Finally, something new from Taco Bell that won’t make a big dent in my contactless payment wallet.

The chain’s new Dulce de Leche Cinnabon Delights are warm donut holes stuffed with Dulce de Leche filling and dusted in salted caramel sugar. At two bucks or so for a two-pack, they’re at a level where it’s easy to add them to an order without the guilt. They’re also available in a 12-pack for sharing, binging, or adding guilt. However, I found them to be mediocre and not worth the 12-pack.

To test these and save money, I picked up a two-pack, and upon inspecting their exterior, they looked good. The salted caramel sugar gives every bite a sugary crispiness that somewhat makes up for the lack of crispiness from the dough’s fried exterior.

While dragging my tongue across the sugar like I’m a horse at a salt lick, I noticed a very weak caramel taste that didn’t have any saltiness. However, I knew that it would be the Dulce de Leche filling that I should be dulce de licking to get most of the flavor. And that filling was…meh. I’m not sure it hits the milky notes of dulce de leche, and instead tasted like a weakened caramel sauce.

Maybe it tasted weak because there wasn’t a lot of sauce stuffed into it. Looking back at my original Taco Bell Cinnabon Delights review, I noticed they were stuffed wall-to-wall with filling. What I saw in these new desserts seemed to be mostly dough, making them significantly less impressive than the original Taco Bell Cinnaballs.

While Taco Bell’s Dulce de Leche Cinnabon Delights are passable, I believe the previous original Cinnabon Delights are superior, much like Taco Bell’s old slogan “Yo quiero, Taco Bell” and the chihuahua that said it is better than any advertisement the chain has produced since.

Purchased Price: $2.59*
Size: 2 pack
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 160 calories, 9 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 140 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 6 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

*Because I live on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You might pay the advertised $1.99 price.

I know sauces don’t have feelings, but if they did, Taco Bell’s new Sweet Chipotle BBQ Sauce must be feeling insecure because in the new taco and burrito that feature it, it has to share the tight Tex-Mex space with another sauce — Spicy Ranch. I can imagine what this dark colored topping might be thinking, if it could think.

“Am I not good enough by myself?”

“What do I have to do for Taco Bell to believe in me?”

“Should I request a trade and go to another fast food chain?”

Well, all those thoughts are moot because with the Taco Bell Sweet Chipotle BBQ Crispy Chicken Taco, that white creamy topping added nothing in terms of flavor or heat to my order, so I’m not sure why Taco Bell included it in the first place. Along with two sauces, it features the same ingredients as previous Crispy Chicken Tacos: a crispy chicken strip, purple cabbage, lettuce, pico de gallo, and shredded cheese all wrapped in a flour tortilla.

Now, let’s discuss the dark-colored Sweet Chipotle BBQ Sauce, which is good, but I don’t taste anything unique or special. It has the familiar smoky and sweet flavors I’ve tasted with other fast food barbecue sauces. It lacks a Taco Bell-esque flair that evokes the fast food chain. There’s a slight kick, but it’s so mild that I don’t want to say it’s a kick. It’s more like sticking your foot out during the hokie pokie.

While the barbecue sauce tasted familiar, I enjoyed the flavors it added to the chicken and the taco. But it also gives everything a standard chicken nuggets/strips dipped into BBQ sauce vibe. I wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up being a sauce for the chain’s dippable chicken offerings. Despite the two sauces within the tortilla, my chicken strip had a decent crunchiness, which was enhanced slightly by the colorful purple cabbage. The tomatoes and onions in the pico de gallo added bursts of flavor that complement the condiment. However, the Taco Bell-obligatory smattering of cheese didn’t make a difference.

The $2.79 advertised price for Taco Bell’s Sweet Chipotle BBQ Crispy Chicken Taco is twenty cents less than McDonald’s Snack Wrap, but it appears to be more than twenty cents less substantial than the Snack Wrap. Even with all the colorful toppings and sauces, it still seems a tad pricey when compared to McDonald’s wrapped chicken strip. However, while I do wish it were a little cheaper, this barbecue sauced taco is still something I’d order again.

Purchased Price: $3.99*
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 270 calories, 13 grams of fat, 3.5 grams of saturated fat, 30 milligrams of cholesterol, 690 milligrams of sodium, 29 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 4 grams of sugar (including 2 grams of added sugar), and 11 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. The advertised price is $2.79.

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.