Taco Bell Is Coming for McDonald’s With Its New Menu Items

By now, it’s almost comical to see just how many fast food chains have released their version of a snack wrap before McDonald’s brings its fan-loved offering out of retirement. Despite Mickey D’s setting a date for the iconic Snack Wrap’s return (it’s July 10, FYI), Ronald McDonald’s is still getting beat at his own game.

Popeyes introduced its chicken wraps on June 2 and now even Taco Bell—yes, the Tex-Mex chain—is getting in on the chicken wars 2.0. 

One of Taco Bell’s most successful—and maybe most surprising—launches was its Crispy Chicken Nuggets in 2024. The nuggets, made with a tortilla chip-infused breading, quickly sold out, but the chain brought them back again this year with much fanfare. 

At Live Más Live 2025, the chain teased that its beloved nuggets wouldn’t be the only crispy chicken option fans see this year. In fact, Taco Bell promised that it would add a crispy chicken offering to its permanent menu by 2026. 

As of June 12, we’re one step closer to that goal. After months of testing, Taco Bell is finally bringing its Crispy Chicken Strips, Crispy Chicken Burrito, and Crispy Chicken Taco (aka its version of the Snack Wrap) to menus nationwide.

Taco Bell Debuts Crispy Chicken Strips, Taco, and Burrito

Taco Bell began testing chicken strips a few years ago, then again in March of this year with its Crispy Chicken Bacon Club Burrito. The chain seemed to land on its new Crispy Chicken Tacos and Crispy Chicken Burritos in May when it launched its final market test in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

Now, the taco, burrito, and strips themselves are headed to menus across the country. 

The star of the launch is the new Crispy Chicken Strips, which are marinated in jalapeño buttermilk flavor and coated with tortilla chip breadcrumbs before being fried. The strips can be ordered on their own or with the new Spicy Ranchero Sauce, made with Anaheim and jalapeño peppers, tomatoes, garlic, and onion, or Avocado Ranch sauce, a mild, creamy ranch sauce with a hint of avocado flavor.

The Crispy Chicken Taco features a Crispy Chicken Strip topped with purple cabbage, lettuce, pico de gallo, and shredded Cheddar cheese on a tortilla, served with Spicy Ranchero or Avocado Ranch sauce. Taco Bell’s new Crispy Chicken Burrito is double the size of the taco with two Crispy Chicken Strips, purple cabbage, lettuce, pico de gallo, and Cheddar cheese on a full-sized tortilla with your choice of Spicy Ranchero or Avocado Ranch sauce. 

While Taco Bell has said that Crispy Chicken is coming to permanent menus, this is not that launch. The Crispy Chicken Strips, taco, and burrito are only joining the lineup for a limited time—but the chain promises more crispy chicken is coming soon. 

Considering that Taco Bell just finished up its market test in North Carolina and the chicken strips are already on the menu, it’s likely that they’ll be as big of a hit as the Crispy Chicken Nuggets. So, you might want to try them soon, in case they sell out as quickly as the nuggets did.