Taco Bell’s Cantina Chicken was a hit last year, making its way into 1 out of every 4 orders. Now, it’s back with a spicy remix! Introducing the Caliente Cantina Chicken Menu, featuring bold new flavors and a fiery red jalapeño sauce. This limited-time menu launches nationwide on February 27, with exclusive early access for Taco Bell Rewards Members starting today.
- Spicy Upgrade: Cantina Chicken now comes with Caliente Sauce featuring red jalapeños.
- Early Access: Rewards Members get a first taste through the Taco Bell app.
- Limited Time: Available nationwide starting Feb. 27—don’t miss out!
Spice lovers, rejoice!
If you loved Cantina Chicken, you’ll want to try its spicier alter ego. Caliente Sauce adds an extra kick to tacos, burritos, bowls, and more. This sauce was first tested in Cincinnati, Ohio, last fall, and now, it’s finally here for everyone.
The Caliente Lineup:
- Crispy Taco ($2.99): Slow-roasted chicken, a 3-cheese blend, and a crispy white corn shell, grilled cheese on the outside, topped with Caliente Sauce.
- Soft Taco ($2.99): Chicken, lettuce, purple cabbage, cheddar cheese, pico de gallo, and Caliente Sauce in a soft tortilla.
- Burrito ($5.99): Double chicken, lettuce, purple cabbage, cheddar, pico de gallo, and Caliente Sauce wrapped in a flour tortilla.
- Quesadilla ($6.49): A 3-cheese blend, slow-roasted chicken, grilled cheese on the outside, served with guac and sour cream.
- Bowl ($7.99): Chicken, seasoned rice, black beans, lettuce, purple cabbage, pico de gallo, sour cream, guac, cheddar cheese, and Caliente Sauce.
All items come with Avocado Verde Salsa for the perfect balance of heat and freshness.
Flavor explosion alert
Cantina Chicken redefined Taco Bell’s premium offerings in 2024 with slow-roasted flavors and high-quality ingredients. Now, with Caliente Sauce, Taco Bell is taking things up a notch, catering to fans who crave spice and bold flavors.
“We experimented with different peppers and heat levels to create the perfect balance. The Caliente Cantina Chicken Menu is a spicy, flavor-packed take on a fan-favorite.” Liz Matthews, Taco Bell’s Chief Food Innovation Officer.
This launch is also part of Taco Bell’s broader effort to offer more variety and high-quality ingredients while staying true to its roots of fun, flavorful fast food. The Cantina Chicken lineup has been well-received for its slow-roasted cooking style, which enhances the depth of flavor. With Caliente Sauce, it brings an added level of intensity, appealing to spice lovers everywhere.
Taco Bell cranks up the heat
Food enthusiasts and Taco Bell fans have been buzzing about this new menu addition on social media. Many have taken to platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok to express their excitement, with some already declaring it a must-try for spice lovers.
Customers who got early access through the Taco Bell app have been raving about the bold, smoky heat of the Caliente Sauce, with some comparing it to the spiciest sauces Taco Bell has ever offered. Others have praised how it pairs with the freshness of pico de gallo, avocado salsa, and the crunch of fiesta strips in select menu items.
The spice keeps coming!
The fun doesn’t stop here—on March 27, Caliente Sauce joins the Nacho Fries family! For $4.99, enjoy Caliente Cantina Chicken Nacho Fries, featuring crispy fries loaded with chicken, nacho cheese sauce, fiesta strips, sour cream, and a spicy drizzle of Caliente Sauce.
Taco Bell is also teasing future innovations, hinting at more spicy and flavorful offerings later this year. Whether it’s new sauces, toppings, or even more collaborations, fans can expect Taco Bell to keep the heat coming.
Building on its push into bold, flavor-forward chicken offerings, Taco Bell will continue expanding its poultry platform later this spring by moving beyond sauces and into new formats. In April, the brand will bring back its Crispy Chicken Nuggets nationwide, signaling a broader ambition to compete in the fast-growing chicken category. While the Caliente Cantina Chicken lineup focuses on heat and premium ingredients, this upcoming launch will highlight texture, crunch, and long-term menu expansion. Explore how Taco Bell is scaling its chicken strategy in our coverage of the Crispy Chicken Nuggets return.
Get it while it’s hot
Whether you’re a spice fanatic or just looking to try something bold and new, the Caliente Cantina Chicken Menu proves that heat and flavor can take your Taco Bell experience to the next level. For more delicious updates, visit www.TacoBell.com or check out the Taco Bell app.
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