Craving Taco Bell but it’s not quite late-night yet? No worries! With its all-new Cantina Chicken Menu, Taco Bell is breaking the misconception that cheesy, crunchy, spicy cravings can only be satisfied late at night. Here’s everything you need to know about Taco Bell’s new Cantina Chicken Menu.
What is the new Cantina Chicken Menu at Taco Bell?
Taco Bell’s Cantina Chicken Menu includes brand new offerings made with premium ingredients that will exceed fan expectations looking for more meal options during the day. The menu introduces a new flavorful chicken that’s been slow-roasted with a savory seasoning of Mexican spices including garlic, onions, and a variety of chilies. Additional premium ingredients featured on the menu include shredded purple cabbage, white corn tortilla shell freshly fried daily, and pico de gallo freshly prepared daily.
Taco Bell also developed a new salsa to complement Cantina Chicken menu items. Called Avocado Verde Salsa, the new sauce is made with tomatillos, green chili peppers, and real avocado pulp. One packet of Avocado Verde Salsa comes with every order of the Cantina Chicken Menu. With the introduction of the Cantina Chicken Menu, Taco Bell is projected to use more than 2.5 million additional pounds of produce in 2024.
“This Cantina Chicken menu has been a labor of love and we’ve worked tirelessly to ensure we landed on the best slow-roasted chicken recipe and selected the finest supporting ingredients to maximize craveability,” said Liz Matthews, Global Chief Food Innovation Officer at Taco Bell, in a press release announcing the fast food chain’s new Cantina Chicken Menu.”As we constantly listen to our audiences, we know that a winning equation is giving them what we know they want plus something next-level. We knew our fans wanted more chicken, and we also knew that we could elevate chicken with unexpected ingredients like purple cabbage and Avocado Verde Salsa.”
What’s in Taco Bell’s new Cantina Chicken Menu?
Taco Bell’s Cantina Chicken Menu includes five new menu items, which are as follows:
Cantina Chicken Crispy Taco, $2.99
Filled with Cantina Chicken, Creamy Jalapeño Sauce and a 3-cheese blend, generously coated with a layer of grilled cheese on the outside and served with a vibrant Avocado Verde Salsa.
Cantina Chicken Quesadilla, $6.49
Cantina Chicken is enveloped in a warm flour tortilla alongside a decadent layer of a 3-cheese blend and Creamy Chipotle Sauce, crisped up to perfection with grilled cheese on the outside and served with guacamole and reduced-fat sour cream for dipping and Avocado Verde Salsa.
Cantina Chicken Soft Taco, $2.99
Cantina Chicken, Avocado Ranch Sauce, fresh iceberg lettuce, shredded purple cabbage, cheddar cheese and pico de gallo, served with Avocado Verde Salsa.
Cantina Chicken Burrito, $5.99
A double portion of Cantina Chicken (compared to the Cantina Chicken Soft Taco) with iceberg lettuce, shredded purple cabbage, Avocado Ranch Sauce, Creamy Chipotle Sauce, cheddar cheese, pico de gallo and Avocado Verde Salsa.
Cantina Chicken Bowl, $7.99
Seasoned rice, Cantina Chicken, black beans, iceberg lettuce, shredded purple cabbage, Avocado Ranch Sauce, reduced-fat sour cream, pico de gallo, guacamole, cheddar cheese and Avocado Verde Salsa.
When will the Cantina Chicken Menu be available at Taco Bell?
Lucky attendees of the brand’s Live Mas LIVE event in February 2024 had the opportunity to try the menu before anyone else. Taco Bell Rewards members, meanwhile, have been able to order the Cantina Chicken Crispy Taco and the Cantina Chicken Quesadilla since March 14. They will also be able to try the Cantina Chicken Soft Taco, the Cantina Chicken Burrito, and the Cantina Chicken Bowl starting March 18. The entire menu will then be available to the general public beginning March 21.
Jason Sudeikis for Taco Bell’s Cantina Chicken Menu
Taco Bell will be getting help from Jason Sudeikis to convince customers that its menu offerings are not only for late-night munch. According to the press release, a campaign starring Sudeikis is set to launch on March 21 to show fans how the new Cantina Chicken Menu will break the mold of late-night food cravings and provide gratifying lunchtime offerings.
Are there more chicken offerings coming to Taco Bell?
Yes. In addition to the recently announced Cantina Chicken Menu, Taco Bell will be introducing more chicken offerings later this year. Chicken innovation has long been cooking up at Taco Bell, but the protein is a main focus for 2024, from fried and delectable to slow-roasted and savory. The press release noted that after the nationwide release of Taco Bell’s Cheesy Chicken Crispanada in February 2024, more new items featuring chicken will be hitting the chain’s national menus later this year like the Crispy Chicken Nuggets.