Taco Bell announces 20 new menu items
Taco Bell announced a series of new menu items, ranging from permanent additions to several new food and beverage offerings, at its annual Live Mass Live event.
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Taco Bell’s Nacho Fries are back for good, along with their spicy counterpart, Flamin’ Hot Nacho Fries.
Taco Bell revealed the menu additions at the restaurant chain’s 2026 Live Mass Live: Palladium Night event hosted by actor and musician Vince Staples.
Global chief brand officer Taylor Montgomery, speaking at the event streamed on Peacock on March 10, said the company has been listening to its customers.
“I think we’re going to right some wrongs,” Montgomery said.
Taco Bell first sold the fries in January 2018.
“After years of sellouts and the pleas of our passionate fans, Nacho Fries will officially be joining our permanent menu later this year,” Taco Bell said in a press release. “The iconic boldly seasoned fries have earned permanent status. This is a historic moment for one of the brand’s cult favorites.”
Reached via email on Monday, March 16, Taco Bell declined to say when fries will be permanently added to the menu, but confirmed that the menu item will be rolled out throughout the year once details are confirmed.
Heisman Trophy winner helped revive Nacho Fries
Soccer player and national championship winner Fernando Mendoza, who has a franchise agreement with Taco Bell, also attended the event and was tasked with helping fans bring Nacho Fries back for good.
During the event, host Staples mentioned that Mendoza must be pretty excited about playing in the NFL in the near future.
“I do, but I don’t take anything for granted, including whether or not nacho fries will be on the menu at Taco Bell,” he said. “I would literally do anything to keep it on the menu.”
And when he was given the task of achieving his goal and taking the goods home for good, he rose to the challenge with ease.
“Okay, here’s the deal,” said Montgomery, global chief brand officer. “Nacho Fries will be a permanent fixture at Taco Bell starting this year…We’ve never done any innovation with Nacho Fries, so when we make Nacho Fries permanent again, we’re going to bring back Flamin’ Hot Nacho Fries.”
Montgomery said the company will add a layer of Flamin’ hot sauce on the bottom, calling the cheese sauce that comes with the fries “liquid gold.” While the original Nacho Fries have been offered repeatedly in limited quantities, Flamin’ Hot Nacho Fries are an all-new flavor combo set that will be available in late 2026, Taco Bell told USA TODAY.
‘Maybe there is a God’: Social media reacts to the permanent return of nacho fries
Social media users were overjoyed when they learned of this addition.
“Nacho fries are on the Taco Bell menu forever…” one X user wrote, sharing a clip of NBA players celebrating while Aloe Blacc’s emotional song “The Man” plays.
Another user shared his joy on March 14th after hearing the news.
“Nacho fries are finally on Taco Bell’s permanent menu,” User X wrote. “Maybe there is a god somewhere.”
And another user jokingly claimed credit for the change.
“All I want to say is that I gave a college speech in my speech class last semester about why nacho fries should be a permanent menu item at Taco Bell,” the user shared. “Oh my god, this is permanent. You’re welcome.”
What else will Taco Bell add to the menu?
In addition to Nacho Fries, Taco Bell also mentioned the following new menu items:
Flavorful Additions and Main Dishes
- Diablo dusted crispy chicken nuggets
- Doritos Cool Ranch Dusted Crispy Chicken Nuggets with Doritos Cool Ranch Dipping Sauce
- Flamin’ Hot Dusted Crispy Chicken Nuggets
- Cheap G slider
- cantina chicken mexican pizza with jalapeño citrus salsa
- mexican pizza empanada
- Flamin hot mini taco salad
- queso cracked cantina bowl
- firecracker burrito
dessert
- Chocolate fudge and caramel empanadas
- Creme brulee crunch wrap sliders
- Mexican pizza bite with strawberries and cream
- Milk bar birthday cake empanada
- mountain dew baja midnight pie
drink
- mountain dew baja midnight zero
- strawberry horchata refreshment
- Cold brew with purple horchata cold foam
- Salt & Straw Taco Chiller
Other additions include Fire Queso Sauce Packets, which are fully edible sauce packets with a crunchy exterior and plenty of Fire Queso flavor that you can drizzle over your meals.
And for those looking to tackle their skincare routine, there’s Mountain Dew Baja Blast Under Eye Patches, which are infused with caffeine and citrus. Taco Bell said in a press release that the patch “provides energizing and cooling hydration to the skin.”
This story has been updated to add information.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s Trends team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia (757). Email sdmartin@usatoday.com.
