Taco Bell’s new Cantina Chicken Mexican Pizza is a spin on one of its most iconic menu items.
Courtesy of Taco Bell
Taco Bell released the Cantina Chicken Mexican Pizza on Thursday.
It’s the first time a new flavor has been available nationwide in the Mexican Pizza’s 41-year history.
I thought the new pizza was crispy, delicious, and even better than the original.
Is there a fan base more loyal and dedicated than those who pledge their allegiance to Taco Bell’s Mexican Pizza?
Sure, the Swifties track Taylor’s every Easter egg, and BTS Army has helped the boy band break Guinness World Records, but the Mexican Pizza devotees could still give them a run for their money — especially since they don’t have to spend it on concert tickets.
When Taco Bell removed the Mexican Pizza from its menu in 2020, fans swiftly organized memorials, support groups, and a petition that garnered over 170,000 signatures. Dolly Parton said the chain should bring it back, and Doja Cat wrote a whole rap. Two years later, thanks to their valiant efforts, the Mexican Pizza permanently returned in 2022.
Now, for the first time in its 41-year history, a brand-new flavor is available nationwide.
It can be a dangerous thing to go against such dedicated fans, but I’m prepared to take a stand.
Taco Bell’s new Cantina Chicken Mexican Pizza is not only delicious — it’s even better than the original.
Taco Bell is releasing a new Mexican Pizza flavor nationwide for the very first time.
Courtesy of Taco Bell
The OG Mexican Pizza includes ground beef and refried beans sandwiched between two tortilla shells, topped with tomatoes, cheese, and pizza sauce.
Its recipe has been tweaked since its 1985 debut — when the pizza still had green peppers and black olives — and variations have been tested in select markets, but this is the first time fans across the US will be able to get their hands on a brand-new flavor of Mexican Pizza.
And this time, it’s all about the chicken.
The Cantina Chicken Mexican Pizza fuses two of Taco Bell’s most popular menu items.
Available in a taco, burrito, or quesadilla, the chicken — slow-roasted with garlic, onions, and various chiles — was a hit, especially with Gen Z. Melding it with Taco Bell’s most famous dish felt like the natural next step.
“The Mexican Pizza is iconic for a reason,” said Liz Matthews, Taco Bell’s global chief food innovation officer. “We didn’t want to reinvent it; we wanted to build on it.”
Taco Bell is also capitalizing on Gen Z’s love of sauce. Every Cantina Chicken Mexican Pizza will come with the chain’s new Jalapeño Citrus Salsa, designed to complement the Cantina Chicken menu.
The Cantina Chicken Mexican Pizza comes loaded with colorful ingredients.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
The new pizza — which hit menus on Thursday and will be available for a limited time — features the same crispy tortilla shells as its predecessor, but everything else is different. It’s made with the Cantina Chicken, plus black beans, green chile sauce, and a three-cheese blend.
Shredded purple cabbage and pico de gallo, two ingredients that were introduced with the Cantina Chicken menu, are sprinkled on top.
Adding some safety-cone-orange flair is the Jalapeño Citrus Salsa, made with red jalapeños and guajillo chiles. Each Cantina Chicken Mexican Pizza also comes with a packet of Taco Bell’s lime-green Avocado Verde Salsa, introduced with the Cantina Chicken menu and made with green chili peppers, tomatillos, and real avocado pulp.
I topped my pizza with both salsas and took a bite of my first slice.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
I was already a big fan of the Cantina Chicken menu, and I think the Mexican Pizza is a perfect vehicle for it. The combination of chicken with purple cabbage and pico de gallo adds a burst of freshness you don’t typically find in Taco Bell’s beef dishes, and the green chile sauce adds tangy depth to each bite.
I was surprised by how much I liked the tortilla shell, which was so satisfyingly crisp — even with so many ingredients on top, it still retained its crunch.
The pizza tasted great with both salsas on top, although I wish the Jalapeño Citrus had just a bit more punch. The flavor was pretty subtle despite the name, but I liked how it lingered on the tongue.
Still, I finished the entire pizza despite testing three other Taco Bell menu items that day — clearly, I was loving it.
I think the Cantina Chicken Mexican Pizza is a great upgrade of the original.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
Obviously, the Mexican Pizza is iconic for a reason, and I liked it when I tried it for the first time in May 2022, but the refried beans can be overpowering, and there’s never enough pizza sauce. Whenever the Taco Bell cravings hit, I still reached for my usual burrito or Crunchwrap Supreme.
But I will definitely order the Cantina Chicken Mexican Pizza again. It’s light and crispy, with a nacho-esque texture that I really enjoyed. You could order it for lunch, on a road trip, or at 2 a.m. The veggies keep it fresh, while the sauce and crunch still make it feel fun and indulgent.
The Cantina Chicken Mexican Pizza is my favorite new Taco Bell item this year.
Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
When I interviewed Taylor Montgomery, Taco Bell’s global chief brand officer, at the chain’s first superfan convention back in 2024, he told me that the Mexican Pizza’s return helped “reawaken people’s love for the brand.”
“I think there’s just so much nostalgia with that product,” he said. “It’s kind of like the gateway to Taco Bell was the Mexican Pizza.”
As always, Taco Bell is really paying attention to its fans. In addition to the Cantina Chicken Mexican Pizza, this year they’ll be getting Mexican Pizza Empanadas and Strawberry and Cream Mexican Pizza Bites. These ideas are all fun, unexpected, and a little kooky, which is exactly how I’d describe Taco Bell at its best.
Now we just need to send a Cantina Chicken Mexican Pizza to Dolly.
