When it added Nacho Fries in 2018, Taco Bell sort of confirmed that while its roots are in Mexican food, its menu had no actual boundaries. In adding the fast-food burger chain staple to its menu, albeit with some unique twists, the Yum Brands (YUM) -) chain effectively told customers that they could expect some really wild innovations going forward.
That's something Taco Bell has delivered on as it has introduced a taco using fried chicken as the shell and its Naked Chicken Chips, which were basically an excuse to offer chicken nuggets. If there's a menu item that works for McDonald's (MCD) -), Burger King, or other fast-food chains, Taco Bell seems willing to put its own spin on it.
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Taco Bell endlessly updates its menu and that could mean a new take on a Mexican classic or it could be the chain doing something that mixes cultures and cuisines. It's latest menu innovation -- which has so far only appeared at its Canadian stores -- makes liberal use of a classic American ingredient.
It's a very popular ingredient that Wendy's (WEN) -) has used on its signature sandwich and in a similar way to one of the two new ways Taco Bell is using the latest addition to its menu.
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Taco Bell Goes Heavy on the Bacon
Bacon is generally not associated with traditional Mexican cuisine, but Taco Bell has used it before as an accent. Now, the chain is making the beloved salty pork treat the focus of two new dishes, according to Canadify.
"The new Bacon Grilled Cheesy Quesadilla features grilled chicken, three-cheese blend, and creamy chipotle sauce on the inside, and more three-cheese blend and bacon grilled on the outside," the website shared.
It's literally a quesadilla that's covered in bacon that sticks to the tortilla because of the melted cheese. The chain has also introduced its most American item yet, Bacon Cheesy Fries which are its Nacho Fries topped with pieces of bacon.
"You can enjoy the Bacon Grilled Cheesy Quesadilla on its own or as part of a Bacon Grilled Cheesy Quesadilla Big Bell Meal where you get 1 Bacon Grilled Cheesy Quesadilla, one Crunchy Beef Taco, one regular fries, one Cinnamon Twists, and a 20-oz drink," Canadify added.
Wendy's, of course has liberally used bacon in its Baconator, Breakfast Baconator and Bacon Cheese Fries.
Taco Bell Keeps Making Menu Changes
While these two bacon-heavy items are only being offered in Canada, they're likely to make their way to the US at some point. Taco Bell has been stepping up its pace of innovation since it had to pull back during the covid pandemic.
That has included rotating in past favorites and adding new menu items multiple times each month. The chain has also been trying to mix its traditional value-based offerings with higher-priced items designed to compete with Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) -).
That's something Yum Brands CEO David Gibbs talked about during his company's first-quarter earnings call.
"This quarter, Taco Bell created customer buzz around crave-able product offerings that included the Crispy Melt Taco and the Grilled Cheese Burrito while still providing everyday value through $2 burritos on the Cravings Value Menu," he shared. "Strong demand for the Grille Cheese Burrito is a fantastic example that proves Taco Bell can win in the big burrito category and participate in higher price points while maintaining value leadership."
Taco Bell saw same-store sales rise by 8% in the quarter.
