IRVINE, Calif. — The Taco Bell® Crispy Chicken Sandwich Taco began nationwide availability on Sept. 2 at participating locations for a limited time. Not quite a sandwich, not quite a taco. After locally testing earlier this year in Nashville, Tenn., and Charlotte, N.C., the Taco Bell test kitchen knew it was time to go nationwide, the company said.
Fluffy like a sandwich, but folded like a taco, the Crispy Chicken Sandwich Taco is the latest from the masterminds in menu item mashups. Taco Bell is no stranger to the world of crispy chicken after introducing fan-favorites like the Crispy Chicken Chickstar, Naked Chicken Chips and the Naked Chicken Chalupa which flipped the script on traditional chicken menu items.
Whether the Crispy Chicken Sandwich Taco is a taco, or a sandwich might just be the greatest debate of recent time, which is why Taco Bell has enlisted some of the brightest minds in the country to help fans tackle it. That’s right, on Sept. 4 Taco Bell used two real college debate teams from the University of Georgia and Clemson University to go head-to-head in the name of ‘Team it’s a Sandwich’ and ‘Team it’s a Taco’. “The Great Crispy Chicken Sandwich Taco Debate” will air on Saturday, Sept. 4 during the Georgia vs. Clemson primetime college football game on ABC (7:30 p.m. EST), via a :60 and three :30 ad spots.
“Our new crispy chicken innovation is far from the average chicken sandwich, and we’re certain it will get a spicy reaction from sandwich and taco fans alike,” said Liz Matthews, Taco Bell’s global chief food innovation officer. “Even the masterminds from our test kitchen couldn’t decide if it was more taco or sandwich, which is why we’re excited to bring in the debate team experts to have some fun.”
The Crispy Chicken Sandwich Taco features all-white meat crispy chicken marinated in jalapeño buttermilk, seasoned with Mexican spices, and rolled in a crunchy tortilla chip coating. It’s served on a warm soft flatbread shaped in an iconic taco form and flavored with Taco Bell’s signature chipotle sauce. It can be ordered regular or spice, with crunchy jalapeño slices for those who want an extra kick.
