Taco Bell Crispy Chicken Nuggets Will Become a Permanent Menu Item – ryan
Taco Bell’s Crispy Chicken Nuggets are here to stay.
After a successful limited run in December — during which they sold out nationwide in less than a week — the nuggets are becoming a permanent item on the fast food chain’s menu in 2026.
But chicken enthusiasts won’t have to wait till then to get another taste. The fan-favorite will make another return to Taco Bell on April 24 for “its longest run yet,” according to a press release the brand shared with PEOPLE.
When the crispy item launched on Dec. 19, Taco Bell says nearly 5 million customers tried them, adding that nearly one in six orders included the nuggets during their first run on the menu.
The release notes that chicken nuggets are “a little unexpected” for the taco purveyor, but the brand has “never been about following the rules” and demand for the item was “off the charts.”
Taco Bell
The nuggets are made from all-white meat chicken marinated in jalapeño buttermilk and coated with a blend of breadcrumbs and tortilla chips.
Taco Bell says they tested more than 50 recipes and flavor combinations to perfect the coating.
The chicken is also served with a trio of dips: Hidden Valley Fire Ranch Sauce, tangy, creamy Bell Sauce and Jalapeño Honey Mustard Sauce.
The nuggets began generating buzz when Taco Bell started testing them in Minneapolis in 2023 and Houston in 2024.
Taco Bell
At its annual Live more event in March, the taco chain announced the nuggets would be making a comeback this year.
They were listed on the menu only “while supplies last” during their initial run in late 2024, and fans expressed disappointment on social media when they were no longer available.
“I miss the chicken nuggets,” one Reddit user wrote. “They were so good!! It disappeared so fast…”
Another comment read, “Yeah. These tasted better over any other fast food nuggets.”