten-free section, but you can request it under any pizza. It’s a lighter base that still holds up to heavier toppings like the California Club.
4. The Smart Swaps
These began as a 2026 wellness menu and became some of the most-ordered California pizza kitchen off menu items in spirit, even though they’re printed now. The standouts: Avocado Club Egg Rolls as lettuce wraps, the West Coast Burger as a bowl, Kung Pao Spaghetti with zucchini ribbons (42% fewer calories), and pan-roasted Spicy Buffalo Cauliflower (28% fewer calories). Same price as the originals.
5. Retired Favorites, If You Ask Nicely
During its 40th anniversary, CPK briefly brought back fan-voted throwbacks like the rosemary roasted potato pizza, tortilla spring rolls, and Waldorf chicken salad. They’re gone again, but regulars report luck with a smiling “can you still make…” when the ingredients are still around.
Secret Menu Prices and Availability
A “Mac It!” order costs about the same as the pizza you convert, roughly $21 to $24. Delivery listings show CPK pizzas running $21.50 to $24.40 and the classic Mac ‘N’ Cheese around $19.00 to $19.35, so expect your Mac’d pizza to land in the low-to-mid twenties before tax and tip. The Smart Swaps cost exactly the same as the original dishes.
One caveat: you can’t order the cpk secret menu through the app or online. It’s a dine-in (or phone takeout) thing, at participating restaurants only. Like everything at CPK, prices and availability vary by location.
Prices last verified: October 19, 2026. Ranges above come from current delivery-menu listings. The official CPK website is the source of truth for today’s menu and prices at your location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there really a California pizza secret menu?
Yes. California Pizza Kitchen officially confirmed the “Mac It!” Secret Menu, which turns any pizza into a baked mac ‘n’ cheese. There’s also a whole culture of off-menu hacks, like half-and-half pizzas and cauliflower-crust swaps, that the kitchen handles happily when you ask.
How do I order the CPK Mac It! secret menu?
Tell your server “Can you Mac It! on the [pizza name]?” It’s not on the printed menu or in the app, so you have to ask. It’s available at participating restaurants, dine-in.
How much does the CPK secret menu cost?
A “Mac It!” order is priced like the pizza you convert, roughly $21 to $24, since it uses that pizza’s toppings. Listings show pizzas from $21.50 to $24.40 and the regular Mac ‘N’ Cheese around $19.00 to $19.35.
Can I order the California Pizza Kitchen secret menu for delivery?
No, not through the app or online ordering. “Mac It!” is dine-in (or phone takeout) at participating locations. The Smart Swaps are on the regular menu, so those you can order however you like.
So that’s the full California pizza secret menu playbook. Lead with “Can you Mac It!?”, split a pie when you can’t decide, and don’t sleep on the Smart Swaps. CPK built its name on breaking pizza rules, and the secret menu is the most fun way to play along.
