Taco Bell just dropped a years’ worth of menu items, product announcements, and partnerships for 2024 during the first-ever Live Más Live event in Las Vegas.
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The largest and most epic announcements from the main stage included the introduction of chef collaboration program TBX, the new Cantina Chicken Menu and a lineup of food innovations and partnerships with brands such as Cheez-It, MTN DEW, and Tajín.
The New Cantina Chicken Menu
The Cantina Chicken Menu debuts a new flavorful chicken that’s been oven-roasted, shredded, and packed with a savory seasoning of Mexican spices including pasilla and other varieties of chilies. Also, the menu adds all-new ingredients including purple cabbage, pico de gallo, a white corn taco shell and an addition to the brand’s sauce packet lineup, Avocado Verde Salsa. The menu adds five items that will soon be available nationwide to satisfy any craving – any time of day – including the Cantina Chicken Burrito, Cantina Chicken Taco (soft or crispy), Cantina Chicken Quesadilla and the Cantina Chicken Bowl.
2024 Food Innovations and Partnerships
Taco Bell is bringing more bold and intentionally Mexican-inspired flavors to the world in 2024. More than a dozen food innovations are making their way out of the Test Kitchen and will be available to fans for a limited time at participating locations, while supplies last. These newest menu items include:
- Cheesy Chicken Crispanada: Arriving to menus nationwide on February 15, the Cheesy Chicken Crispanada consists of tender chicken marinated and slow cooked with garlic, tomato and onion, combined with a harmonious blend of monterey pepper jack, cheddar and mozzarella cheeses, all tucked inside a delicate pastry dough crisped to perfection. The menu item takes inspiration from the beloved empanada and is fused with the Taco Bell flavors fans already love.
- Crispy Chicken Nuggets: Taco Bell is bringing yet another chicken innovation in Crispy Chicken Nuggets, which consists of all-white meat chicken marinated in spiced jalapeño buttermilk before being breaded in a tortilla coating and fried to crispy glory. Fans can choose from two new delectable sauce options: signature Bell sauce, crafted with tomatoes, red chiles, onion, and garlic, or the hot and sweet Jalapeño Honey Mustard, featuring sweet honey mustard with a kick of jalapeño.
- Cheesy Street Chalupas: The Cheesy Street Chalupas feature a cheesy flatbread with a small tortilla that is stuffed generously with a mouthwatering blend of mozzarella and pepper jack cheeses and fried together then filled with a choice of slow-roasted chicken or savory grilled, marinated steak, a flavorful sauce, and topped with a layer of diced onions and cilantro. Each order will come with two Cheesy Street Chalupas.
- MTN DEW BAJA BLAST Gelato: First tested in 2023, the gelato will be making its nationwide debut, giving fans more ways to celebrate the Baja Blast 20th year anniversary. The creamy treat is infused with the iconic BAJA BLAST Tropical Lime flavor.
- Cheesy Enchilada Dipping Taco: Building on the success of last year’s Grilled Cheese Dipping Taco, Taco Bell is introducing a new version that adds inspiration from enchiladas via the Cheesy Enchilada Dipping Taco, featuring slow roasted chicken and a layered enchilada dipping sauce.
- Dulce de Leche Cinnabon Delights: Taco Bell is bringing more flavors to the iconic Cinnabon Delights with a new Dulce de Leche flavor.
Taco Bell is stacking 2024 to be a year full of bold partnerships with powerhouse brands and artists to co-create new and unique menu items and put an unexpected spin on some classic favorites:
- Cheez-It: The Cheez-It Crunchwrap is landing nationwide this year in a big way. Giving fans one of the most surprising menu item collaborations ever, the Cheez-It Crunchwrap features a real Cheez-It Cracker sixteen times the size of a normal one, with seasoned beef, nacho cheese sauce, and all the classic Crunchwrap fixings, all wrapped inside a folded tortilla.
- Tajín: The flavors of Tajín are combining with Taco Bell classics in an all-new menu testing this year that’s packed full of sweet and spicy flavor. The menu, which features Tajín’s unique blend of chili peppers, lime and sea salt, will be made up of the Tajín Crunchy Taco, Tajín Twists and Tajín Strawberry Freeze.
- Secret Aardvark: The Portland-based hot sauce brand has been creating flavorful sauces inspired by all corners of the globe for 20 years. Now, Taco Bell is partnering with them and adding their iconic Serrabanero sauce to its beloved Nacho Fries for fans nationwide, the combination is sure to spice up tastebuds.
- Disha Hot: Musician Omar Apollo’s family’s hot sauce, Disha Hot, is a secret recipe that has been passed down for generations and it’s been Omar’s dream to share it with the world. Well now, Omar and Disha Hot are getting their very own sauce packet exclusively at Taco Bell, the perfect pairing for any menu item.
- Salt & Straw: Portland-based ice cream company Salt & Straw is famous for making ice cream with innovative flavors is now revolutionizing the ice cream taco. The two brands joined forces for the Live Más LIVE event, treating fans to the all-new Taco Bell x Salt & Straw always-crispy Ice Cream Chocolate Taco, made with hand pressed waffle cones, fresh-made cinnamon ancho ice cream dipped in single origin chocolate, studded with toasted brown rice and complete with sweet sauces and dips.
- Beekeeper Coffee: Innovative newcomer Beekeeper Coffee is best known for ready-to-drink cold brew coffee and latte flavors all featuring a signature drop of honey. Taco Bell partnered with Beekeeper Coffee to create a delicious pick-me-up, the Horchata Cold Brew Latte, taking inspiration from the iconic, cinnamon-flavored Mexican beverage.
Continuing its tradition to put real power to impact its menu in the hands of its fans, Taco Bell will be letting Rewards Members decide what limited time menu items they want to enjoy this year. This year’s clash of the classics will be between team Mexi Melt and team Caramel Apple Empanada. Fans hoping to cast a vote for their favorite contender this year should download the Taco Bell app, where the voting platform will live.
Supporting Emerging Culinary Talent Through TBX
Taco Bell’s back of house just got bigger. TBX is a newly launched first-of-its-kind program that sets out to spotlight emerging chefs while pushing tacos to new places through the equation of “their thing + our thing = a whole new thing.” Taco Bell will be tapping into three announced chefs’ talents to infuse their unique culinary style on one of Taco Bell’s most iconic menu items, the Crunchwrap Supreme.
Three headliner chefs – Jennifer Hwa Dobbertin, Reuben Asaram, and Lawrence Smith – have been selected and took the stage during the event to usher in a new era of innovation. The chefs will partner with the Taco Bell Food and Innovation team to co-create and reimagine the iconic Crunchwrap Supreme set to debut later this year at select locations.
Image via Taco Bell