Big Changes Are Coming To Taco Bell In 2024
If you're a Taco Bell fan, we think you're going to be happier than usual about all the changes coming to the fast food chain in 2024. Yes, the menu has become a revolving door in the past few years, but it's only getting better for the most part. If you weren't loyal to the brand before, we think it's got some changes that might get you in the door more often. Evolution looks good on The Bell.
For the first time ever, Taco Bell held an event in February called Live Más LIVE, where the brand revealed a year's worth of menu additions and product revivals. Many of the changes revolve around Cravings Value Menu items, which feature new items and returning favorites. There's exciting news for vegetarians and vegans, a new menu with new flavors, fresh new ingredients, and rumors of empanadas and creamy frozen drinks. If you're curious about what might draw you into a Taco Bell near you in 2024, you'll want to keep reading to get the scoop. We're excited, and we think you will be, too.
There's a new Veggie Build Your Own Cravings Box
It's about time Taco Bell offered a veggie version of its Build Your Own Cravings Box. Cravings Boxes have been around since 2021, but there hasn't been a veggie version until now. With Taco Bell being one of the few fast food places offering something other than fries and grilled cheese without meat, it's become a default cravings destination for many vegetarians and vegans. So, offering a Veggie Build Your Own Cravings Box in 2024 seems like a no-brainer, even if it has taken three years to materialize on the menu.
The Veggie Build Your Own Cravings Box is $5.99, which is the same price as the meat version. To order, you start by picking a drink. Then, you order one specialty veggie menu item (like a Cheese Quesadilla, Black Bean Chalupa Supreme, or Black Bean Crunchwrap Supreme). Next, you choose a classic menu item (like a Bean Burrito, Spicy Potato Soft Taco, or Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito). Finally, you can choose a side (like Chips and Nacho Cheese Sauce, Cinnamon Twists, or Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes).
It's a much better deal than buying the items separately. For example, separately, a medium drink is $2.59, a Black Bean Crunchwrap Supreme is $5.49, a Bean Burrito is $1.89, and Chips and Nacho Cheese Sauce is $2.69. A cravings box saves you $6.67 over the $12.66 the items would cost individually. So it's an excellent deal.
Cravings Value Menu prices are increasing
With rising costs everywhere, you'll probably not be surprised to learn that Taco Bell will have a small price increase in 2024. Taco Bell's Cravings Value Menu has always been a great place to find the best deals. These days, everything is under $3, so they're still way cheaper than individual items you'll find on many fast food menus.
While it's been a long time since the cheapest things on the Taco Bell menu were either $0.59, $0.79, or $0.99, you could still get a Cheesy Roll Up for just $1 in early 2024. However, the prices increased on January 11, with the cheapest item on the menu — the Cheesy Roll Ups — increasing to $1.19. With the prices on the Cravings Value Menu ranging from $1.19 to $2.99, there's only a $1.80 difference between the cheapest and most expensive Cravings Value Menu item (Loaded Beef Nachos). Four items remain below $2, while the remaining six items are under $3.
It has Double Stacked Tacos again
Taco Bell has brought back its Double Stacked Tacos for 2024. Their claim to fame is that the soft tortilla on the outside serves as a wrapper for a crispy taco inside. Melted cheese keeps the stacks together. These tacos come with seasoned beef, cheese, nacho cheese sauce, and lettuce. Plus, Fiesta Strips give them even more crunch.
When they first showed up on the menu in 2016, they were only $1. In 2024, they cost nearly double at $1.99 each. Yet, they're still cheap enough to land on the Cravings Value Menu. However, something that's missing from the first time around is that they originally came in three different flavors: Cool Habanero, Spicy Sweet, and Nacho Crunch. In 2024, there's only one version on the menu. Of course, you can always customize it by requesting an add-on like Chipotle Sauce for $0.20 extra. So, the flavor is up to you this year.
Stackers will return to the menu
Stackers are also a blast from the past, returning to the menu this year from 2017. So, if you've been missing Stackers all these years, this is your year to enjoy them again. Stackers are essentially super-cheesy beef quesadillas containing seasoned beef, a three-cheese blend, and nacho cheese sauce grilled between tortillas. However, they're stackers rather than quesadillas because the layers fold to stack. The stacked format makes them less flimsy and easier to eat than regular quesadillas.
Back in 2017, Stackers were only $1. In 2024, they're more than double the cost at $2.19. There was a soft launch in Tucson, Arizona, in the summer of 2023. So, we're guessing customers must have been happy to buy it at the higher price point since the 2024 relaunch is nationwide. Even though they're over twice the previous price, they still qualify for the Cravings Value Menu since they're well under the $3 price limit.
You can get a Cheesy Double Beef Burrito again
The first time Cheesy Double Beef Burritos were on the menu was from 2008 to 2010. They made a comeback in 2016 for just $1. They made another comeback in 2022 for $2, so we hope they'll stay on the regular rotation for a while. While They are still on the Cravings Value Menu, their price has increased again to $2.79 in 2024.
Cheesy Double Beef Burritos contain seasoned beef, nacho cheese sauce, seasoned rice, reduced-fat sour cream, three-cheese blend, and Fiesta Strips for crunch. You can also ask for it grilled or ask for the fresco style that replaces dairy with tomatoes for no added cost. We're betting rabid fans in the Beefy Crunch Movement are hoping the Beefy Crunch Burrito will show up again in 2024, too, since the two burritos made a reappearance together in 2016. There's still hope it could be included in announcements coming later in the spring.
A new version of Chicken Flatbread has arrived
Another new item on the Cravings Value Menu for 2024 is the 3 Cheese Chicken Flatbread Melt. Flatbread menu items have been around before, and we always appreciate the option of a different type of bread for the Taco Bell ingredients we've come to love. This item seems to be replacing the Chicken Chipotle Melt, which has disappeared from the menu after being a staple since 2020. The ingredients inside are the same: chicken, a melty three-cheese blend, and yummy chipotle sauce. However, the thicker bread makes it more filling than the tiny Chicken Chipotle Melt, and after giving one a try, we find it to be everything Chicken Chipotle Melts should have been all along. The flatbread is pillowy and soft, and the filling is perfect. While Chicken Chipotle Melts cost $1.99 in 2023, the 3 Cheese Chicken Flatbread Melt is starting life out at $2.29.
There has been a Bring Back the Taco Bell Chicken Flatbreads! campaign on Facebook since 2011. Some of the previous versions of the chicken flatbreads included one with bacon ranch and a loaded version. There has even been a steak version and a beefy potato version. Flatbreads made a comeback in 2011, 2016, and 2021. Since they looked more like a soft taco in 2021 than the melty sandwich of the past, we're betting fans will be happier with this version. Taco Bell tested it with two flavors in 2023, but only one survived.
You can find a Chicken Enchilada Burrito on the menu again
If you've been missing the Chicken Enchilada Burrito, you'll be happy to learn that it has made a comeback in 2024. If you haven't tried it before, you may be disappointed to learn that it's not quite an enchilada since there's no sauce on the outside. The closest thing Taco Bell has ever had to a real enchilada is its Enchirito since it comes covered in sauce.
The filling for this Chiclen Enchilada Burrito is a mixture of chicken, seasoned rice, three-cheese blend, reduced-fat sour cream, and red sauce. You can also order it grilled or fresco style for no extra cost. We've tried the Chicken Enchilada Burrito, and the filling is reminiscent of enchilada flavors if you activate your imagination. The seasoning on the rice helps with the illusion. However, all the ingredients are ordinary menu items, so it's not like you're tasting something completely different. The Chicken Enchilada Burrito first appeared on the menu in the summer of 2023, and customers were sad to see it disappear in just a few months. We hope it's here to stay longer this time since it has landed a place on the Cravings Value Menu for just $2.49 each.
Loaded Beef Nachos are now a thing
Loaded Beef Nachos seems like a menu item that should have always existed. However, it's new for 2024. We're not surprised that it was popular enough in its test market in 2023 to make it to the full menu. So, what comes on loaded beef nachos? Not only does it have seasoned beef, but it also includes beans for added heft. All the other ingredients are wet ones, making it a messy but tasty version of nachos. Toppings include reduced-fat sour cream, guacamole, and red sauce. It also comes with nacho cheese sauce instead of melted cheese. Of course, if you want other ingredients like jalapeños to make it exactly how you want it, you're welcome to do so, but you'll have to pay extra for them.
One thing setting it apart from Nachos BellGrande (besides the ingredients) is that it's a much smaller portion that comes in a smaller box. Even with added guacamole, it only comes to 440 calories in comparison with the 730 calories of Nachos BellGrande.
Cheesy Chicken Crispanadas are new in 2024
If you've been wondering when Taco Bell was going to try savory empanadas, the answer is 2024. Taco Bell had sweet empanadas on the menu previously, but they were discontinued in 2019. The new savory version made it to test markets in 2023. The fan site Living Más has confirmed through internal Taco Bell documentation that Cheesy Chicken Crispanadas will finally be on the menu nationwide in 2024.
The crispy outside looks a lot like the turnovers you get from places like McDonald's, so we're guessing that they will come pre-made rather than being made on-site. The outside is phyllo dough, while the inside contains half white meat and half dark meat chicken, melted cheddar and mozzarella cheese, and a mysterious combination of spices. It will come with Spicy Ranch Sauce (already on the menu) for dipping.
Cheesy Chicken Crispanadas will be on the menu only from February 15 to March 20, so you'll want to snag them while they're available. While they look snacky, they won't be on the Cravings Value Menu. When they were being tested in limited locations in 2023, a single one cost $3.49. You could also get one as part of a box deal for $8.49. So we expect a similar price point for 2024.
It will get a new Cantina Chicken menu
Another exciting development at Taco Bell in 2024 is a whole new Cantina Chicken menu coming in March. This is another change that fan site Living Más has confirmed through internal Taco Bell documentation. Plus, it's already available in some places. Once it rolls out everywhere, there will be five new items featuring new ingredients not previously available. The new menu brings a new type of chicken, shredded purple cabbage, pico de gallo, and a new Cantina Sauce hot sauce packet. This development has us excited about all the possible new ingredient combinations.
All the new items come with slow-roasted rotisserie-style chicken. The new menu includes a Cantina Chicken Crispy Taco and a Cantina Chicken Soft Taco (both $2.99). The crispy version comes with a three-cheese blend and creamy jalapeño sauce with cheese melted on the outside, while the soft version contains purple cabbage, lettuce, cheese, pico de gallo, and Avocado Ranch Sauce. The Cantina Chicken Burrito ($6.09) comes with everything the soft taco has, plus Chipotle Sauce. The Cantina Chicken Quesadilla contains a three-cheese blend and Chipotle Sauce ($6.99). Finally, the new Cantina Chicken Bowl ($8.69) will completely replace the Power Menu Bowl. It comes with black beans, cheese, seasoned rice, lettuce, pico de gallo, and purple cabbage. It also comes with Avocado Ranch Sauce, reduced-fat sour cream, and guacamole as usual. Plus, there are a variety of meals and boxes based around these new menu items.
Taco Bell may be getting frozen coffee drinks and milkshakes
Taco Bell tested frozen coffee and shakes for the first time in 2023, and we're crossing our fingers that they did well enough to make it to the menu in 2024. The new lineup is known as Chillers, and many of the flavors are Mexican-inspired. They're sure to get people in who are in the mood for a shake but want something different than what other fast food places are offering.
There are two main types of these 16-ounce frozen treats: Coffee Chillers and Churro Chillers. Both versions come with cold foam on top. However, Coffee Chillers are blended iced coffee drinks, while Churro Chillers are milkshakes with churro crumbles on top of the cold foam. For testing, Coffee Chillers came in three flavors: Spiced Vanilla, Caramel Churro, and Mexican Chocolate. The four flavors of Churro Chillers during testing included Wild Strawberry, a purple-tinted Sweet Vanilla, Dulce de Leche Coffee, and Mexican Chocolate.
When the chain tried them in California in December 2023, they were on the menu for $4.19 each. If they're at the same price point as during testing, they will cost a few cents more than a large Freeze on the drink menu. We're guessing only the most popular flavors will make it to the main menu.
It's launching new Cravings Kits to make at home
Taco Bell has offered kits at the grocery store for making versions of its food at home for years now, but what's new in 2024 are Cravings Kits. These are available as part of a partnership between Taco Bell and Kraft Heinz and come with enough base ingredients for four servings. The initial offerings are a Chipotle Chicken Quesadilla Cravings Kit and a Crunchwrap Supreme Cravings Kit. Sure, you could buy all the ingredients from the kit individually, but you wouldn't get the proprietary spices or sauces that make them taste like Taco Bell.
Unfortunately, you have to add your own protein and toppings, so there's an added expense beyond the cost of the kit. The quesadilla kit comes with tortillas, Velveeta cheese sauce, and Chipotle Creamy Sauce, while the Crunchwrap kit comes with flour tortillas, cheese sauce, tostada shells, and taco seasoning. At around $6.98 (at Walmart), the kits are a little pricey. However, even after buying meat, you'll probably end up spending less for four servings at home than for four orders at Taco Bell unless you go all out splurging on other toppings beyond just meat. If you decide to add sour cream, guacamole, beans, and veggies, you may be better off getting it from the restaurant instead. These kits are also a great way to use up all the extra Taco Bell hot sauces in your fridge since they don't come with any hot sauce.
The new value campaign will feature Portugal. The Man
If you catch a Cravings Value Menu advertisement in 2024, it will feature the Alaskan band, Portugal. The Man. While its songs "Evil Friends" and "Grim Generation" don't mention tacos or anything remotely related, they're the theme songs for the Cravings Value Menu. However, Taco Bell and its value menu items are near and dear to the band, making the band members ideal spokespeople.
Like many struggling musicians, Portugal. The Man often lived off Taco Bell while on the road. Taco Bell's Feed The Beat Program offered $5 gift cards to band members, which helped them on those non-stop tours when they were barely squeaking by. John Gourley from Portugal. The Man says that, through the program, "Taco Bell really fed all these young bands coming up. When you think about how many vegan, straight-edge bands we toured with, and vegetarians, and diet restrictions. You couldn't do that anywhere else. Taco Bell was the place that fed us all" (via YouTube). Taco Bell is still one of the few fast food places where you can get a cheap meal.
Taco Bell's Crunchwrap is getting a giant Cheez-It upgrade
Another crunchy, cheesy menu item to make its way back to Taco Bell is the Cheez-It Crunchwrap. It appears as though Taco Bell, like all of us, enjoys cheesy snacks. The iconic Doritos Locos Tacos (tacos with a Doritos-flavored shell) have been around since 2012, but the newer snack collaboration comes in the form of a Cheez-It. This Cheez-It Crunchwrap was briefly available for two weeks back in 2022, along with a Cheez-It tostada. Only the Crunchwrap, however, will be back, according to details from the Live Más LIVE event.
When a Crunchwrap meets a Cheez-It, what exactly do you get? Well, the answer is a Cheez-It that's big enough to fit inside of a Crunchwrap. Like the Crunchwrap of 2022, Taco Bell's 2024 Cheez-It Crunchwrap will house one giant Cheez-It, along with what we expect will be typical Crunchwrap stuffings of beef, lettuce, tomatoes, and more. This giant Cheez-It is so big that it was used as a tostada shell for 2022's Cheez-It product test.
The Meximelt or caramel apple empanada will return for Halloween
It may seem like a long way off now, but the Halloween season has a surprise in store for Taco Bell fans, as announced at the Live Mas LIVE event. Taco Bell is bringing back either the Meximelt or the caramel apple empanada for this holiday. The spooky mystery of why the Meximelt was discontinued from Taco Bell menus was never fully resolved, making Halloween a fitting time for a return. This menu item consisting of a flour tortilla, melted cheese, beef, and pico de gallo, was removed from menus in 2019 despite its popularity, so the prospect of a mini-comeback for Halloween is very exciting.
The caramel apple empanada is another menu item that exited the scene in 2019. Redditors miss this Taco Bell sweet treat, which was comparable to an apple pie. The caramel apple empanada featured a fried empanada shell filled with gooey, spiced, and caramel-y apples. It was warm, crunchy, and comforting and would make a popular dessert in the month of October. Nothing says autumn more than apples do.
Keep an eye out for chicken nuggets and street chalupas
According to the Live Más LIVE event, Taco Bell-goers should expect to see chicken nuggets and cheesy street chaulpas on the menu sometime in 2024. These two foods were tested at participating locations for a limited time in October 2023 and apparently passed with flying colors. Taco Bell is no stranger to chalupas, which stand out from other menu items due to their fried flatbread-like shells. Currently, Taco Bell sells Chalupa Supremes, which can be ordered in various iterations like beef, black bean, and chicken. Based on what was on the menu in October, the Cheesy Street Chalupa differentiates itself from a Chalupa Supreme in two areas: It comes with either shredded chicken or marinated steak, and its chalupa shell is stuffed with mozzarella and pepper jack cheese.
While Taco Bell was perfecting its chalupas for customers last fall, it also was testing chicken nuggets, which were marinated in jalapeño buttermilk and breaded for crunch. But Taco Bell knows any good chicken nugget deserves an equally good dipping sauce. When Taco Bell chicken nuggets return, they will come with a jalapeño honey mustard or signature Bell Sauce, per the Live Más LIVE announcement.
Baja Blast Gelato is coming this summer
Mountain Dew Baja Blast is arguably the most iconic drink on Taco Bell's menu. This soda was introduced in 2004, making this year its 20th anniversary. It's very fitting then that Baja Blast Gelato is scheduled to hit Taco Bell menus in the summer of 2024. This creamy dessert is in line with Taco Bell's track record of crazy food flavors and combinations. If Baja Blast Gelato sounds familiar, that's because Taco Bell's Mountain Dew Baja Blast got a gelato makeover back in 2023.
It's safe to say that since it's coming back, Baja Blast in gelato form met consumer expectations when it was tested on Taco Bell menus in Irvine, California. This cool dessert even has the soda's signature bright blue-green color. This was the first time that Taco Bell ever had a gelato on its menu (gelato on any fast food menu is uncommon), and at the time a 3.6-ounce container of the cold treat went for $2.99.
Taco Bell's sauce packets are getting a makeover (and a new Avocado Verde Salsa flavor)
Taco Bell's sauce packets are also getting a makeover. These packets have gone through changes in the past, like the Taco Bell hot sauce recycling program implemented to try and minimize packet waste. This time, the change will be more visual. Taco Bell's hot sauce packets have been slowly evolving their look over time. The messages and sayings printed on the packets –including "I Got This" and "I'm The Hot One" — and didn't appear until 2004. Although we can't predict what the sauce packet makeover has in store, we do know that a new flavor, Avocado Verde Salsa, is on its way.
Officials at the Live Más LIVE event confirmed that the Avocado Verde Salsa will hit stores as a new sauce option sometime in 2024. Taco Bell consumers may be familiar with a similarly flavored green verde salsa that's one of many discontinued Taco Bell sauces. Although those green packets have disappeared, you can keep an eye out for a new one with avocado coming soon.