Discontinued Taco Bell Items: What’s Gone and What’s Back
Taco Bell changes its menu every year. Some items disappear for good, some come back after fans ask for them, and some only seem to be gone. This guide separates all three, with dates from Taco Bell and news reports, so you know what you can still order.
Quick answer: The 7-Layer Burrito, the Power Menu Bowl and the Fiesta Taco Salad are among the best-known discontinued Taco Bell items. The Mexican Pizza came back for good in 2022. Taco Bell has also brought back four items from 2016 for a limited time: the Beefy Crunch Burrito, Naked Chicken Chalupa, Meximelt and Caramel Apple Empanada.
Taco Bell Brings Back Four Items From 2016
On August 20, 2026, Taco Bell launched the third chapter of its Decades Menu, built around 2016. Four items returned nationwide for a limited time, while supplies last:
| Returning item | Price |
|---|---|
| Beefy Crunch Burrito | $2.79 |
| Meximelt | $2.99 |
| Caramel Apple Empanada | $2.99 |
| Naked Chicken Chalupa | $5.99 |
Taco Bell Rewards members got early access to the Beefy Crunch Burrito on August 18. The Naked Chicken Chalupa, which Taco Bell had tested only in Kansas City in 2016, also appeared in the $9 Discovery Luxe Box. Because these are limited-time items, check the Taco Bell app to see if your store still has them.
Discontinued Taco Bell Items List
| Item | Status | When it left |
|---|---|---|
| 7-Layer Burrito | Gone | August 2020 |
| Potato Bites | Gone | August 2020 |
| Quesarito | Off regular menus | August 2020 (limited returns since) |
| Shredded Chicken Soft Taco, Burrito and Quesadilla Melt | Gone | November 5, 2020 |
| Pico de gallo | Back in Cantina Chicken items | November 5, 2020 |
| Power Menu Bowl | Gone | March 21, 2024 |
| Fiesta Taco Salad | Gone | Not on the current menu |
| Double Decker Taco | Gone | Not on the current menu |
| Enchirito | Gone | Not on the current menu |
| Grilled Stuffed Burrito | Gone | Not on the current menu |
| Chicken Chipotle Melt | Gone | Not on the current menu |
| Volcano Taco and Lava Sauce | Gone | Volcano Sauce replaced Lava Sauce in 2026 |
| Meximelt and Caramel Apple Empanada | Limited-time returns | Back in August 2026 |
Items That Came Back
- Mexican Pizza: Taco Bell removed it on November 5, 2020. After a long fan campaign, it returned to the permanent menu on September 15, 2022. This guide lists it at $5.89 and has 530 calories.
- Loaded Grillers: Taco Bell cut them in August 2020. The Beefy Potato Loaded Griller is now on the Luxe Value Menu for $2.79.
- Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes: they left the menu for a while and are now back on the value menu at $2.99.
- Pico de gallo: Taco Bell dropped it on November 5, 2020. Today it’s back in Cantina Chicken items like the Cantina Chicken Bowl.
- Crispy Chicken Nuggets: they returned on January 22, 2026, with the new Hidden Valley Diablo Ranch dipping sauce.
- Quesarito: Taco Bell took it off in-store menus in August 2020, but it has come back in limited versions, including the Volcano Quesarito in January 2026.
Items People Think Are Gone (But Aren’t)
- Nacho Fries: Taco Bell first launched Nacho Fries in 2018 and brought them back many times. In March 2026, it announced that Nacho Fries are joining the permanent menu.
- Breakfast: Taco Bell still serves breakfast at participating locations, usually until 10:45 AM.
- Mountain Dew Baja Blast: Baja Blast isn’t going anywhere. In October 2026, Taco Bell and PepsiCo extended their partnership through 2036.
- Chili Cheese Burrito and Grilled Cheese Burrito: both are on the burrito menu.
- Cinnabon Delights, Crunchwrap Supreme, Chalupa Supreme, Cheesy Gordita Crunch and Doritos Locos Tacos: all still on the menu.
Discontinued Taco Bell Items by Category
Burritos
The 7-Layer Burrito left in August 2020. The closest option today is the Beefy 5-Layer Burrito ($4.29, 490 Cal). The Grilled Stuffed Burrito, Smothered Burrito and Shredded Chicken Burrito are also gone.
Tacos
The Double Decker Taco, Volcano Taco and Shredded Chicken Soft Taco are no longer on the menu. For a similar crunch, try a Cheesy Gordita Crunch or a Crunchy Taco Supreme.
Bowls and Salads
Taco Bell removed the Power Menu Bowl on March 21, 2024, and replaced it with the Cantina Chicken Bowl. The Fiesta Taco Salad in its crispy tortilla bowl is gone too, but the Mini Taco Salad ($2.49) is on the value menu.
Desserts
The Caramel Apple Empanada is one of Taco Bell’s most-requested desserts. It has returned more than once for limited runs, most recently with the 2016 Decades Menu in August 2026. Cinnamon Twists and Cinnabon Delights remain on the menu.
Sauces
Lava Sauce, Baja sauce and the Verde and Bell sauce packets are no longer on the regular menu. See our Taco Bell sauces guide for every sauce you can order today.
Why Taco Bell Discontinues Items
Taco Bell trims its menu to simplify its kitchens and make room for new items. Its biggest cuts came in 2020, when it removed the 7-Layer Burrito, Potato Bites, Loaded Grillers, the Mexican Pizza and its shredded chicken items. Many items later return for limited runs when fans ask for them, which is why the Decades Menu exists.