If there’s any fast food restaurant that knows how to keep us on our toes with innovative new menu items, it’s Taco Bell. We’re always excited to get our hands on the Mexican-inspire chain’s latest recipes, and it’s oftentimes hard to guess what’s around the corner. But luckily, writer Anneta Konstantinides recently attended Taco Bell’s first superfan convention, Live Mas Live—and she gave Business Insider readers the inside scoop on everything we have to look forward to from Taco Bell this year.
Although there are no official details or release dates for most of the upcoming items, Konstantinides’ reviews have certainly drummed up anticipation. We’re rounding up a few of the menu additions we’re most looking forward to below. From Baja Blast Pie to Tajin Twists to a whole lineup of Cantina Chicken Items, it’s all enough to get our stomachs grumbling.
1. Baja Blast Pie
Let’s start off with a bang. You may have already heard the rumors, and we’re here to confirm that it’s true: Taco Bell did, indeed, create a Baja Blast Pie, and according to Konstantinides, it’s set to hit the menu this year. According to her, it has a “light, zingy, and fruity flavor with a texture as dense as German chocolate pie” inside of a delicious crust, and it’s all topped off with whipped cream and lime zest. The color might be a little shocking, but hey, don’t knock it ’till you try it. We’re certainly looking forward to it.
2. Tajin Twists
It's about time Taco Bell partnered with Tajin! In fact, the restaurant has teamed with this spice brand to roll out an entire menu of three Tajin-flavored items. First up are these Tajin Twists, which take those crunchy Taco Bell snacks we know and love and top them with the spice mix, which consists of chile peppers, salt, and lime. It sounds perfect for anyone who loves a bit of spice.
3. Tajin Taco
In addition to the Tajin Twists, Taco Bell will also be adding a Tajin Taco to the menu. Similar to a Doritos Locos Taco, the shell is seasoned with Tajin. It's complete with beef, lettuce, cheese, spicy ranch, and even a mango pico de gallo, which Konstantinides says "added more depth and freshness than traditional Taco Bell tacos." Sounds amazing!
4. Cantina Chicken Crispy Taco
The Tajin menu isn't the only thing we have to look forward to this year. There's also a new Cantina Chicken lineup in the works, starting with this Cantina Chicken Crispy Taco. This tasty taco is packed with slow-roasted chicken flavored with Mexican chiles, a toasted three-cheese blend, jalapeño sauce, and a white-corn tortilla shell. Our mouths are watering.
5. Cantina Chicken Soft Taco
If soft tacos are more your thing, then this one is for you. The soft version of the Cantina Chicken Taco includes that tasty oven-roasted chicken, purple cabbage, lettuce, cheddar cheese, pico de gallo, and a delicious-sounding avocado ranch sauce. The purple cabbage and pico de gallo are brand new ingredients that Konstantinides says adds some incredible freshness. We're sold!
6. Cantina Chicken Burrito
Taco Bell is no novice when it comes to burritos, and they're adding a new mouthwatering addition to their repertoire with the Cantina Chicken Burrito. This bad boy is complete with slow-roasted cantina chicken, purple cabbage, lettuce, cheddar cheese, pico de gallo, avocado ranch, and chipotle sauce, all wrapped up in a flour tortilla and grilled to perfection. Seriously, our stomachs are grumbling.
7. Cheesy Chicken Crispanada
If, like many people, you miss the empanadas that once graced the Taco Bell menu, then you're in luck. This Cheesy Chicken Crispanada that's set to hit the menu is filled with slow-cooked white and dark chicken meat that's been marinated with garlic, tomato, and onion, along with a three-cheese blend of cheddar, mozzarella, and pepper jack. It's all surrounded by crispy phyllo dough.
Take that, Dunkin'!
8. Crispy Chicken Nuggets
We honestly never thought we'd see chicken nuggets at Taco Bell—seems more up Wendy's alley—but there's a first time for everything. And these sound amazing; the all-white chicken meat is marinated in spiced jalapeño buttermilk, and tortilla-coated breading gives them a crisp finish. They come with both Bell sauce and jalapeño honey mustard for dipping.
9. Mexican-Chocolate and Sweet-Vanilla Churro Chillers
We love a good old frozen beverage from Taco Bell—and the creamier, the better. That's why we're so excited for these Churro Chillers, which were tested in California this past winter, to go nationwide this year. Both the Mexican-chocolate and sweet-vanilla churro chillers include sweet vanilla cream, churro crumbles, and cold foam. These milkshakes may give the new Churro Latte from Dunkin' a run for its money.
10. Cheez-It Crunchwrap Supreme
If there's two things we love, it's Cheez-Its and Crunchwrap Supremes, so we're practically jumping for joy over the announcement of the Cheez-It Crunchwrap Supreme. Sound familiar? You may remember when Taco Bell tested a giant Cheez-It Toastada alongside this new Crunchwrap. It features everything you know and love about this beloved menu item (seasoned beef, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, and nacho cheese), plus a giant Cheez-It cracker that's 16 times larger than the original. Yeah, we need one of these immediately.
11. Grilled Cheese Dipping Taco with Steak
If you liked the original birria-inspired grilled cheese dipping tacos from last summer, then you're in for a treat with this new twist. Just like the OG version, this taco is grilled to perfection, complete with a toasty three-cheese blend (both on the inside and outside of the crispy corn tortilla) and sour cream. But instead of the usual birria beef, it's filled with grilled steak. And of course, it's perfect for dipping into those delicious sauces. Yum!
