TACO Bell is bringing back one of its most in-demand items – and fans will need to move fast.
The chain’s crispy chicken nuggets, which vanished from menus just days after their December debut, are returning nationwide starting Wednesday.
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The spicy snack is back at all US locations for a limited run, part of Taco Bell’s bigger plan to make crispy chicken a permanent fixture by 2026.
The company, based in Irvine, California, confirmed the return in an April 17 announcement.
Beginning April 24, the fan-favorite item will return to Taco Bell menus nationwide for an eight-week run.
“The demand for our nuggets was off the charts,” said Taylor Montgomery, Taco Bell’s chief marketing officer.
“We’re looking at making crispy chicken permanent to give our fans what they are telling us they want.”
The nuggets are marinated in a jalapeno buttermilk blend, then breaded in a mix of breadcrumbs and crushed tortilla chips for extra crunch.
Customers can order them solo or bundled with sides.
CHECK THE PRICES
A five-piece with one sauce will cost you $3.99, while a 10-piece with two sauces is $6.99.
Combo meals are also back. A five-piece combo with fries, cheese dip, and a large drink is $5.99. A 10-piece combo is priced at $8.99.
Three dipping sauces are on the menu: Bell Sauce, Jalapeno Honey Mustard, and Hidden Valley’s Fire Ranch, which was the top pick last time around.
The chain hinted that more nuggets, formats, and flavor mashups are coming.
A spicy collab with Mike’s Hot Honey is expected later this year.
NEW ITEMS FOR 2025
The move fits into a broader crispy chicken push, with multiple new items set to roll out through 2025.
Taco Bell teased several of them at its Live Más event in New York in March, US Today reported.
Fast Food meal deals
Here are some of the current value meals offered by popular fast food joints.
Taco Bell’s $7 Luxe Cravings Box:
- Chalupa Supreme
- Beefy Five-Layer Burrito
- Double Stacked Taco
- Chips and nacho cheese sauce
- Medium drink
McDonald’s $5 Meal Deal:
- McDouble or McChicken sandwich
- Four-piece Chicken McNuggets
- Small fries
- Small soft drink
Wendy’s $5 Biggie Bag:
- Junior Bacon Cheeseburger or Crispy Chicken Sandwich
- Four-piece chicken nuggets
- Junior fries
- Small soft drink
Burger King’s $5 Your Way Meal:
- Whopper Junior, Chicken Junior, or Bacon Cheeseburger
- Fries
- Four-piece chicken nuggets
- Soft drink
Among them: a Crispy Chicken Burrito and Crispy Chicken Taco, both launching alongside the returning nuggets.
Other new items include a Flamin’ Hot Burrito with beef, Flamin’ Hot Fritos, nacho cheese, sour cream, and new Flamin’ Hot Rice.
A Grilled Cheese Burrito with shredded beef, three-cheese blend, and chipotle sauce is also coming soon.
Street food fans can look out for the Toasted Cheddar Street Chalupa, filled with chicken or steak and finished with a crispy cheese shell.
Taco Bell is also dropping Steak and Queso Crunchwrap Sliders-mini versions of the classic wrap with green chile queso and pico de gallo.
For dessert, the Milk Bar Birthday Cake Churros are joining menus, topped with sprinkles and cake frosting.
Mountain Dew’s new Baja Midnight – a passionfruit twist on Baja Blast – is rolling out nationwide.
Cheese lovers can try the Quesocrisp Taco, which uses a taco shell made entirely of crispy cheese.
TWO MENUS REVIVED
Two full menus are being revived this year: the Caliente Cantina Chicken menu and a throwback Decades Menu.
The Cantina Chicken lineup features new slow-roasted meat and a Caliente Sauce made with red jalapeños.
The Decades Menu will include nostalgic favorites like the Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Taco and the Double Decker Taco.
While exact launch dates weren’t shared, Taco Bell confirmed that some items like the churros and Street Chalupa are already in stores.