New York
CNN
—
Taco Bell is veering away – barely – from its Mexican-inspired delicacies, going all-American for its latest providing.
Beginning Thursday, the chain is including hen nuggets to its menu for a restricted time. However, Taco Bell is placing its personal spin on the quick meals staple, marinating the all-white meat in a zesty jalapeño buttermilk taste then coating it in tortilla chips and breadcrumbs, leading to a flavorful various.
By its personal admission, Taco Bell stated in a press launch that it’s getting into a class “the place hen nugget loyalty runs deep,” notably dominated by McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Chick-Fil-A. But it’s a part of Taco Bell’s plan to develop its poultry portfolio as youthful eaters largely want it over pink meat.
Taco Bell’s former CEO Mark King stated ultimately yr’s Yum Brand’s investor day {that a} “massive proportion of our enterprise is beef, and the Gen Z client needs hen.” In response, the chain launched in March a “Cantina Chicken Menu,” which makes use of oven-roasted, shredded hen for numerous gadgets together with tacos and salads.
That addition helped enhance Taco Bell’s gross sales at shops open not less than a yr by 5% through the quarter the brand new menu rolled out, with about one in 4 orders together with an merchandise from the “Chicken Cantina Menu.”
New dips and sauces, which magnetize adventurous Gen-Z eaters, are additionally being added to the menu. The three new dips are specifically made for the hen and embrace the chain’s new, tangy signature dip Bell Sauce; a jalapeño-infused honey mustard sauce; and a brand new spicy ranch sauce made in partnership with Hidden Valley.
Prices differ relying on town, with Taco Bell suggesting a retail value of $3.99 for 5 nuggets with one sauce and $6.99 for 10 nuggets with two sauces. Also, a $10.49 worth meal will embrace 5 nuggets, one sauce, a crunchy taco, a beef chalupa, nacho fries and a medium soda.
The final time Taco Bell served something carefully resembling hen nuggets was in 2017, when the “Naked Chicken Chips” was additionally a restricted time providing.
