---
title: "Taco Bell to Test Beyond Meat’s Plant-Based Carne Asada"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/93a21aa2-88d3-41b5-b874-3277d0e6912d
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/taco-bell-to-test-beyond-meats-plant-based-carne-asada-2719803
category: "Mexican"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Mexican"
published: 2022-09-22T17:12:00.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T01:34:51.183Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/728b0c5a997d7c5f30e20c3d04dcd2cf5607.jpg
---

# Taco Bell to Test Beyond Meat’s Plant-Based Carne Asada

**TL;DR:** Taco Bell will test Beyond Meat's plant-based carne asada at dozens of locations in Dayton, Ohio, starting October 13. The chain plans to include the meat alternative in its quesadilla and allow customers to add it to other orders.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2022-09-22. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/taco-bell-to-test-beyond-meats-plant-based-carne-asada-2719803).*

## Story

The option will be available at dozens of Dayton, Ohio locations starting October 13, CNBC reported. Taco Bell plans to include Beyond Carne Asada in its quesadilla, but customers can add the meat alternative to other orders as well. The meat-free steak is made from vital wheat gluten and fava bean protein to attempt to replicate the taste and texture of traditional carne asada.

Though Taco Bell’s parent company Yum Brands has been slow to adopt plant-based meat alternatives, the chain has actually had a passionate vegan and vegetarian following for years due to its meat-free options, such as potatoes and black beans, and customizable menu.

Earlier this year, Taco Bell also tested its own plant-based meat substitute made from soy and pea protein at its restaurants in Birmingham, Alabama.

In 2021, Yum Brands signed a deal with Beyond Meat to create exclusive menu items for its chains, which also include KFC and Pizza Hut. It took longer than anticipated to create a carne asada alternative that Taco Bell was satisfied with. According to Missy Schaaphok, Taco Bell’s director of global nutrition and sustainability, the product has been in the works for almost two years.

Taco Bell says it wants to make plant-based products more affordable for consumers. Price parity with meat is part of Beyond Meat’s long-term goals. The company believes cheaper meat substitutes will lead more consumers to change their diets.

A report from management consulting firm Kearney found that three-quarters of consumers were likely to purchase plant-based products in the next year. For the remaining 25% who did not plan on purchasing, the price was one of the biggest factors, with more than half (53%) saying the price was a limiting factor.

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- Taco Bell (company)
- KFC (company)
- Pizza Hut (company)
- Yum Brands (company)
- Beyond Meat (company)
- plant-based menu (topic)
- Dayton, Ohio (location)
- taco bell testing (topic)
- beyond meat partnership (topic)
- meat alternative (topic)

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Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/taco-bell-to-test-beyond-meats-plant-based-carne-asada-2719803). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/93a21aa2-88d3-41b5-b874-3277d0e6912d).