I operate under the belief that if it can be stuffed with cheese, it should be — which is something Taco Bell clearly believes in, too. Case in point, the new Taco Bell Quesalupa. The fast food brand introduced its newest limited edition menu item with a 30-second commercial during Super Bowl 50, promising that the latest combination of meat and cheese was going to be "bigger than" pretty much anything your taste buds have ever experienced — and it wasn't wrong. Basically, the Quesalupa is like the Chalupa's bigger, cheesier cousin, and it definitely lives up to the hype.
Confused? Allow me to explain. Earlier this year, Taco Bell hinted that it would drop a secret new menu item during Super Bowl weekend, but aside from a few clues, was tight-lipped on just what exactly the mystery product was. In February, fans were allowed to pre-order the new treat before its grand reveal, without knowing what the heck they were actually ordering. On Feb. 6, the secret was out, as fans were able to pick up the item they blind ordered, which just so happened to be our new friend, the Quesalupa. The Quesalupa is officially in Taco Bell stores now for a limited time, and you should definitely pick one up for yourself, because it's pretty freaking amazing.
What is a Quesalupa?
There's cheese hiding inside that shell, people.
Short answer: delicious. But, let's get into specifics, shall we? Taco Bell describes the Quesalupa as "the first shell stuffed with melted pepper jack cheese, and stuffed with the beloved ingredients Taco Bell is known for including seasoned beef, lettuce, cheddar cheese, reduced-fat sour cream, and tomatoes." Essentially, think of it as a Chalupa with a quesadilla-like shell. There's a lot of cheese involved, guys. A lot.
How is it different from a Taco Bell Chalupa?
According to Kat Garcia, Sr. Marketing Manager at Taco Bell, the Quesalupa tastes a whole lot like a Chalupa — only cheesier. However, while a Chalupa is more of a flatbread, the Quesalupa shell is actually made up of two flour tortillas that have been stuffed with cheese, and then fried. It's a little thicker, and way more flavor-filled.
Can you get it without meat?
Vegetarians, rejoice! The Quesalupa normally comes with seasoned beef, but you can ask to have that swapped for beans if you're looking for a vegetarian-friendly option.
How long will the Taco Bell Quesalupa be available?
Garcia says we can expect the Quesalupa to stick around until early April or so, though she's also anticipating that people will want it to return, immediately. I mean, cheese.
What can we expect after the Quesalupa?
Who knows? Garcia tells Bustle that Taco Bell is toying around with a few hundred ideas at any given time. Obviously, not all of those ideas go to market, but the ones that do are usually a hit. The Quesalupa has only officially been available for one whole day, but the response has been overwhelmingly positive:
The Quesalupa sells for $2.99, and is available at participating stores starting Feb. 8. Like it? Love it? Tweet about it using the hashtag #biggerthan. Then, go order another one.
Images: Taco Bell, Kathryn Kattalia
