Taco Bell's Brand New Chicken Nuggets Are Much Better Than I Expected

Taco Bell chicken nuggets

Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

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Taco Bell chicken nuggets
Wilder Shaw / Cheapism
10 piece Taco Bell chicken nuggets
Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

When Did Taco Bell Start Selling Chicken Nuggets?

As of today, Dec. 19, chicken nuggets are available at Taco Bell across the country.

Taco Bell chicken nugget interior
Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

Are Taco Bell's Chicken Nuggets Any Good?

Overall, it's my opinion that fast-food restaurants should try to stay in their own lane. Nobody can do it all. 


Taco Bell comes close, though, because these things are pretty good. Unlike a nugget from McDonald's, Burger King, or most of the burger chains, this actually tastes and looks like chicken. I'm not going to wax poetic about how juicy they were, but the filling is unmistakably the animal I hope it to be.


Apparently, these are partially breaded with tortilla chips. You can see some redness in the color of the batter, but other than that, I'd never be able to tell. The crunch is less squeaky than other places, but I don't know how much this helps and how much it's just a gimmick.

Taco Bell chicken nugget sauces
Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

What Sauces Are New For the Nuggets?

A nugget is nothing without a sauce, and we've got three brand new ones for the occasion: Bell Sauce, Jalapeño Honey Mustard, and Fire Ranch, the latter of which has been made in partnership with its holiness Hidden Valley Ranch.


Good news first: Anything made with Hidden Valley Ranch is going to taste good, because Hidden Valley Ranch is the best ranch dressing on the planet.


Bad news next: the Jalapeño Honey Mustard is disgusting. I don't know who this is for. I like spicy dips, but honey mustard is fine on its own. And if you're the type of person who usually dips their nuggets in honey mustard, you're out of luck. This is all you've got.


Medium news last: Bell Sauce is alright. There are many flavors in here, like chipotle, red chilies, garlic, and even nacho cheese. It's creamy and well-suited for a dip, but these flavors may not be in the harmony that Taco Bell thinks they are.

Taco Bell chicken nuggets in box
Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

How Do Taco Bell Nuggets Compare to Other Fast-Food Chicken Nuggets?

While these don't compare to Chick-fil-A's or KFC's nuggets, Taco Bell might take the third slot on the list. I prefer them to all of the burger chains' nuggets, and they're just as good, if not slightly better than Bojangles' new Bo Bites. Incredibly solid entry into the game, Taco Bell.

Taco Bell chicken nuggets
Wilder Shaw / Cheapism

How Long Will Taco Bell Nuggets Be Available?

These are not a permanent addition to the menu, so Taco Bell's chicken nuggets are a limited-time offer. Grab them while you can. 


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