TACO Bell is bringing a brand new offering to menus this month that’s more affordable than some top competitors.
The fast food chain is getting in on what’s become a chicken battle in the industry over the past several months.
Taco Bell is joining the fast food chicken battle (stock image)[/caption]
It has several chicken-based offerings for customers this month[/caption]
Starting on June 17, consumers can get the Crispy Chicken Tacos, Burritos, and Strips for a limited time, per a news release.
Crispy Chicken Tacos start at just $2.79, and are effectively a dupe of the new version of McDonald’s Snack Wrap, arriving on July 10.
Taco Bell noted in the release that the tacos will have a “harmonious combination of one perfectly crisped Crispy Chicken Strip layered with purple cabbage, crisp lettuce, pico de gallo and shredded cheddar cheese.”
Customers can also choose to top the Crispy Chicken Tacos with one of two brand new sauces — the Spicy Ranchero Sauce or Avocado Ranch Sauce.
Spicy Ranchero Sauce is made from a creamy combination or garlic, tomatoes, onions, jalapeño chiles, and Anaheim, while the Avocado Ranch Sauce is predominantly a “zesty” ranch with a bit of avocado.
Some similarities between the Crispy Chicken Taco and the Snack Wrap are noticeable like the use of Taco Bell’s Crispy Chicken Strips and McDonald’s McCrispy Strips.
Like McDonald’s, Taco Bell is also selling the Crispy Chicken Strips separate from the Crispy Chicken Taco at two for $3.99.
IF IT AIN’T BROKE
The brand used the successful recipe from the Crispy Chicken Nuggets, which earned considerable praise from customers, to create the strips with “extra crispy and crunchy goodness.”
They’re made with “all-white meat chicken, marinated in fan-favorite, zesty jalapeño buttermilk flavor and breaded with crispy tortilla chips and breadcrumbs,” according to the release.
Two Crispy Chicken Strips will also come in the final offering, the Crispy Chicken Burrito, which will be listed at $5.49.
The Crispy Chicken Burrito is a full-sized burrito with the strips, purple cabbage, lettuce, pico de gallo, cheddar cheese, and Spicy Ranchero Sauce or Avocado Ranch Sauce.
Sauces can also be added for an extra $.60 or to any other menu item for an additional $.30, but exact costs will vary depending on which of Taco Bell’s over 8,100 restaurants customers order from.
Taylor Montgomery, chief marketing officer at Taco Bell, emphasized that the brand is setting itself apart with its chicken recipe that started with the Crispy Chicken Nuggets.
“Crispy chicken is having a moment, but our fans made it a movement,” Montgomery said in a statement.
Taco Bell’s Crispy Chicken Offerings
Starting June 17, 2025, Taco Bell customers can get the following items for a limited time:
- Crispy Chicken Taco ($2.79)
- Crispy Chicken Burrito ($5.49)
- Crispy Chicken Strips (2 for $3.99)
- Spicy Ranchero Sauce
- Avocado Ranch Sauce
“So, we decided to bring our sell-out Nuggets recipe to formats that defined our brand because true innovation means elevating the icons, not replacing them.”
“We’re not like every other chicken spot out there, we’re doing crispy chicken the only way we know how: full of flavor and unmistakably Taco Bell,” the CMO added.
SAVINGS IN MIND
Taco Bell’s pricing is certainly distinctly different and more budget-friendly than chains like Wendy’s and Popeyes.
For example, Popeye’s Chicken Wraps start at $3.99 in comparison to Taco Bell’s Crispy Chicken Tacos at $2.79.
While Wendy’s doesn’t specifically detail the cost for its Classic Chicken Wrap duo online, a customer who ordered them recently calculated out a cost of about $3.85 per wrap.
Again, Taco Bell wins out on affordability.
The mad dash for fast food chains to get chicken offerings out to customers this summer comes amid a sharp increase in demand for the white meat.
MORE, PLEASE
In March, findings from Research and Markets showed that the chicken market is expected to be a $268.35 billion industry by 2033.
This boom has been attributed to several factors, including a desire for “inexpensive protein [and] a growing health consciousness that favors lean meat.”
“Chicken-based menu items including fried chicken, chicken sandwiches, and chicken nuggets have become mainstays in QSR offerings as consumer preferences change toward convenience and quick meals,” the findings detailed.
A beloved fried chicken chain is now eyeing a $1.5 billion deal only days after Dave’s Hot Chicken was bought out by Subway’s parent company.
Another popular chicken restaurant dubbed “much better than Chick-fil-A” by some customers is also opening 20 more locations soon.
