Taco Bell To Test New Menu Item—At Select Locations

By Amanda Greenwood

Associate News Editor

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A new item—Mexican Pizza Empanadas—has been added to Taco Bell’s menu, but it’s currently only available at certain outlets across Phoenix, as part of a limited-time test to see how well it goes down with customers.

Why It Matters

The Mexican Pizza Empanadas are a bite-sized take on Taco Bell’s Mexican Pizza. Taco Bell discontinued its Mexican Pizza in November 2020, according to market research firm YipitData, but brought it back in 2022, following a public outcry—which even involved a “Save The Mexican Pizza” petition (which got thousands of signatures) calling for its comeback—so this new take on what appears to be a strong fan favorite could be a roaring success for Taco Bell.

What To Know

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Taco Bell’s Mexican Pizza Empanadas—which were first announced at Taco Bell’s annual Live Más Live event in March 2025—are small, individual pastries that have been filled with seasoned beef and a blend of three melted cheeses, then deep fried—like a classic empanada. They come with Taco Bell’s signature Mexican Pizza dipping sauce and are available in either a three-pack, which costs around $3.50, or a six-pack, which is roughly $6—depending on location.

Unlike Taco Bell’s traditional Mexican Pizza—which features beef, refried beans, cheese, diced tomatoes, and Mexican Pizza sauce folded between two crispy tostadas—the empanadas have a deep-fried pastry dough and don’t include the refried beans and diced tomatoes. This makes them a handheld version of the pizza, which is easier to eat, especially for those looking for a quick snack while on the move.

The Mexican Pizza Empanadas are currently only available in Phoenix during this test. Taco Bell is also testing other products across different locations, including a “Classic Chicken” and a “Sriracha Chicken” Crunchadilla in Oklahoma City and different types of its Refresca drinks—Limonada and Dream—in Knoxville, Tennessee, as reported by Nation's Restaurant News.

What People Are Saying

CEO of Taco Bell’s parent company, Yum Brands, Chris Turner said, during a third-quarter earnings call, that Taco Bell is designed to provide “craveable food, a convenient and easy experience, and unbeatable value in a way that no other brand can.”

Taylor Montgomery, global chief brand officer at Taco Bell, previously said: "At Taco Bell, we're always listening to our fans–they push us to think differently, take bold risks, and keep evolving.”