A year after making crispy chicken a menu star with over 70 million menu items sold since launch, Irvine, California-headquartered Taco Bell is turning up the heat on its range with the return of Crispy Chicken Nuggets and the debut of Hidden Valley Diablo Ranch sauce. The comeback marks the next milestone in the quick service restaurant chain’s saucy journey to make crispy chicken a brand new classic.
Since debuting in Taco Bell’s lineup, Crispy Chicken has driven nearly a quarter of all new customers to the brand in 2025. Made from white meat chicken and coated in crispy tortilla-chip-flaked breading, Crispy Chicken Nuggets became a breakout hit that helped establish Taco Bell as a crispy chicken destination on its own terms. The new ranch is a spicy remix blending Hidden Valley Ranch’s creamy ranch flavor with the smoky heat of Taco Bell’s Diablo sauce.
“Over the past year, our crispy chicken has built a loyal fan base faster than we could’ve imagined — and we’re just getting started,” said Liz Matthews, Taco Bell’s global chief food innovation officer. “Bringing back Crispy Chicken Nuggets while leveling up our collaboration with Hidden Valley Ranch is our way of doubling down on what fans are clearly craving: big flavor and bold hear.”
What started with Hidden Valley Fire Ranch Sauce now evolves into a fiercer, flavor-packed followup built for consumers who like their ranch with a kick. It’s not just a new sauce; it’s the next chapter in Taco Bell’s journey to level up its flavor game one sauce at a time.
“Our goal was simple: take the ranch fans love and give it a fiery upgrade worthy of Taco Bell’s bold flavors,” said Michelle Amador, head of away-from-home sales and partnerships at Hidden Valley Ranch. Our Diablo Ranch Sauce delivers on that promise with a perfect balance of cool and heat.”
The lineup of Crispy Chicken Nuggets return in multiple size options, and available with Taco Bell’s full suite of signature sauces:
• 5-piece Crispy Chicken Nuggets — $4.49 (choice of one sauce)
• 10-piece Crispy Chicken Nuggets — $7.49 (choice of two sauces)
• 10-piece Crispy Chicken Nuggets Combo — $9.49 (includes 10-piece nuggets, regular fries, large fountain drink, and choice of two sauces)
• Nugget Deluxe Combo — $11.49 (Features 5-piece nuggets with choice of one sauce, Beef Chalupa Supreme, Crunchy Taco, regular fries with nacho cheese sauce, and large fountain drink)
