Bloomin onion texas roadhouse searches usually end in a correction: Texas Roadhouse does not sell a Bloomin’ Onion. That name belongs to Outback Steakhouse. The Texas Roadhouse version is the Cactus Blossom, listed at $8.99 with Cajun Horseradish sauce.
What Texas Roadhouse actually calls it
Texas Roadhouse’s fried whole onion appetizer is the Cactus Blossom: one large onion cut into petals, battered, deep fried until the petals open, and served with a Cajun Horseradish dipping sauce in the center. “Bloomin’ Onion” is Outback Steakhouse’s trademarked name for its own version.
The two dishes are the same idea executed by different chains. If you walk into Texas Roadhouse and ask a server for a Bloomin’ Onion, you will almost certainly get a Cactus Blossom, because staff hear the mix-up constantly. But it will not appear under that name on any printed menu, app screen, or receipt.
| What it is | Whole onion cut into petals, hand battered and deep fried |
|---|---|
| Menu name | Cactus Blossom (not “Bloomin’ Onion”) |
| Category | Starters / appetizers |
| Size / portion | One whole onion, plated as a shareable centerpiece; 3-4 people comfortably |
| Menu price | $8.99 (varies by market) |
| Calories | 2,250 for the full appetizer as served |
| What’s included | The fried onion plus Cajun Horseradish sauce; no side, no substitutions |
| Served with entrée? | No. It is ordered separately and does not count as one of your two entrée sides |
Cactus Blossom price and what you get
The Cactus Blossom lists at $8.99, which makes it the second-cheapest item in the starter lineup and the cheapest thing on the menu that reliably feeds a whole table. Everything above it in the appetizer section costs more per person once you split it.
| Item | Price | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Fried Pickles | $7.49 | 550 |
| Cactus Blossom | $8.99 | 2,250 |
| Rattlesnake Bites | $9.49 | 560 |
| Twisted Mozzarella | $9.99 | 710 |
| Boneless Wings | $11.99 | 760 |
| Cheese Fries | $11.99 | 1,240 |
| Tater Skins | $11.99 | 1,320 |
| Combo Appetizer | $12.99 | 920 |
There is only one size. No half portion, no lunch version, no smaller solo plate. Regional pricing shifts the $8.99 figure by roughly a dollar either way in high-cost metros and airports, and locations inside licensed or non-standard buildings sometimes run their own numbers. Pull up your specific store on the official location finder before you plan the bill.
Calories and nutrition
The Cactus Blossom is listed at 2,250 calories for the whole appetizer, which is the single highest-calorie item on the Texas Roadhouse menu. That number covers the onion and the batter as served; the sauce is where most people underestimate the damage.
Split realistically, the math is less alarming. Four people sharing works out to roughly 560 calories each, similar to a full plate of Rattlesnake Bites eaten solo. Two people sharing it are each looking at more than 1,100 calories before anything else arrives, and that is before the free rolls and cinnamon butter that land on the table first.
| Scenario | Approx. calories per person |
|---|---|
| Whole appetizer, one person | 2,250 |
| Split between 2 | ~1,125 |
| Split between 4 | ~560 |
| Split between 6 | ~375 |
Sodium, fat and allergen breakdowns are not printed on the in-store menu. Texas Roadhouse publishes a full nutrition and allergen guide on its own website, and that is the only source worth trusting for gram-level numbers. The batter contains wheat, so this is not a gluten-free order, and it comes out of shared fryer oil.
The dipping sauce, and how it differs
The Cactus Blossom comes with Cajun Horseradish sauce, a creamy, mayonnaise-based dip with horseradish heat and Cajun seasoning. It sits in a cup in the middle of the onion. That sauce is the main flavor difference between this and every other fried-onion appetizer in the category.
Outback’s version pairs its onion with a different signature sauce built on a similar creamy base but tuned toward ketchup-forward tang rather than horseradish bite. If you specifically want the sweeter, milder dip you remember from Outback, you will not find a match here. Ask for a side of Ranch or the Cajun sauce on the side if the horseradish is too sharp for kids at the table. Extra sauce cups are usually free but that is a server-level courtesy, not a stated policy.
Bloomin’ Onion vs Cactus Blossom
Both are a whole battered onion fried until the petals open, so the format is identical. The differences that actually matter to a diner are the name, the sauce, and the price, and the Cactus Blossom generally comes in cheaper than the Outback item.
- Name and branding. Bloomin’ Onion is Outback’s trademark. Texas Roadhouse has never used it.
- Sauce. Cajun Horseradish at Texas Roadhouse; a different signature dip at Outback.
- Price. The Cactus Blossom’s $8.99 is typically a few dollars under what Outback charges, though Outback’s pricing moves independently and should be checked on their own menu.
- Batter and seasoning. The crust at Texas Roadhouse leans peppery and coarse. Petal separation varies more here, since it is fried to order in a busy kitchen.
How to order it well
Order the Cactus Blossom at the same time you order drinks, not with your entrées. It takes several minutes in the fryer and it is much better hot, when the batter is still crisp and the inner petals have not steamed themselves soft.
A few things worth knowing. Ask for it “well done” or “extra crispy” if you have had a soggy one before; the kitchen can leave it in longer. It travels badly, so if you are doing takeout, expect a noticeably limper version by the time you get home. It is not part of any entrée deal, so it does not replace either of the two included sides that come with steaks and most entrées, and it does not affect your free rolls. For a table of four splitting one Cactus Blossom plus rolls, most people find they want a lighter entrée afterward.
Is it worth it against the other starters?
For a group, yes. At $8.99 for something that genuinely feeds three or four, the Cactus Blossom is the best value per person in the appetizer section, and it beats the $12.99 Combo Appetizer on price while covering roughly the same table-share job.
For one or two people it is a poor pick. You are paying for volume you cannot finish and eating the highest-calorie item on the menu to do it. Rattlesnake Bites at $9.49 and 560 calories are the better small-table order, and Fried Pickles at $7.49 are the cheapest way to get something fried on the table without committing to 2,250 calories. If you want variety across a bigger group, the Combo Appetizer spreads the same money across multiple items.
Where this page can be wrong
This is an independent guide, not the restaurant. Prices here reflect standard company-operated locations verified in July 2026 and will not match every store. Franchise, airport, casino and international locations set their own prices and occasionally run different appetizer lineups.
Menu items also get rotated. If a location has dropped the Cactus Blossom or run out of onions on a busy night, no page can tell you that. Calorie figures come from the chain’s published listings and can change when a recipe or portion changes. To confirm anything before you drive out, call your specific store or check the location page and current menu on the official Texas Roadhouse website.
FAQ
Does Texas Roadhouse have a Bloomin’ Onion?
No. Bloomin’ Onion is Outback Steakhouse’s trademarked name. Texas Roadhouse sells its own fried whole onion called the Cactus Blossom, listed at $8.99 with Cajun Horseradish sauce.
What is the Texas Roadhouse version of a Bloomin’ Onion called?
The Cactus Blossom. It is a whole onion cut into petals, battered, deep fried, and served with Cajun Horseradish dipping sauce in the center.
How much is the Cactus Blossom at Texas Roadhouse?
$8.99 at standard locations. Regional pricing moves it roughly a dollar either direction, and franchise, airport and casino locations set their own prices.
How many calories are in a Cactus Blossom?
2,250 calories for the full appetizer, the highest-calorie item on the menu. Shared four ways that comes to about 560 calories per person.
What sauce comes with the Cactus Blossom?
Cajun Horseradish sauce, a creamy horseradish-and-Cajun-spice dip served in a cup in the middle of the onion. Ranch is a common substitute request.
How many people does a Cactus Blossom feed?
Three to four comfortably as a shared starter. One or two people will struggle to finish it, and there is no smaller size available.
Can I order a Cactus Blossom for takeout?
Yes, it is available on the takeout menu, but fried onion loses its crunch fast. Eat it within a few minutes of pickup or expect a softer texture.
Is the Cactus Blossom gluten free?
No. The batter contains wheat and it is cooked in shared fryer oil. Check the official allergen guide on the Texas Roadhouse website if you have a serious allergy.