Taco Bell is putting a new spin on one of its most recognizable menu items. The new Taco Bell Gordita Crunch Duos are giving fans the familiar combination of a soft, cheesy outer layer and a crunchy taco shell, but in a smaller two-piece format.
The latest menu addition is designed for people who want the flavor of a Gordita Crunch without ordering just one large item. It also gives diners the chance to choose between two different proteins: steak or chicken.
For longtime Taco Bell fans, the appeal is pretty straightforward. The Duos keep the elements that make the Gordita Crunch recognizable while changing the portion, presentation and protein options.
What Comes in the Gordita Crunch Duos?
Each Gordita Crunch Duo includes a warm flatbread wrapped around a crunchy white corn taco shell. The flatbread is layered with a three-cheese blend made with mozzarella, pepper Jack and Cheddar.
Inside, customers get their choice of grilled, marinated steak or slow-roasted chicken. The taco is finished with lettuce, pico de gallo and creamy chipotle sauce.
That combination gives the Duos several different textures in a single bite. There’s the soft flatbread, melted cheese and crunchy shell, followed by the savory protein and fresh toppings.
It’s essentially the classic Gordita Crunch idea reworked into two smaller servings.
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Steak or Chicken? Here’s the Difference
The two versions share the same basic toppings, so the protein is the main decision.
The steak version uses grilled, marinated steak, giving the Duo a heartier and more savory profile. The chicken version uses Taco Bell’s slow-roasted chicken for a different flavor while keeping the same cheesy and crunchy structure.
If you’re ordering for the first time, getting one version of each could be an easy way to compare them.
The two-piece setup also makes the menu item a little more flexible. You can eat both as your main order or pair them with another Taco Bell favorite.
How Much Are Taco Bell Gordita Crunch Duos?
The Gordita Crunch Duos are listed at $5.49 for two pieces, although Taco Bell prices can vary depending on location.
For customers looking for a bigger meal, Taco Bell is also offering the Duos as part of its $9 Discovery Luxe Box. The box includes the Gordita Crunch Duos, a Doritos Locos Taco, a Crunchy Taco, Chips and Nacho Cheese Sauce, and a medium fountain drink.
That makes the box particularly relevant for people who want to sample more than one item rather than build an order around the Duos alone.
As always, local pricing and availability can differ, so checking the menu at your nearest Taco Bell is worth doing before ordering.
A New Take on a Taco Bell Classic
Gordita Crunch is by no means a novel concept for Taco Bell. Since 2000, the original Cheesy Gordita Crunch has been on the chain’s menu.
The key element here is the packaging around the experience at Taco Bell.
Instead of adding a completely new flavor pairing, the chain is getting a well-known menu item and making it more accessible to share, combine with others on the menu or partake in a more substantial meal.
This tactic is now everywhere in fast food, with classic menu items being resurrected just by making them larger, different or a new mix.
What Else Is Joining the Menu?
The Gordita Crunch Duos are part of a broader Taco Bell menu update.
The chain is also bringing back its Crispy Chicken Crunchwrap Sliders, while the current lineup features Hidden Valley Diablo Ranch Sauce. That means customers have several new and returning options to consider during the same menu cycle.
The Crunchwrap Sliders and Gordita Crunch Duos also follow a similar idea: take recognizable Taco Bell flavors and put them into smaller, more snackable formats.
When Can You Get the Gordita Crunch Duos?
The new Taco Bell Gordita Crunch Duos are at select restaurants across the country.
Restrictions may also apply per restaurant and prices on the menu may vary from restaurant to restaurant. The best way to find out what you can get at Taco Bell is to either check the menu on the app or on the local online menu.
The new Duos don’t try to do much more than what fans already love about the Cheesy Gordita Crunch. Rather, they shrink it, break it into a two piece order and offer a selection of steak or chicken.
That’s less about the new product being a replacement, and more about providing Taco Bell patrons another option to enjoy a familiar favorite.