Taco Bell has just recently made a huge announcement saying that this year of 2024, they will be debuting a variety of new items that people have been craving for.
One of which actually came out today on February 15, 2024 and that is the new Cheesy Chicken Crispanada.
It’s suppose to be Taco Bell’s version of an Empanada but made in a more delicious manner. So hearing this, you know I am curious because Taco Bell’s creations are usually pretty good. And seeing as how they are elevating the empanada into something more, then this is something I just had to see.
And you know we here at Food Senpai will definitely be doing a review on this new item.
So let’s go review it!
What Is Taco Bell’s Cheesy Chicken Crispanada
For those who don’t know, Taco Bell’s new Cheesy Chicken Crispanada is basically their own unique creation which was inspired from the original Empanada that many people know and love
According to Taco Bell’s website, the new Cheesy Chicken Crispanada features a golden brown shell that is deliciously crispy all around with Mexican-inspired flavors, and is filled with a mix of tender and seasoned chicken as well as melty infusion of gooey rich cheese.
The item is also paired with a side of spicy ranch sauce for dipping.
Seeing as how that is, that just made me extremely excited as that flavor combination just sounds so delicious.
Anyways, I can’t wait any longer so lets get into the review.
Buying Taco Bell’s Cheesy Chicken Crispanada
First thing in the morning I got up bright and early and got dressed, then went into the car to drive to the nearest Taco Bell.
And good thing for me is that the nearest location is only a few minutes away.
Upon getting there, I noticed it was not lunch time yet as they were still serving breakfast. However, there was already a good amount of people inside. Which kind of confused me as I didn’t think the Taco Bell’s breakfast was going to be that popular.
But apparently they were not there for the breakfast but actually the new item which was the Cheesy Chicken Crispanda.
At this location, customers didn’t have to wait for lunch time to order this item. In fact, they could order this right away in the early mornings of the day. Which kind of surprised me but also made me happy as that meant I didn’t have to wait long to get my item.
Anyways, I placed an order for one Cheesy Chicken Crispanada and the price point came out before tax to be around $3.49. Which to me seems a fair bit expensive considering you are only getting one Crispanada? In most Mexican locations you can get an Empanada for around $1.50 to $2 dollars, so seeing this high of a price point definitely confused me.
But hopefully the flavor was good.
After waiting around 5 minutes, they handed me my bag and it was off to the races!
What Does Taco Bell’s Cheesy Chicken Crispanada Look Like
Taking the item out of the bag, I noticed the Cheesy Chicken Crispanada came in another folded in a large paper bag. Seemed a bit excessive to me as maybe they could have used a smaller bag? or maybe even a small box?
Either way, I took out the Cheesy Chicken Crispanada and noticed that this thing was small.
For the price of around $3.49, they could have at least made this item a bit bigger. It was literally almost the length of my index finger which isn’t that large to begin with.
But I will say, it looked really beautiful.
I don’t know how they made it, but the outside shell was a beautiful golden brown while also having a nice crispy feel all over it.
It also looked to be stuffed amazing well as the belly of the Crispanada was extremely full.
Not only that, but when you buy the Cheesy Chicken Crispanada, it also comes paired with a Spicy Ranch Sauce.
The sauce itself was a bit whitish yellow with some seasoning inside which was pretty cool.
Either way, the item itself did look quite delicious so lets see how this tastes.
What Does Taco Bell’s Cheesy Chicken Crispanada Taste Like
I picked up the Cheesy Chicken Crispanada and noticed that it was actually pretty heavy which tells me that it is either filled with a lot of filling or just has a really thick outer shell.
Regardless of which, I then took a bite. And let me tell you, the sound that this item made when I bit into it shook shockwaves throughout my body. This Cheesy Chicken Crispanada was so insanely crispy and crunchy it literally felt like Thor was hammering down lightning straight into my mouth.
The outside shell was beautifully crisp while also being somewhat flaky as well. But then you get to the inside and you notice that there is an abundance of filling. You have shredded chicken all around entwined together with some melted cheese.
When you eat this, it literally felt like eating a Hot Pocket.
This thing was so cheesy, each bite the cheese flows like lava going straight into your mouth with some gooey sensations. It’s also very hot because it was just freshly made which made the experience so much better.
However, the only thing I didn’t like was the chicken.
Honestly, the chicken itself even though it had good flavor, was so dry and tough. I’m not sure how Taco Bell manage to cook their chicken this way, but this was not a great feeling. If this chicken was cooked right and it was tender and moist, this item would probably be one of the best things I have ever tried from then.
But because the chicken itself was so dry and tough, it kind of took away from the experience.
Aside from that, you also had the Spicy Ranch Sauce which was cool to see. I then dipped the Cheesy Chicken Crispanada into the sauce and took a bite. Immediately I noticed a more flavorful feeling where you get a bit of cooling sensations that was creamy and thick plus it also had a nice spicy kick that tingled your tongue.
It was a great combination and when you paired it with the sauce, you actually (ALMOST) forget how dry and tough the chicken even was.
I was pleasantly pleased with the pairing. However, I still do wish the chicken was cooked a bit more proper though as that would have been so much better.
How Can Taco Bell’s Cheesy Chicken Crispanada Be Improved
Taco Bell’s new Cheesy Chicken Crispanada was a great idea that was executed in a decent manner. It had great flavors that I know many people will love, however they just need to learn how to cook their items a bit better.
Most specifically the chicken.
I’m not sure if it’s just my location or if its the same for every store around, but that chicken was just way to tough and way to dry. Even though the Shell, the Cheese and the Sauce was good, because of how dry and tough the chicken was, it actually took away from the experience.
So hopefully Taco Bell will see this and somehow change how they make their chicken. Because as it is right now, it could have been a great item but failed to become one because of the lackluster chicken.
Also, maybe lower the price a bit as it is pretty expensive.
Other than that, Taco Bell did a great job and if they can improve that chicken then this will be a total winner.
Overall Thoughts
With that being said, Taco Bell is one of the most creative companies around the country. It’s no wonder they are taking market share from all the other fast food companies because of just how innovative they actually are. Seeing them make new items for customers to try like this Cheesy Chicken Crispanada just shows that they are constantly trying to better themselves.
And even though my experience wasn’t really the best because of the chicken, don’t let that deter you from trying this item out.
I actually think many people will like it, and if your Taco Bell actually cooks the chicken properly then it will be a smashing hit that will resonate with you all.
Definitely do give it a try!
Overall Rating: 7.4
Cheesy Chicken Crispanada now, but what’s next Taco Bell?
