Taco Bell is adding chicken to the menu

07 Apr 2026, 18:47 · The Fresno Bee

Beef prices are skyrocketing. Between February 2025 and February 2026, the price of a pound of beef rose 14.4%, according to the USDA.

And things are only going to get worse, as costs are expected to jump by an additional 10.1% before the year is over, the agency says.

Restaurants, of course, have been hit hard by the price escalation.

"The best [restaurant operators] can do is stay close to their numbers, rework menus quickly, and find creative ways to balance quality with affordability," Bo Davis, CEO of restaurant software company MarginEdge, told National Restaurant News.

"It's exhausting, but it's also the reality of running a restaurant right now - constant adaptation in an industry that never really gets a break."

In the fast-food space, responses have been varied. Some restaurants, such as McDonald's, have been adding more non-beef items to their menus, while others, like Shake Shack, are simply raising prices for customers.

With its latest menu changes, it seems Taco Bell will be joining the camp of chains like McDonald's and ditching pricey beef for more affordable chicken options.

Taco Bell expands its chicken lineup

Within the last month, Taco Bell has unveiled a number of new chicken items joining its menu lineup.

At the Live Más LIVE event in early March, the fast-food chain said it would offer three new crispy chicken nugget options in 2026: Diablo Dusted, Doritos Cool Ranch, and Flaming Hot. It also unveiled the Cantina Chicken Mexican Pizza with jalapeño citrus salsa, a twist on its existing fan-favorite (and beef-heavy) Mexican pizza.

The additions "prove innovation hits different at Taco Bell," the chain said at the time.

Later in the month, Taco Bell revealed two additional chicken items that would hit menus on March 19, the limited-time Crispy Chicken Crunchwrap Slider and a permanent Cantina Chicken Rolled Quesadilla.

"Chicken is a real playground for spices and sauces, which is where Taco Bell thrives," Taco Bell Global Chief Food Innovation Officer Liz Matthews told Axios in an exclusive interview following the announcement. "We start with what people already crave and push it somewhere new."

Matthews told the outlet that the existing Cantina Chicken menu had already proven wildly popular with diners, estimating that one in 10 orders now include at least one option from the Cantina lineup.

"It's created a whole new reason for people to come to Taco Bell," she said.

Taco Bell is expanding its chicken lineup in an effort to circumvent rising beef prices. Getty Images

Taco Bell is expanding its flavor profile

The restaurant chain isn't just sticking with known and loved flavors, either.

In early 2026, Taco Bell launched its first Global Taco Vote, giving fans the chance to choose a limited-time menu addition.

Through the restaurant's app, diners were able to vote on two Taco Bell items that had never been available in the U.S., Thailand's Kickin' Chicken Taco and the Butter Chicken Taco from India. The winner will be available at select locations for several weeks later in the year.

Last week, Taco Bell confirmed that the Butter Chicken Taco had won the vote, with 65% of the tally.

First introduced in 2003 at Taco Bell's in India, the entree features shredded slow-roasted chicken simmered in a tomato cream-based sauce with spices, then topped with onion, cilantro, lettuce, and cheddar cheese and wrapped in a crispy fried chalupa shell.

"This generation is all about fusion and trying new things," Matthews told Nation's Restaurant News. "We're Mexican inspired, but we also have an ability to do that fusion - whether Korean, Thai, American - in a meaningful way."

And of course, offering fans the choice between two chicken options makes the limited-time offering more cost effective for the restaurant chain.

Taco Bell is gaining steam

The Taco Bell brand has seen considerable growth over the last year, despite the increase in beef prices.

During parent company Yum! Brands Q4 FY2025 earnings call, CFO Ranjith Roy said same-store visits were up at the chain year-over-year.

More restaurants:

"Taco Bell US delivered 25.7% restaurant-level margins, a 50-basis-point expansion year over year on 4% same-store sales growth at company-operated restaurants," he told investors.

"Full-year Taco Bell US restaurant margins ended at 24.4%, despite higher beef prices year over year," he continued. "Full-year margins at Taco Bell US expanded thanks to strong top line and transaction growth."

Yum! Brands CEO Christopher Turner explained that Taco Bell's success relied on a number of factors including attracting a wider consumer base (the chain is seeing an increase in visits from higher-earners and Gen Zers). Turner said the chain also reiterated its value with the $3 Luxe Value Menu, developed its loyalty program, and refreshed its branding to feel more relevant and youthful.

"When you sum it up for Taco Bell, they're doing a few things together. They have a really cool brand that is incredibly relevant in culture," Turner said on the earnings call.

"They are providing craveability, providing tremendous value, and a convenient experience. Some other brands can do one or two of those things, but Taco Bell does all four of those things incredibly well."

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This story was originally published April 7, 2026 at 11:47 AM.