After a brief hiatus due to Taco Bell’s menu simplification efforts prompted by the pandemic chaos last year, Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes and the Spicy Potato Soft Taco will be back on track at the quick service restaurant chain’s outlets in the United States starting March 11. Meanwhile, the Irvine, California operator is also teaming up with Beyond Meat to create a new plant-based protein that will be tested soon.
“The return of potatoes is just the first step in showing our fans the strong continued commitment to vegetarian we are making this year,” said Liz Matthews, Taco Bell’s global chief food innovation officer. “We have long been a leader in the vegetarian space, but this year, we have more meatless options in store that vegetarians, veggie-curious and even meat-eaters will love.”
Vegetarian isn’t just a trend for Taco Bell. The Yum! Brands subsidiary has featured meatless menu items including the bean burrito, black bean crunch wrap supreme, black bean chalupa and classic cheese quesadilla for some time now. Indeed, it was the first QSR company to partner with the American Vegetarian Association (AVA) back in 2015, and currently has over 30 vegetarian ingredients in products sold in the United States and other markets around the world.
Taco Bell’s potato bites are AVA-certified vegan and customers can easily swap meat for potatoes or beans on any of the chain’s menu items. In March diners will be able to order the Spicy Potato Soft Taco for $1 and the Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes for $1.49.
