Taco Bell is testing a vegetarian version of the Naked Chicken Chalupa that it reintroduced last month.
The original naked chalupa, first offered in 2017, is a hand-held menu item in which the shell is replaced by a breaded and fried chicken breast. In the new item, the chicken shell is replaced by one, certified vegan by the American Vegetarian Association, that’s made with a proprietary pea protein-based blend that’s shaped into a Chalupa and fried to order. The shell is then filled with lettuce, cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes and avocado ranch sauce. It’s called The Naked Chalupa with a Crispy Plant-Based Shell and it’s only available at one location, in Irvine, Calif. — at 2222 Barranca Parkway — for $3.49 until June 27 or while supplies last,. Like all Taco Bell items, it’s customizable, so it’s also available without cheese.
Taco Bell has long offered a wide variety of meatless options thanks to its abundant use of beans, and has received praise from both vegetarian and animal welfare organizations as a result.
In announcing the test, Taco Bell’s global chief food innovation officer, Liz Matthews, said the new meatless Naked Chalupa continues the Irvine-based chain’s tradition of being a “food disruptor.”
“We’ve seen our industry follow patterns of sameness, but we understand that consumers are looking for creativity and craveability in this space,” she said in a statement. “So whether someone is craving plant-based protein or crispy chicken or gooey cheesiness, we have something that's not only flavorful, but also uniquely Taco Bell."
In April, Taco Bell did a one-unit test of a meatless Cravetarian Taco in Tustin, Calif. In 2019 it launched a vegetarian menu, making its meatless options easier for customers to find, while also rollling out new black bean items.
Taco Bell is also working with plant-based food manufacturer Beyond Meat to develop more meatless options, a partnership that was announced in February .
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