Taco Bell is known for its innovative and creative menu items that keep customers coming back for more. However, over the years, Taco Bell has also discontinued several beloved menu offerings much to the dismay of loyal fans. Removing menu items allows Taco Bell to streamline operations and make room for new products, but it often sparks outrage on social media when favorites get the ax. So what has Taco Bell removed from its menu over the years? Here is a look at some of the most notable discontinued Taco Bell menu items that are no longer available.
Mexican Pizza
One of the most controversial Taco Bell menu item removals was the Mexican Pizza. This cult favorite item consisted of a fried flour tortilla shell filled with beans, pizza sauce, beef or chicken, tomatoes, and a melted three cheese blend. It was topped with another fried flour tortilla shell to create a “pizza” style menu item. The Mexican Pizza was removed from menus in 2020, brought back for a limited time in 2022 due to popular demand, and then removed again in November 2022.
Double Decker Taco
The Double Decker Taco was taken off menus in 2019 after a 7 year run. It featured a soft flour tortilla spread with beans and wrapped around a crunchy taco shell filled with beef, lettuce, cheese, and tomatoes. This unique taco-style sandwich quickly became a fan favorite, but was discontinued to make room for new menu innovations.
7 Layer Burrito
The 7 Layer Burrito contained, as its name suggests, seven tasty layers – beans, rice, beef, guacamole, sour cream, cheese, and pico de gallo salsa. It was a filling option loved by vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. After more than 20 years as a staple menu item, the 7 Layer Burrito was discontinued in early 2022 ahead of a wave of new menu changes.
Grilled Stuft Nacho
This inventive and crave-worthy dish featured crunchy corn chips layered with beef, refried beans, cheese sauce, crunchy red tortilla strips, sour cream, and pico de gallo. It provided the taste of nachos in a new, hand-held format. The Grilled Stuft Nacho joined the list of discontinued items in 2015.
Caramel Apple Empanada
Empanadas with a dessert twist, the Caramel Apple Empanadas were filled with chunks of grilled Fuji apples and gooey caramel sauce. Dusted with cinnamon sugar, they provided the perfect sweet treat to cap off any Taco Bell meal. Sadly, Taco Bell stopped serving these tasty empanadas in 2016.
Cantina Power Bowl
In 2018, Taco Bell added a line of “Cantina Power Bowls”, including double chicken and double steak options. These bowls let customers build their own combination of ingredients like rice, beans, lettuce, tomato, guacamole, pico de gallo, and avocado ranch dressing. However, just a year later in 2019, the Cantina Power Bowls were cut from the menu.
Quesarito
The Quesarito combined two Taco Bell classics – the quesadilla and burrito. It was made with a flour tortilla stuffed with rice, chipotle sauce, seasoned beef, creamy Queso, and cheesy goodness. Though it had a loyal fanbase, the Quesarito was discontinued in early 2022 ahead of a broader menu revamp.
Double Decker Taco Supreme
A loaded version of the regular Double Decker Taco, the Double Decker Taco Supreme took things up a notch. In addition to all the standard ingredients, it added lettuce, diced tomatoes, and reduced fat sour cream both inside and on top of the taco. Like its simpler sibling, the Double Decker Taco Supreme was removed from menus systemwide in 2019.
Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes
Who doesn’t love potatoes smothered in cheese, spices, and sour cream? The Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes side dish was a long-running favorite, but Taco Bell gave them the boot in 2020 amidst efforts to simplify the menu. They brought Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes back for a limited time in early 2021 after customer demand.
Nachos Supreme
Taco Bell’s loaded nachos topped with beef, beans, pico de gallo, sour cream, and cheese sauce were a tasty snack or meal accompaniment. But Nachos Supreme were cut from menus systemwide in 2013 and haven’t made a comeback since.
Enchirito
A tasty mashup of an enchilada and burrito, the Enchirito combined ground beef, beans, diced onions, and red sauce rolled up in a flour tortilla and topped with melted cheese. It was one of Taco Bell’s original menu items from the 1970s but was discontinued in 2013 after a 42 year run.
Bell Beefer
The Bell Beefer was essentially Taco Bell’s version of a sloppy joe sandwich. It consisted of seasoned ground beef and taco sauce served on a burger bun topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, and cheese. This unique Taco Bell burger hybrid remained on the menu for over 15 years before getting removed in the late 1980s.
Chili Cheese Burrito
When this popular burrito was cut from menus in early 2022, Taco Bell fans were not pleased. The Chili Cheese Burrito combined beef, beans, rice, nacho cheese sauce, diced onions, and red tortilla strips to deliver a mouthwatering mix of Tex-Mex flavors.
XXL Grilled Stuft Burrito
As the name suggests, this massive burrito was packed full of ingredients. It was loaded with steak, nacho cheese, rice, beans, pico de gallo, and creamy Chipotle sauce wrapped in a warm flour tortilla. The XXL Grilled Stuft Burrito was taken off menus in 2018.
Black Jack Taco
This unique Taco Bell taco combined a soft flour tortilla, special salsa, pepperjack cheese, onions, green onions, and a choice of chicken or steak. It was part of the “Midnight Munchies” late night menu but was removed along with the entire Midnight Munchies line in the mid-2000s.
Fiesta Taco Salad
This tasty Tex-Mex salad featured a crispy taco shell bowl filled with lettuce, seasoned beef, cheese, beans, pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream, and salsa. It made for a filling meal option, but the Fiesta Taco Salad disappeared from menus in early 2022.
Cinnamon Twists
These crunchy fried cinnamon-sugar snacks were a classic dessert item at Taco Bell for many years. They were twists of puff pastry tossed in cinnamon and sugar for a light, crispy cinnamon treat at the end of a meal. But sadly, Cinnamon Twists were discontinued in 2018.
Grilled Chicken Soft Taco
Chicken lovers had this tasty taco option to choose from until it was discontinued from menus in 2020. The Grilled Chicken Soft Taco was filled with pieces of marinated, grilled chicken breast topped with lettuce, cheese, and diced tomatoes in a soft flour tortilla.
Why Taco Bell Removes Menu Items
Taco Bell doesn’t remove menu items lightly. There are several key reasons why Taco Bell decides to simplify its menu by cutting certain items:
- Make room for new menu innovations – Taco Bell is constantly developing new menu items and needs to clear the menu board to launch new products.
- Streamline kitchen operations – Cutting items can help kitchens operate more efficiently and speed up service times.
- Remove poor performers – Dropping menu items with poor sales makes the menu tighter and improves order accuracy.
- Manage costs – Simplifying the menu improves inventory management and cuts food costs.
- Increase speed of service – A focused menu makes it easier for employees to take and fulfill orders quickly.
Though fans are often disappointed when favorites get discontinued, Taco Bell’s willingness to take items off the menu allows new hits like the Doritos Locos Taco and Crunchwrap Supreme to be created.
Bringing Back Fan Favorites
In some cases, Taco Bell chooses to bring back highly demanded discontinued items for limited-time stints. For example, the Quesalupa with its cheese-stuffed chalupa shell returned for a short menu appearance in 2016 after being retired. The Mexican Pizza likewise came back for two months in 2022 before leaving menus again. These short-term returns allow Taco Bell to capitalize on nostalgia while still keeping their permanent menu lean.
Signature Items Remain
While Taco Bell prunes items every few years, their signature classics remain anchored on the menu. Beloved items like the Crunchy Taco, Soft Taco, Bean Burrito, Nachos BellGrande, and Crunchwrap Supreme have become such strong brand pillars that it’s hard to imagine Taco Bell ever abandoning them completely. The enduring menu highlights continue delivering the core Taco Bell taste fans love across decades.
The Future Menu
Taco Bell shows no signs of slowing down menu innovation. In 2022 alone they unveiled new items like the Mexican Pizza, Cantina Crispy Melt Taco, and Dragonfruit Freeze. Exciting new flavors and mashups will continue hitting Taco Bell menus, meaning some existing items will have to go. But the chain seems committed to keep delivering unexpected twists on Mexican favorites at affordable prices. Fans may miss the retired items, but they can look forward to the next tasty creation just around the corner.
Conclusion
Taco Bell has removed quite a few beloved and creative menu items over the years, to the disappointment of many fans. But periodically pruning the menu allows them to focus on operations, manage costs, and introduce exciting new options. Classic Taco Bell tastes like the Crunchy Taco, Bean Burrito, and Crunchwrap Supreme will always have a permanent place. And limited-time returns of favorites like the Mexican Pizza satisfy nostalgia when possible. While discontinuing menu items isn’t easy, it has allowed Taco Bell to stay innovative and relevant across nearly 60 years. As long as the flavors and affordable prices continue, fans will keep coming back for more, even after saying goodbye to some cherished picks.