CRISPY CHICKEN RETURNS TO TACO BELL WITH A BOLD BUFFALO KICK: INTRODUCING FRANK'S REDHOT® DIABLO SAUCE

Fan-favorite Crispy Chicken Soft Tacos, Burritos, Strips and now Nacho Fries are back starting October 16, featuring an all-new Frank's RedHot® Diablo sauce.

TLDR:

• Starting October 16, Crispy Chicken favorites return nationwide with the all-new Frank's RedHot® Diablo sauce where Taco Bell's signature Diablo edge meets Frank's classic Buffalo flavor, loading it into tacos, burritos, strips and Nacho Fries.
• Crispy Chicken has become Taco Bell's canvas for flavor innovation, with Frank's RedHot® marking the latest collab that turns a classic crispy chicken experience into something entirely brand new.
• To celebrate, the Frank's RedHot® Diablo Crispy Chicken Soft Taco will join Taco Bell's Welcome Reward picklist for a limited time*, giving new Rewards Members even more reason to dig in.
• Assets for Crispy Chicken x Frank's RedHot® Diablo can be found here.

IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Taco Bell's fan-favorite Crispy Chicken is back, now accompanied with Frank's RedHot® Diablo – a creamy mashup of the original Buffalo flavor, Taco Bell's signature Diablo sauce and spicy ranch. Perfect for drizzling or dunking, the sauce takes Crispy Chicken Burritos, Soft Tacos, Strips, and topped Nacho Fries into irresistible new territory. Hitting menus nationwide October 16, the Frank's RedHot® Diablo lineup proves there are more ways than ever to enjoy Crispy Chicken at Taco Bell, one bold flavor drop at a time.

Crispy Chicken Greatness Backed By a Hot Sauce Legend
The new Frank's RedHot® Diablo sauce fuses the Perfect Blend of Flavor and Heat™ of Frank's RedHot® with Taco Bell's smoky Diablo kick and spicy ranch, creating a creamy and balanced new companion for Taco Bell's Crispy Chicken. Frank's RedHot® is the #1 hot sauce brand in the world** and a cult favorite. Frank's RedHot® started the Buffalo wing craze in Buffalo, NY back in 1964 and the flavor has kept fans coming back for more ever since. Two flavor icons, one unexpected mashup that proves greatness is born in good company: Buffalo reimagined the Taco Bell way.

Taco Bell's Crispy Chicken starts with tender, all-white meat chicken, marinated in jalapeño buttermilk flavor and coated in a crunchy blend of breadcrumbs and tortilla chips – the same recipe fans have fallen in love with. That crispy, craveable foundation has become the stage for Taco Bell's boldest sauce innovations, allowing for the most unexpected yet irresistible flavor pairings.

"For decades, our sauces have become a core part of the Taco Bell experience," said Liz Matthews, Taco Bell's Global Chief Food Innovation Officer. "Crispy Chicken is our stage for flavor innovation, with every new sauce collaboration breaking new ground. We take our sauces seriously – they're the hero of our continued success and reinforces there's no limit to how we reimagine the classics."

The Buffalo Flavor Rolls Deep
Taco Bell and Frank's RedHot® are turning up Crispy Chicken with Buffalo flavor as the MVP. From handheld favorites to loaded fries, here's how fans can get their Buffalo fix:

• Frank's RedHot® Diablo Crispy Chicken Burrito: Crispy chicken strips layered with shredded lettuce, crunchy purple cabbage, pico de gallo and cheddar cheese, wrapped in a warm flour tortilla and grilled to perfection. Finished with the smoky kick of Frank's RedHot® Diablo or the creamy coolness of Avocado Ranch, available for $5.49***.
• Frank's RedHot® Diablo Crispy Chicken Soft Taco: A soft flour tortilla filled with a Crispy Chicken strip, purple cabbage, lettuce, pico de gallo and cheddar cheese, topped with your choice of Frank's RedHot® Diablo or Avocado Ranch – yours for $2.99***, and for a limited time also part of Taco Bell's Welcome Reward picklist for new Rewards Members.
• Frank's RedHot® Diablo Chicken Nacho Fries: The latest addition to the Crispy Chicken menu piles golden, seasoned Nacho Fries high with slow-roasted chicken, nacho cheese sauce, a three-cheese blend, pico de gallo and a drizzle of Frank's RedHot® Diablo – the ultimate flavor-loaded snack for only $4.99***.
• Crispy Chicken Strips with Spicy Ranch: Four strips of the crispy all-white meat chicken you know and love, coated in a crunchy tortilla chip breading and served up with a choice of Spicy Ranch or Frank's RedHot® Diablo sauce for endless dipping and dunking – all for $6.99***.

"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," said Valda Coryat, Vice President of Marketing at McCormick & Company, Inc. "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."

One Step Closer to Forever Crispy
Crispy Chicken isn't just back – it's building its legacy at Taco Bell. Each return unlocks a new flavor chapter, from sweet heat to creamy ranch, proving the brand's power to innovate on the classics while keeping fans hooked. Frank's RedHot® Diablo raises the bar, serving up a Buffalo sauce remix that proves Crispy Chicken isn't just a fling, it's here for the long haul. With eyes still set on locking in fan-favorite crispy chicken items permanently, the future of Taco Bell is crispy.

Fans can keep up with every new step in the Crispy Chicken journey by following @TacoBell.

About Taco Bell Corp.
For more than 62 years, Taco Bell has brought innovative, craveable Mexican-inspired food to the masses, and was recently recognized as one of Fast Company's World's Most Innovative Companies, one of TIME's Most Influential Companies, and Nation's Restaurant News' Brand Icon. For more information about Taco Bell, visit our website at www.TacoBell.com, our Newsroom at www.TacoBell.com/news, or check out www.TacoBell.com/popular-links. You can also stay up to date on all things Taco Bell by following us on LinkedIn, TikTok, X, Instagram, Facebook and by subscribing to our YouTube channel.

About Frank's RedHot®
It all started back in 1920 when the first bottle of Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce was introduced. Made with a premium blend of aged cayenne peppers, Frank's RedHot adds the perfect blend of flavor and heat to your favorite foods. Frank's Cayenne Pepper Sauce was used as the secret ingredient in the original Buffalo wings created in Buffalo, NY in 1964. Try our family of products including the Original sauce, Buffalo Wings sauce, Queso Dip seasoning mix, Buffalo Ranch seasoning, Frozen Buffalo Wings and more. Visit www.Franksredhot.com for more information and recipes. for more information and recipes.

Frank's RedHot is one of McCormick & Company's (MKC) brands. McCormick is a global leader in flavor. With over $6.7 billion in annual sales across 150 countries and territories, we manufacture, market, and distribute herbs, spices, seasonings, condiments and flavors to the entire food and beverage industry including retailers, food manufacturers and foodservice businesses. Founded in 1889 and headquartered in Hunt Valley, Maryland USA, McCormick is guided by our principles and committed to our Purpose – To Stand Together for the Future of Flavor. McCormick envisions A World United by Flavor where healthy, sustainable and delicious go hand in hand. To learn more, visit: www.mccormickcorporation.com or follow McCormick & Company on Instagram and LinkedIn.

*Welcome Reward valid for 14 days from issuance and may only be redeemed for the crispy chicken taco prior to 1/22/25. Redeemable only via the Taco Bell mobile app at participating U.S. Taco Bell® locations, while supplies last. Must be a registered Taco Bell app user in order to redeem. Reward valid once per registered user. Offer valid for one (1) Free Crispy Chicken Taco, one (1) Free Cantina Chicken Crispy Taco, one (1) Free Seasoned Beef Soft Taco, or one (1) Beefy 5-Layer Burrito. No product or ingredient substitutions, upgrades or add-ons. Reward is non-transferable and cannot be combined with any other offer. No cash value. Terms and conditions apply https://www.tacobell.com/legal-notices/terms-of-use.

**Source Euromonitor International Limited; based on custom research conducted September 2025 for volume sales (ounces/ml) in 2024 through all retail channels. Hot sauce defined as spicy table sauce/condiment made from chilies and excludes chili paste, chili oil and dried chili powder/flakes.

*** At participating locations for a limited time only, while supplies last. Contact restaurant for prices, hours and participation, which vary. Taxes extra. Prices higher with delivery.

Ronald Quintero – Taco Bell Corp.
[email protected]

Rosie Herzog – Edelman
[email protected]

SOURCE Taco Bell Corp.