Taco Bell adds a snack-sized twist to its Cheesy Gordita Crunch

Taco Bell’s Cheesy Gordita Crunch has been around for over 25 years and now the chain is introducing a new format for its signature item that targets snack seekers. The Gordita Crunch Duos is a snack-sized offering featuring the choice of steak or chicken layered with warm flatbread, a melted three-cheese blend, crispy white corn shell, creamy chipotle sauce, lettuce, and pico de gallo.

The Gordita Crunch Duos are available for $5.49 for a limited time starting Thursday. Each order includes two items, but they are also available as part of the $9 Discovery Luxe Box alongside a Doritos Locos Taco, Crunchy Taco, chips and nacho cheese sauce, and a medium fountain drink.

Taco Bell is also bringing back its Crispy Chicken Crunchwrap Sliders for a limited time, featuring Hidden Valley Diablo Ranch Sauce.

These snack options are part of Taco Bell’s strategy to expand dayparts to meet the preferences of the chain’s majority Gen Z consumers. In March, following its annual Live Más Live event in Los Angeles, global chief innovation officer Liz Matthews said bite-sized menu items allow people to treat themselves, especially in the afternoon.

Technomic data shows that consumers are reporting more snack occasions with a 7% yearly increase in snack visits. To meet this demand, Taco Bell has also made its snack-friendly Nacho Fries a permanent menu item and turned its signature Mexican Pizza into bite-sized empanadas.

“This generation loves to snack. Making things small is where the consumer’s at,” Matthews said. “People want to feel good after they eat and about what they eat and that includes having the right amount. We’re thinking about that more than ever.”