Taco Bell is Testing Chicken Tenders on Texas Menus

Taco Bell is reportedly testing the addition of buttermilk-soaked chicken tenders to its menu in Texas and Ohio. The move is touted as a precursor to a full menu addition throughout the United States in 2020, with Lone Star State and the Buckeye State patrons as the initial markets. Is it possible they’ll give Chick-fil-A a run for their money?

In a move outlined by the Mexican-inspired fast food chain as an effort to compete with chicken chains such as Popeyes and KFC, Taco Bell is currently introducing “Crispy Tortilla Chicken Tenders” to their Texas and Ohio menus. According to reports, these new chicken morsels are first marinated in jalapeno buttermilk and then coated with tortilla-chip crumbs. With that process, they’re sure to have a bit of spiciness to them. They’ll be served with a new dipping sauce and will be made available in a box meal, as a taco, or on their own. A Taco Bell representative stated that the company has tested over 100 recipes prior to opting for this current one as the very best.

Photo: Facebook/Michael Long

Here in Texas, the Houston market has been chosen as the testing grounds for the new Taco Bell chicken tenders. In Ohio, it’s the city of Dayton. Their feedback will determine the effective nation-wide 2020 launch. Customers in the two states have the ability to purchase the tenders as a $2 taco, as a $3 or $4 stand-alone items (in servings of two or three, respectively) or in the $5 and $7 box meal options. According to Business Insider, the sauce that accompanies the chicken tenders is said to have a taste “somewhat similar to sauces at Chick-fil-A or Raising Cane’s.”

Photo: Barksdale Air Force Base

In 2018, Taco Bell was voted the best Mexican restaurant in America, believe it or not. It’s also been recognized as a healthy fast-food option in comparison to its counterparts in the market. Not shying away from competition, growth, or change, in 2017 the company tested collaborations with Forever 21 and Kit Kat, and as recent as this past year, opened a pop-up themed hotel and resort! This latest foray into the chicken market, therefore, comes as no surprise. What remains to be seen is how the consumer reacts.