Taco Bell recently eliminated several menu items to declutter its menu. But one menu item the chain can’t sweep under the rug is Nacho Fries.
The popular limited time offer returns Jan. 30 for the fifth time since it debuted two years ago. For this tour of duty, Taco Bell is extending the Nacho Fries line by adding a second dish: Buffalo Chicken Nacho Fries.
The plated dish, priced at $2.99, features a layer of fries — double the amount served in a regular “cup” of Nacho Fries. The seasoned spuds are topped with shredded chicken, pico de gallo, sour cream, shredded cheese, nacho cheese sauce and buffalo sauce — a Taco Bell first.
Consumers can order the Buffalo Chicken Nacho Fries as a burrito for the same price.
Taco Bell spokesman Matt Prince said Nacho Fries have become a versatile product line for the brand. Over the last two years, the chain has unleashed a handful of regional and national LTOs featuring the seasoned fries including Rattlesnake Fries, Reaper Ranch Fries, Loaded Taco Fries and Vampire Steaked Fries.
Soon after launching in 2018, Nacho Fries became Taco Bell’s bestselling new product, beating sale records previously held by Doritos Locos Tacos.
But unlike Doritos Locos Tacos, Nacho Fries are not a permanent menu item.
Will Nacho Fries ever become a year-round product?
Given their popularity, Prince said: “I think everyone would want it permanent.”
However, Prince said fries pose operational challenges because most Taco Bell kitchens are not set up for on demand frying.
Some stores have only one fryer. Other menu items fried in-house include Chalupa shells, tortilla chips, hash browns, Cinnamon Twists, Cinnabon Delights and the Mexican Pizza shell.
“Our restaurants weren’t built for heavy frying,” he said.
The regular Nacho Fries will sell for $1.39 when they debut next week in the U.S. at roughly 7,000 Taco Bell restaurants.
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