Leading the way as one of the healthiest fast food restaurants is, drum roll, please—Taco Bell!
Taco Bell Is Officially One of the Healthiest Fast Food Chains
Updated on Oct. 05, 2022
While you might not normally equate fast food with wholesome eating, there are actually options you can get from the drive-thru that are on the healthier side (maybe not chicken sandwiches or ice cream, but alas). With menu items like the Crunchwrap Supreme and $1 Nacho Fries (or Buffalo Chicken Nacho Fries), it may come as a surprise that Taco Bell offers up some of the healthiest options on the fast food scene. Dig a little deeper into their menu and you’ll find that there are some better-for-you options if you don’t have time to make a homemade meal. (Have time on your hands? Try these fiesta-worthy recipes for tacos, fajitas and more.)
Over the past several years, Taco Bell has positioned themselves as one of the best fast food chains for healthy food, making strides to offer customizable options across their menu for their health-conscience customers.
According to the nutrition page on their website, these are some of the quality improvements they’ve made over the past few years to their menu:
- Reduced sodium across the menu by 15 percent since 2008, with a push to have a total 25 percent reduction by 2025.
- Removed artificial flavors and colors and replaced them with natural alternatives.
- Source 100% cage-free eggs for our breakfast menu. 100% cage-free egg ingredients were introduced to the menu in 2018.
- Serve chicken raised without antibiotics important to human medicine in U.S. restaurants
While these options and improvements are great, and definitely a step toward healthier eating, it’s largely up to the customer to customize smart choices, like ordering vegetarian or vegan options, or calorie-cutting with their ‘Fresco’ option to remove cheese, rice, sour cream, and add in pico de gallo.
“We just really encourage people to customize to however it fits their lifestyle,” Missy Schaaphok, Taco Bell’s in-house nutritionist and dietitian told Business Insider in 2016.
Live Más! Want to make your favorites at home? Try these fast food copycat recipes.
Copycat Your Favorites at Home with These Taco Bell Recipes
Inspired By: Cheesy Bean and Rice BurritoThis classic vegan burrito is packed with rice and beans for a filling plant-based meal that's so easy to make.
Inspired By: Nacho FriesDon't plan on coming away with clean fingers after digging into these cheese fries! For a more authentic copycat, add some of this homemade taco seasoning to your fries.
Breakfast TacosAny taco can be a breakfast taco if you want it to be, but it's hard to beat breakfast tacos filled with migas, fluffy scrambled eggs with soft bits of corn tortillas folded in. They're a lovely way to start your day.
Inspired By: Cheese QuesadillaWe serve these quesadillas as chili dippers or load them up with salsa and sour cream for a super starter. —Terri Keeney, Greeley, Colorado
Inspired By: Chicken BurritoOur baked chicken burritos recipe is wonderfully delicious thanks to loads of cheese, a delightful blend of spices and chicken broth that keeps the filling perfectly moist.
Inspired By: Guacamole SideI always judge a Tex-Mex restaurant by its guacamole. And although it's simple to prepare, it can go wrong oh, so easily. I've spent many years perfecting mine, to the point where I think it's better than most restaurants. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
Inspired By: Spicy TostadaYou only need a handful of ingredients to make one of our family’s favorites. It's also easy to double for company! —Susan Brown, Kansas City, Kansas
Taco Salad for a Large CrowdI made this huge taco salad to bring to a party and people were scrambling to figure out who made it. Needless to say I only brought home an empty bowl and the guests went home with a full stomach! Everyone loves this taco salad recipe. —Lisa Homer, Avon, New York
Inspired By: Grande ScramblerBurritos for breakfast? Why not! These zesty handheld breakfast burritos will start your day with a smile. You can also make and freeze them ahead, then just pop them into the microwave for a quick meal.
Inspired By: Chicken Soft TacoMy family loves these tacos. The chicken cooks in the slow cooker, so it’s convenient to throw together before I leave for work. Then we just roll it up in tortillas with the remaining ingredients and dinner’s ready in minutes. —Cheryl Newendorp, Pella, Iowa
Inspired By: Nacho Cheese SauceThis slow-cooker nacho dip recipe is simple to prep but delivers huge flavor. The basic recipe features creamy cheese, chunky salsa, ground beef and spices, but it's endlessly adaptable. You can make it meatless, hot or mild, extra cheesy or veggie-rich.
Inspired By: Chalupa SupremeForget everything you've learned from Taco Bell. Our chicken chalupa recipe is a lighter version of the traditional Mexican dish, with seasoned shredded chicken baked on top of a crispy corn tortilla shell.
Inspired By: Grilled Breakfast BurritoEgg burritos are a fusion between Mexican and American cooking styles. This recipe isn't quite as stuffed as a traditional burrito, so it's lighter on the stomach.
Inspired By: Grilled Steak Soft TacosZesty salsa and tender strips of steak make these traditional fajitas extra special. —Rebecca Baird, Salt Lake City, Utah
Inspired By: Chicken QuesadillaThese stuffed chicken quesadillas pack impressive flavor, but they couldn't be easier to make. Finish them with sour cream and guacamole or your favorite Mexican-inspired toppings for a quesadilla feast that'll satisfy that craving.
Inspired By: Combo BurritoMake-ahead freezer burritos are fully loaded with seasoned beef, beans, and cheese for an easy, delicious meal ready when you are.
Inspired By: Nachos SupremeTaco-seasoned ground beef with tomatoes and rice makes a fast and easy nacho topping. Melt the cheese in the skillet in the residual heat of the beef, and then pour it onto individual plates of chips. People can customize their own toppings to their liking!
Inspired By: Cheesy Potato BurritoI have a son who lives in Mexico, so we don’t see him very often. When I make these burritos, it feels as if he is right there at the table with us, inhaling them. —Marina Castle, Canyon Country, California
Inspired By: Crunchy TacoThis easy and fast recipe is the kind of dinner you’re going to want to have in your back pocket for busy weeknights.
Inspired By: XXL Grilled Stuffed BurritoAfter a busy day, this is a dish that I can get on the table fast. The recipe came about totally by accident: I started throwing things together and soon I had a winner! Everyone who has tried these burritos goes home with the recipe. —Amanda Alford, Hopedale, Illinois
