When I first heard about Taco Bell’s Flamin’ Hot Grilled Cheese Burrito, I thought the chain just threw a bunch of Flamin’ Hot seasoned chips into a burrito with several standard Taco Bell ingredients, dusted off Flamin’ Hot seasoning from its hands, and called it a day.
However, that’s not the case. Instead, Taco Bell threw a bunch of Flamin’ Hot seasoned chips into a burrito with several standard Taco Bell ingredients, added Flamin’ Hot Fritos to a new spicy seasoned rice, dusted off Flamin’ Hot seasoning from its hands, and called it a day.
The two Flamin’ Hot seasoned ingredients make the inside of this burrito look like it belongs in an episode of Stranger Things. It’s ominous-looking, and it’s also so red that it might be embarrassed. However, it shouldn’t be embarrassed because Taco Bell’s Flamin’ Hot Grilled Cheese Burrito is delightful.
Along with the Flamin’ Hot Fritos and new spicy rice seasoned with Flamin’ Hot Fritos, the burrito also features seasoned beef, nacho cheese sauce, reduced-fat sour cream, creamy chipotle sauce, and a three-cheese blend, all wrapped up in a flour tortilla with more cheese grilled on the outside.
I was a little disappointed that Taco Bell used Fritos instead of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos or Doritos, but I understand the chip physics behind it. Cheetos and Doritos would probably succumb to the heat and moisture inside of a burrito before it ended up inside someone’s mouth. Fritos are a sturdier corn chip, and they did a decent job in my order of maintaining their crunchiness after the 10-minute drive home and two-minute photoshoot. While they weren’t straight-from-the-bag crunchy, they did have some crunch by the time I was able to stuff my face with them and the rest of the burrito.
Even with two Flamin’ Hot seasoned ingredients, this didn’t taste like I was eating a gigantic Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Puff. Those two definitely highlight every bite, while the seasoned beef and nacho cheese sauce add their own flavors. There was also a hint of citrus, which might be coming from the chip’s seasoning.
What I also liked, which heat heads might not agree with, was how the nacho cheese sauce, sour cream, and other cheeses somewhat mellowed the spiciness of the Flamin’ Hot seasoning. The heat doesn’t reach the same level as when you eat Flamin’ Hot chips straight out of the bag, but I think that allowed my taste buds to enjoy the seasoning more. Think of the Flamin’ Hot heat being knocked down one or two levels.
Overall, I really enjoyed this burrito. While I didn’t taste the sour cream, creamy chipotle sauce, or the cheese grilled on the tortilla, the Flamin’ Hot Fritos, Flamin’ Hot seasoned rice, seasoned beef, and nacho cheese sauce created one surprisingly tasty burrito that doesn’t remind me of anything else on Taco Bell’s menu.
Purchased Price: $6.59*
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 730 calories, 41 grams of fat, 17 grams of saturated fat, 0.5 grams of trans fat, 75 milligrams of cholesterol, 1570 milligrams of sodium, 65 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fiber, 4 grams of sugar, and 26 grams of protein.
*Because I live on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did.
