Right after the introduction of Taco Bell’s Crispy Chicken Nuggets, I felt it was inevitable that Taco Bell would eventually follow up with chicken tenders and shared that with no one who could confirm I actually thought that. Why did I come to this conclusion back then? Well, I had a gut feeling because Taco Bell didn’t stuff those chicken nuggets into a flour tortilla that ended up in my gut.

So here we are with the chain’s new Crispy Chicken Strips made in the same way as its nuggets. And they also come stuffed in tortillas! You can purchase them as a two-strip pack with your choice of dipping sauce. Or you can get one of them in a taco with cheddar cheese, pico de gallo, lettuce, purple cabbage, and your choice of Spicy Ranchero Sauce or Avocado Ranch. Or you can get two of them in a burrito with the same stuff that’s in the taco. Since I felt like I needed to spice up my life, I decided to order the taco and burrito with the Spicy Ranchero Sauce. However, I also picked up an order of chicken strips.

Let’s start with the Chicken Strips on their own, which I got with a Spicy Ranch Sauce. Compared with the chain’s nuggets, which have a satisfying crunch, these strips had an exterior that was less so. It also didn’t stick to the chicken very well, as after my first bite, I noticed the coating started to peel off from the poultry. Of course, your results may vary.

The lightly seasoned coating, infused with Mexican spices, tastes fine and is similar to the nuggets, but it is enhanced by a sauce. While they taste fine and the poultry is tender, I don’t think I’d repurchase them because an order is just TWO pieces that made the sleeve they came in look very roomy.

Although it’s the same chicken, I enjoyed the strips much more in the taco and burrito. Oddly, even though they have the same ingredients, I preferred the messier taco over the burrito because I felt like I could better taste all the ingredients in it.

The highlight of both was the Spicy Ranchero Sauce, which complements the spices in the chicken’s coating. The peppery and smoky condiment made every bite a tasty one, and while “spicy” is in its name, I thought it was pretty mild. No Baja Blast Mountain Dew is needed. There were also acidic bursts from the tomatoes in the pico de gallo and an intense cheesiness from the cheddar.

As for texture, I felt that the chicken maintained most of its crispiness in the taco better than in the burrito. That makes sense since I know through personal experience with bubble wrap that it can get quite stuffy in a burrito. However, not all crunch is lost with the burrito because the purple cabbage does maintain some in the flour tortilla sauna.

Overall, if you want to experience Taco Bell’s Crispy Chicken Strips, I’d recommend getting either the taco or burrito that features them. Again, getting them on their own seems like you’re not getting your money’s worth because it’s only two. Though, I think my gut would feel better if it came with three for the same price.

Purchased Price: $4.99 (Chicken Strips), $3.59 (Taco), $7.19 (Burrito)
Rating: 6 out of 10 (Chicken Strips), 8 out of 10 (Taco), 7 out of 10 (Burrito)
Nutrition Facts: Crispy Chicken Strips – Not currently available on the Taco Bell website. Spicy Ranchero Crispy Chicken Taco – 240 calories, 10 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 25 milligrams of cholesterol, 640 milligrams of sodium, 26 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 2 grams of sugar (including less than 1 gram of added sugar), and 11 grams of protein. Spicy Ranchero Crispy Chicken Burrito – 500 calories, 20 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 50 milligrams of cholesterol, 1310 milligrams of sodium, 58 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fiber, 3 grams of sugar (including 1 gram of added sugar), and 23 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.

Mike’s Hot Honey has been a popular condiment for over a decade. The sweet and spicy sauce has been found in just about every corner of the food world, collaborating with the likes of KFC, Red Robin, Dunkin’, and DiGiorno. Oh, that’s not enough for you? How about Utz, Blue Diamond, Keebler Club Crackers, and Boulder Canyon?

Now you can add Taco Bell to the list with the limited-time Mike’s Hot Honey Diablo Sauce, which rolled out with the rerelease of the Crispy Chicken Nuggets. It can also be added to the Nacho Fries or purchased à la carte.

Taking a sniff, the sweet honey was the first note, followed by the signature smoky essence from the Diablo. Trying the sauce on its own, the lime flavor was a punch to the mouth. It was overwhelming at first, but once the honey and chipotle showed up, it became more pleasant.

Dipping a chicken nugget into the sauce, the texture and appearance were reminiscent of sweet and sour sauce. The initial bite was a little overwhelming at first as there were a lot of flavors hitting me at once. The honey and lime came on strong, but an underlying smokey heat quickly became the primary flavor. The combination of chilies from Mike’s Hot Honey with the chipotle and red chilies from the Diablo sauce made for a mouth-numbing kick.

The sweetness of the honey, however, comes in clutch to dull the spice just enough to keep me coming back to dip my chicken. There was a consistent heat in my mouth, but it never went into uncomfortable territory while eating my five nuggets. Their crunchy tortilla coating was a perfect delivery service for the sauce. The chicken’s flavor didn’t detract from the dip but added a savory component to help stay balanced. I wouldn’t be surprised if a social media “hack” of shaking the nuggets with the sauce in the box pops up sooner rather than later.

The dip also works well with the “bold Mexican spices” of Taco Bell’s Nacho Fries. Also, for science, I tried it with a plain chip and found it less enjoyable than it was with the nuggets or fries.

The collaboration between Mike’s Hot Honey and Taco Bell’s Diablo sauce creates a unique and surprisingly balanced taste profile. That initial lime kick might surprise you, but the balance of sweet honey and smoky, numbing heat keeps you dipping. The crispy nuggets are the perfect match, adding savory crunch without getting lost. This limited-time offering is a bold, flavorful item that’s definitely worth trying for those who enjoy a “swicy” meal.

Purchased Price: $4.69 (side with Crispy Chicken Nuggets) OR $0.80 (à la carte)
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 45 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 125 milligrams of sodium, 11 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 9 grams of sugar, and 0 grams of protein.

Taco Bell’s latest topped fries du saison are the Loaded Steak and Jalapeno Fries. It features marinated steak, nacho cheese sauce, jalapeno peppers, and creamy jalapeno sauce on a bed of nacho fries. With the twin jalapeno toppings, maybe this should’ve been called the Loaded Jalapeno and Steak Fries. Or perhaps it should’ve kept the name Taco Bell gave it in 2019 — Steak Rattlesnake Fries.

If you want to read our review of those fries, click here. Read on if you want to live in the present.

Some of you might be wondering what the bleep is with that white bloop of reduced-fat sour cream. It’s not supposed to come with this, and I didn’t customize my order to get it. So, um, a bonus? But I transplanted the white topping to a taco so that I could experience the fries as the Taco Bell Gods intended.

Although it’s a previous product with a new, less cool name, it doesn’t take away from the fact that it’s savory and tasty for the most part, which I’ll get to in a moment. The double strike of jalapeno ingredients brings the peppery flavor to the forefront, but both bring less heat than one might expect. I don’t know if the nacho cheese sauce had anything to do with the lack of spiciness, but if you’re looking to singe your taste buds, you won’t get that feeling from this unless you’re very sensitive to spiciness. The pickled pepper slices also have a satisfying crunch that the seasoned Nacho Fries wished they had.

The bites I enjoyed most were those where the meat took a back seat to the fries and sauces. I’ve had Taco Bell’s steak over a dozen times by now since it comes standard with every loaded fries, but the more I eat it, the less I like it. I know I shouldn’t expect much from Taco Bell, but I feel as if the meat tasted much better when the chain first updated it years ago. Now, it has a flavor that doesn’t excite my taste buds, and I’d rather eat Taco Bell’s seasoned beef than the steak.

Taco Bell’s Loaded Steak and Jalapeno Fries are a mixed bag of yum and meh. I enjoyed dipping my fangs into the fries, jalapenos, and sauces. But if I order this again, I’ll probably substitute the meat to create the Loaded Chicken and Jalapeno Fries or Loaded Black Beans and Jalapeno Fries.

Purchased Price: $5.49*
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts:470 calories, 27 grams of fat, 4 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 25 milligrams of cholesterol, 1420 milligrams of sodium, 39 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fiber, 3 grams of sugar, and 13 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.

Taco Bell is gonna Taco Bell when it finds something that sticks. When that happens, it attempts to add that thing to every menu item possible. The thing that has stuck for a while now is making cheese literally stick to the exterior of tacos, burritos, fries, regular Chalupas, and now compact Chalupas with its Toasted Cheddar Street Chalupa.

These mini Chalupas come in two per order and feature Cantina chicken or marinated steak with onions, cilantro, cheddar cheese, and chile lime crema sauce. I ended up purchasing the chicken one, but I’m a little disappointed I couldn’t get one chicken and one steak with an order since there’s no upcharge for the steak one.

While they look a bit appetizing with the cheese attached to the shell, that cheese doesn’t make these taste as cheesy as expected. However, they do add some crispy texture to the soft-ish Chalupa shell. Now that I look at it again, the cheese adhesions remind me of zombie movie makeup. Okay, now it’s less appetizing.

Despite the cheese and the decent amount of ingredients within the shell, the most dominant taste was the Chalupa shell’s breadiness. While the shell is the eye-catching highlight of the menu item, it shouldn’t also be the most tongue-catching ingredient.

I tried the other components separate from the Chalupa shell, and they have a nice flavor, with the marinated chicken, onions, and chile lime crema sauce standing out the most. It’s pleasant enough that I wish I could’ve tasted it more with the Chalupa shell.

Now, let’s talk about their size. By calling them “Street Chalupa,” I know they’re supposed to be small like street tacos. However, even though there are two, their size makes them seem more like a value menu item. So what I paid for them, and even the advertised price of $5.49, is a hard price to swallow.

Taco Bell’s Toasted Cheddar Street Chalupa won’t be sticking around permanently because it’s a limited-time item. But if it ever comes back, I’m sure I won’t be sticking it and its bread-y flavor in my mouth again.

Purchased Price: $6.99*
Size: 2 Chalupas per order
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 order) 580 calories, 38 grams of fat, 10 grams of saturated fat, 60 milligrams of cholesterol, 1030 milligrams of sodium, 37 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fiber, 4 grams of sugar, and 23 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.

Awww. These Taco Bell Steak & Queso Crunchwrap Sliders are so adorable. I just want to hug them, squeeze them, dip them, and gobble them up. Nom nom nom nom. Oh wait, they’re gone.

Okay, the two Crunchwrap Sliders are not small enough to finish in four noms.

The mini menu item features marinated steak, a mini tostada shell, creamy chipotle sauce, cheddar cheese, and pico de gallo wrapped in a tortilla and grilled. An order comes with two sliders and a container of the chain’s new green chile queso.

You might think their size would make them cheaper, but an order is about the same price as a regular Crunchwrap Supreme. I didn’t break out my scale to compare their weights, but having had so many hexagonal-shaped Crunchwraps that I always think of the menu item when I see a soccer ball, the regular-sized version seems heftier than the two sliders combined, which makes them pricey.

While they seem expensive, they are also meaty. Carnivores would approve of the amount of steak in these. With them being so small, there’s not enough room for the usual Taco Bell fillers of rice, beans, and air. (Okay, there’s a little bit of air.) Because there isn’t much in terms of fillings, the steak stands out the most. The tostada mainly provided a slight crunch, and the pico de gallo had an acidic tomatoey punch. As for the smoky chipotle sauce, it wasn’t too noticeable as I nommed my way through the sliders, so it might’ve been lightly applied to my tiny Crunchwraps.

But the chipotle sauce isn’t the headlining condiment here. It’s the green chile queso. It’s not a bold dipping sauce; oddly, its cheesiness sometimes brings to mind mac and cheese. It’s okay, but I’d swap out the green chile queso for something more flavorful.

While adorable, Taco Bell’s Steak & Queso Crunchwrap Sliders aren’t as big as or a value item like the original Crunchwrap Sliders that came out over a decade ago. Also, the new green chile queso is lacking a bit, so I’m not sure I would gobble these up again.

Purchased Price: $6.59*
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2 sliders) 410 calories, 20 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 40 milligrams of cholesterol, 880 milligrams of sodium, 41 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 3 grams of sugar, and 16 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.