While more commonly associated with beef and beans, Yum! Brands-owned (YUM) -) Taco Bell has also put out quite a few cult chicken favorites over the years.
The cheese-filled Chicken Quesadilla is a menu staple that has been around since the start of the 2000s, while some customers still clamor for the return of limited-time offers like the queso-coated chicken wings or the crispy chicken tacos.
DON'T MISS: Taco Bell delays menu return of fan favorite
As not every chicken item takes off, Taco Bell is currently doing a test run of a new protein called "Chile Crisp Chicken." The Tex-Mex chain describes it as breaded chicken meat cooked in a "sweet, spicy, and citrusy sauce" made from a mix of guajillo, ancho and Anaheim peppers as well as some garlic and lime for flavor.
Yum! Brands
These fortunate few can test Taco Bell's new crispy chicken items
The new protein is being tested in two items: the Chile Crisp Chicken Tacos and Chile Crisp Chicken Strips. Each costs $4.99 and will be available at just one location in California's Newport Beach for one week starting on Aug. 15.
More Food And Retail:
- Inside Chipotle's ambitious sports marketing strategy and its partnership with a Formula 1 team
- Taco Bell has a new value offer (with a catch)
- A classic kitchenware brand files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Those who live in the area can stop by the 4101 Jamboree Road location to try out the "all-new chile crisp sauce topped with spicy ranch, fresh lettuce and real shredded cheddar cheese layered on top of a warm flour tortilla" or the chicken strips coated in the sauce and served with a side of ranch. The tacos come in an order of two while those who buy the chicken strips will get three in one order.
The latter, Taco Bell says, is designed "for the hardcore chicken fans."
"The new menu items feature a sweet, spicy, and citrusy Chile Crisp Sauce, elevating the flavors of the crispy chicken through bold and innovative ingredients," Taco Bell says in the marketing materials for the new menu items.
This is why you're not seeing as much chicken at Taco Bell
The short test run and single location shows that Taco Bell is cautious in bringing these products to the masses — chicken items have, historically, not done as well for the chain as its more popular beef and bean menu items.
In one recent interview, chief executive Mark King said that this is set to change as the chain explores more ways to bring chicken to Gen Z consumers.
"Chicken is a big one," King told Bloomberg in December 2022. "Right now, a large percentage of our business is beef, and the Gen Z consumer wants chicken."
As promised, Taco Bell has begun testing and adding more chicken to its menu. In July, it brought back the Creamy Chipotle and Avocado Ranch versions of its Crispy Chicken Tacos after testing them back in 2021 and advertising them as "not quite a sandwich, not quite a taco" during the height of the fried chicken sandwich craze.
The latest test run will also, presumably, show the chain whether there is wider interest in these types of dishes. It has also tested the Cheesy Chicken Crispanada in some Tennessee locations but has not yet brought the item back for a nationwide rollout.
