Photo by: Photo courtesy of Taco Bell
Photo courtesy of Taco Bell
Taco Bell has long been about the sauce for a lot of its fans. Its Mild, Hot, Fire and Diablo sauce packets are iconic — and those are just the basics.
Over the years, the chain has introduced lots of other sauces, including — after experimenting with 100 different sauce variations — three new sauces it offered with its fast-to-sell-out limited-run of Crispy Chicken Nuggets last December. At the time, I called those sauces, in relation to the nuggets, a “game changer.”
Now, Taco Bell is looking to change the game again. It’s bringing back Crispy Chicken — or as it puts it, “leveling up Crispy Chicken once again” — in a new format. And it’s introducing a new sauce in collaboration with Frank’s Red Hot to boot.
Hitting menus nationwide October 16, Taco Bell’s Crispy Chicken will return alongside a new Frank’s RedHot Diablo sauce in a collaborative lineup that includes tacos, burritos, strips and loaded Nacho Fries.
“Taco Bell has beenbusybuilding a crispy chicken empire powered by nonstop sauce innovation, and the journey isn’t slowing down anytime soon,” Taco Bell tells Food Network via email. “Let’s just say: there’s a new sauce in town, created with a partner just as committed to saucy flavor as Taco Bell, and it’s the next step toward locking in Crispy Chicken permanency in 2026.”
Photo by: Photo courtesy of Taco Bell
Photo courtesy of Taco Bell
What is Taco Bell’s new Frank’s RedHot Diablo sauce?
Taco Bell describes the new sauce as a “creamy mashup” of Frank’s RedHot’s original Buffalo sauce, Taco Bell’s signature smoky Diablo sauce and spicy ranch. According to the brand,[the sauce is not spicy, but is tangy and smoky in a way that provides the perfect “creamy and balanced” kick for its Crispy Chicken in a new lineup.
The super popular Frank’s RedHot is a “cult favorite,” Taco Bell says in a press release, noting that the sauce “started the Buffalo wing craze in Buffalo, NY back in 1964 and the flavor has kept fans coming back for more ever since.”
“This collab demonstrates the versatility of Frank’s RedHot by bringing its characteristic balance of bold flavor and heat to ignite every bite, reimagining these classics with a partner that’s just as sauce obsessed as we are,” Valda Coryat, vice president of marketing at Frank’s RedHot parent McCormick & Company, Inc., says in a statement.
What is Taco Bell’s Crispy Chicken?
Launched in nugget form in December 2024, Taco Bell’s Crispy Chicken features white-meat chicken strips that are “marinated in jalapeño buttermilk flavor and coated in a crunchy blend of breadcrumbs and tortilla chips.” The crunchy, marinated, coated strips are designed to pair well with sauces.
“For decades, our sauces have become a core part of the Taco Bell experience,” Liz Matthews, Taco Bell’s global chief food innovation officer, says. “Crispy Chicken is our stage for flavor innovation, with every new sauce collaboration breaking new ground. We take our sauces seriously.”
Photo by: Photo courtesy of Taco Bell
Photo courtesy of Taco Bell
What is Taco Bell’s Frank’s RedHot Diablo lineup?
The menu items are all about pairing the crunch of chicken with the flavor of Buffalo hot sauce. The lineup includes the following four items:
- Frank’s RedHot Diablo Crispy Chicken Burrito:Starting withCrispy Chicken strips, this burrito also features shredded lettuce, purple cabbage, pico de gallo and cheddar cheese — all encased and grilled in a flour tortilla. The burrito is then topped with either Frank’s RedHot Diablo or, if you prefer, Avocado Ranch. It’s priced at $5.49.
- Frank’s RedHot Diablo Crispy Chicken Soft Taco:This taco starts with a soft flour tortilla into which are tucked Crispy Chicken strips, purple cabbage, lettuce, pico de gallo and cheddar cheese. It is also topped with either Frank’s RedHot Diablo or Avocado Ranch, as you prefer. Priced at $2.99, the menu item will also be part of Taco Bell’s Welcome Reward “picklist” for new loyalty members for a limited time.
- Frank’s RedHot Diablo Chicken Nacho Fries:In this iteration, Taco Bell’s fan-favorite seasoned Nacho Fries are served with slow-roasted chicken, nacho cheese sauce, a three-cheese blend, pico de gallo and a “drizzle” of Frank’s RedHot Diablo. They’re priced at $4.99.
- Crispy Chicken Strips with Spicy Ranch:An order features four white-meat, taco-chip-breaded Crispy Chicken strips served ready to dip in your choice of RedHot Diablo sauce or Spicy Ranch. The price is $6.99.
“Fans are getting the Frank’s RedHot experience they know and love wrapped in new ways with Taco Bell classics: nacho fries, burritos and of course, tacos,” Coryat says.
Photo by: Photo courtesy of Taco Bell
Photo courtesy of Taco Bell
Is Taco Bell ever going to make Crispy Chicken a permanent menu addition?
It sounds like things are moving in that direction. Taco Bell says this new limited-time Crispy Chicken release is bringing it “one step closer to forever Crispy” and helping it build a “legacy.”
“Each return unlocks a new flavor chapter,” Taco Bell says, adding that this new collab attests that Crispy Chicken is “here for the long haul.”
“With eyes still set on locking in fan-favorite crispy chicken items permanently,” the brand says, “the future of Taco Bell is crispy.”
35 Fried Chicken Recipes That Are Crunchy and Delicious35 Photos
Whether you're craving a classic buttermilk fried chicken or want an oven-baked (or air fryer!) option, these oh-so-delicious recipes have you covered.
Related Content:
Taco Bell and Salt & Straw Are Bringing a Cult-Favorite Treat Back From the Dead
I Tried Arby’s New Steak Nuggets, but I’m Not Sure You Can Really Call Them Nuggets
9 Best Air Fryers of 2025, Tested and Reviewed