A new version of Taco Bell‘s signature Mexican Pizza is set to include the brand’s Cantina Chicken.
The fast food chain’s Mexican Pizza, launched in 1985, features seasoned beef and warm refried beans sandwiched between two crispy flour tortillas, topped with pizza sauce, a cheese blend and diced tomatoes.
However, Taco Bell has replaced the seasoned beef with slow-roasted chicken for the first time to create a fresh take: Cantina Chicken Mexican Pizza.
Although it has the same beans and cheese blend as the original pizza, the new offering comes with a green chile sauce and is topped with shredded purple cabbage and pico de gallo.
The chicken pizza will launch May 21 in U.S. restaurants and cost $6.49. However, Taco Bell Rewards Members could score the limited-time offering earlier by ordering on the company’s app starting May 19.
The pizza is served with a packet of Taco Bell’s new Jalapeño Citrus Salsa Sauce, which is made with red jalapeños and guajillo chiles to create a sweet and spicy flavor.
“The Mexican Pizza is iconic for a reason. It’s that perfect layering of crispy, saucy, cheesy nostalgia that fans have loved for years, so we didn’t want to reinvent it, we wanted to build on it,” Liz Matthews, Taco Bell’s Global Chief Food Innovation Officer, said in a statement. “And because we know our fans are serious about sauce, we made sure the Jalapeño Citrus Salsa brings the extra spark that complements the Cantina menu.”
However, this isn’t the only menu upgrade that Taco Bell has planned.
“The next chapter of the Mexican Pizza is on the horizon with more irresistible twists still on deck,” the press release continued. “With the debut of the Cantina Chicken Mexican Pizza, Taco Bell is building on a legend fans already love, bringing unapologetic energy, flavor and creativity to every layer.”
Taco Bell revealed it was reimagining its Mexican Pizza during its yearly Live Más Live event in March. Along with the Cantina Chicken version, the company will launch Mexican Pizza Empanadas and Strawberry & Cream Mexican Pizza Bites.
During Live Más Live, Taco Bell announced 20 new items that are set to launch in the U.S. this year. The line-up includes Cheesy G Sliders, a smaller take on the Cheesy Gordita Crunch, as well as the Queso Cracked Cantina Bowl and the spicy Firecracker Burrito.
Expected dessert options include a Crème Brûlée Crunchwrap Slider, Chocolate Fudge and Caramel Empanadas and a Milk Bar Birthday Cake Empanada. Taco Bell has also tested some inventive drinks, such as a Salt & Straw Tacolate Chiller, Strawberry Horchata Refresca and a Cold Brew topped with Purple Horchata Foam.
