did taco bell get rid of the chicken chipotle melt

The Vanishing of a Taco Bell Fan Favorite What Happened to the Chicken Chipotle Melt?

Taco Bell has cultivated a reputation for its innovative menu items that keep fans coming back for more From the legendary Crunchwrap Supreme to the elusive Nacho Fries, Taco Bell is constantly rolling out limited-time offerings and new creations However, with each new rollout comes the inevitable discontinuation of older items. One such menu casualty that has left many Taco Bell devotees disappointed is the Chicken Chipotle Melt – a grilled chicken and melted cheese burrito-like creation smothered in Taco Bell’s creamy chipotle sauce. Its disappearance begs the question – what exactly happened to the Chicken Chipotle Melt?

The History of the Chicken Chipotle Melt

The Chicken Chipotle Melt made its debut on the Taco Bell menu sometime in the early 2000s, quickly becoming a favorite among spice lovers. It featured marinated grilled chicken breast Taco Bell’s signature Chipotle sauce, melted cheddar cheese, and crispy red tortilla strips all wrapped in a warm flour tortilla. The combination of the savory chicken, smoky and slightly spicy sauce, and gooey cheese made it a unique and craveable menu option. For nearly two decades, the Chicken Chipotle Melt developed a loyal following of customers who would order it time and time again. It wasn’t the flashiest item, but its devotees loved the simple pleasure of biting into the melted cheese and chipotle sauce.

Why Taco Bell Discontinued the Chicken Chipotle Melt

To keep things quiet, Taco Bell took the Chicken Chipotle Melt off its menu in late 2020. There was no big announcement or farewell for this menu item that didn’t get much attention. So what happened that caused it to end so quickly? Experts in the field think of a few possible reasons:

• menu simplification—Taco Bell probably wanted to cut down on the number of items it served because it had so many. It was easier to cut the Chicken Chipotle Melt because it wasn’t a big hit.

• Performance issues – It’s possible the product wasn’t meeting internal performance benchmarks for sales, operations, or quality standards.

• Ingredient costs – Key ingredients in the Chicken Chipotle Melt may have become too expensive compared to sales of the item.

• New product push – Taco Bell routinely cuts older items to make room for new menu rollouts and promotions. The Chicken Chipotle Melt may have been collateral damage.

No matter what the reason was, Taco Bell decided the Chipotle Melt had to go.

Customer Reaction to the Discontinuation

It’s no surprise that not all Taco Bell customers were pleased with the decision to take the Chicken Chipotle Melt off the menu. Many disappointed fans took to social media to say what they thought and pleaded for it to come back. Customers who bought the item before missed the smoky chipotle flavor that gave it its signature kick. Others liked how simple the chicken, sauce, and melted cheese in a burrito-style setting was. For people who had bought it for years, it was the end of an era. Some people tried to make it at home, but it was never quite the same.

While Taco Bell likely expected some backlash, the sustained customer response underscores the popularity of the Chicken Chipotle Melt. And it begs the question – could this cult favorite ever make a comeback?

Is There Hope for the Return of the Chicken Chipotle Melt?

Taco Bell has brought back retired legacy items in limited-time promotions, so fans holding out hope for the return of the Chicken Chipotle Melt aren’t completely off-base. After all, customer demand and nostalgia are powerful forces. However, Taco Bell hasn’t given any indication that a comeback is imminent. Fans’ best bet is to keep up the social media buzz and direct feedback to Taco Bell. If interest reaches a fever pitch, perhaps Taco Bell would consider a limited-run promotion. But the company has countless new creations in the works, so focusing resources on an unpopular discontinued item remains a long shot.

Still, crazier things have happened in fast food. Just look at the mass hysteria caused by McDonald’s briefly selling a limited number of Rick and Morty Szechuan sauce packets. McDonald’s had discontinued that promotional sauce years earlier, but overwhelming customer demand brought it briefly back. So while a Chicken Chipotle Melt revival isn’t guaranteed, hope springs eternal for some Taco Bell devotees.

How Fans Can Get Their Chicken Chipotle Fix Today

While awaiting a potential comeback, disappointed customers have a few options to get their hands on the flavors they crave:

• Try existing menu items with substitutions – Order a standard chicken burrito and ask for chipotle sauce and extra cheese to mimic the Chicken Chipotle Melt.

• DIY it – Grab Taco Bell’s grilled chicken and chipotle sauce on the side to make a homemade version.

• Petition for permanent availability of key ingredients – Asking Taco Bell to keep chipotle sauce and grilled chicken regularly available improves the odds of “hacking” a substitute.

• Look for copycat recipes online – Several fan-created copycat Chicken Chipotle Melt recipes exist which customers can try replicating at home.

• Request one-off batch orders – Some have had luck ordering Chicken Chipotle Melts by the dozen directly through their local Taco Bell restaurant. But this is not a guarantee.

While not perfect substitutes, these options can help satisfy the craving for that smoky chipotle flavor in the meantime.

The Future of Taco Bell Menu Innovation

While the disappearance of the Chicken Chipotle Melt still stings for some fans, Taco Bell shows no signs of slowing down menu innovation. In just the past couple years, the chain introduced creative new options like:

• The Naked Chicken Chalupa, with a fried chicken shell replacing the regular taco shell

• Reaper Ranch Fries loaded with spicy reaper pepper sauce

• A taco featuring a fried egg as the shell

• Crispy Chicken Wings dusted with flavorful seasonings

And its popular Doritos Locos Tacos and Nacho Fries keep making limited-time comebacks by customer request. Taco Bell even recently launched an ambitious foray into breakfast burritos as it competes for morning customers.

So while the Chicken Chipotle Melt may be relegated to fast food history, Taco Bell continues pushing boundaries. Fans never know what mashup, remix, or innovation might hit menus next. And if interest in the Chicken Chipotle Melt reaches critical levels, who knows? This discontinued favorite could one day rise from the ashes like a phoenix, ready to reclaim its rightful place among Taco Bell’s elite menu items.