Smalls Sliders is giving Dr Pepper fans two reasons to slide thru. The Dr Pepper Swirl is back at Cans nationwide, and for the first time, Smalls is serving up a Dirty Dr Pepper. Both limited-time drinks are available through October 11.
The Dr Pepper Swirl is making its return after a limited-time run last year. Made with a creamy vanilla base and swirled with ripples of Dr Pepper syrup, the hand-spun shake puts a Smalls twist on the nostalgic soda fountain favorite.
Smalls is giving the dirty soda trend its own spin. The new Dirty Dr Pepper starts with an ice-cold Dr Pepper, adds real strawberry puree and finishes with a splash of creamy vanilla for a sweet, refreshing drink. The Dirty Dr Pepper arrives on the menu as the category takes off. Yelp searches for dirty soda climbed 600% year over year and hit an all-time high in May 2026.
"Guests talk about the Dr Pepper Swirl all year, so we are excited to bring it back and give guests a second way to sip," said Michael Alberici, Chief Marketing Officer for Smalls Sliders. "The Swirl is creamy, nostalgic and hand-spun, and the Dirty Dr Pepper arrives right as guests are chasing dirty sodas everywhere they go."
Both limited-time drinks pair with Smalls Sliders fresh cooked to order sliders and seasoned waffle fries. Frequent Sliders members get a first look at what drops next, and guests can join the loyalty program online or in the Smalls Sliders app. For more information about Smalls Sliders, visit www.smallssliders.com, or follow them on social.
The reintroduction of the Dr Pepper Swirl and the introduction of the Dirty Dr Pepper highlight Smalls Sliders' strategy to leverage popular beverage trends to drive traffic and enhance its menu. The move comes as the brand continues its rapid expansion from its first location in 2019 to more than 375 Cans open or under development across 30 states, attracting premier multi-brand franchisees nationwide. The brand is brainchild of restaurateur visionary Brandon Landry and is backed by 10 Point Capital and former NFL star Drew Brees as investors.
For Dr Pepper, a brand of Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc. (KDP), the collaboration underscores its enduring appeal and ability to innovate with foodservice partners. Since 1885, the 23 flavors of Dr Pepper have earned legions of guests who enjoy its unique, refreshing taste. The brand comes in Regular, Diet, Caffeine Free, Cherry, Zero Sugar, Cream Soda, Blackberry, and Strawberries & Cream varieties. For more information, visit DrPepper.com or keurigdrpepper.com.
The limited-time offerings are expected to drive customer engagement and repeat visits, especially among younger consumers who are fueling the dirty soda craze. For industry observers, the partnership exemplifies how restaurants can tap into viral trends to differentiate their beverage menus and create buzz. As Smalls Sliders continues to expand, innovative menu items like these could play a key role in building brand loyalty and attracting new franchisees.
