Taco Bell's New Chocolate Empanadas + Full April Menu Breakdown
Image courtesy of Taco Bell / PR Newswire
Taco Bell's April menu update dropped four items and most people skimmed past it. The Chocolate Empanadas are the reason to pay attention. The rest is worth knowing about too, but the empanadas are the thing that will actually make you leave the house.
The Chocolate Empanadas
A fried pastry shell filled with warm dark chocolate. That is the entire pitch and it is enough. The shell is flaky in the way Taco Bell's fried items usually are - a little oil-forward, slightly crispy, the familiar texture you recognize from their Cinnamon Twists. The chocolate filling is dark, not cloying, and stays warm longer than expected given the portion size.
They come two per order at around $2.50-$3.00 depending on location. As a dessert add-on to any Taco Bell meal, they are a better call than the Cinnamon Twists, which have been the only reliable dessert option for years. The Churros Delights were good when they were around. The Chocolate Empanadas are better.
The Triple Double Crunchwrap Returns
After years of fan campaigns, the Triple Double Crunchwrap is back on the national menu. Two full layers of seasoned beef, nacho cheese sauce, reduced-fat sour cream, tomatoes, and lettuce inside a folded, griddled flour tortilla. The double protein layer is what people missed. It is back and unchanged, which is exactly the right call.
Loaded Taco Fries
New item. Seasoned fries topped with seasoned beef, nacho cheese, sour cream, and diced tomatoes. They are good for what they are: a shareable side that functions as a standalone meal in a pinch. The fries hold their crunch longer than expected under the toppings. Do not order them expecting anything surprising. Order them expecting messy fast food comfort food and they deliver that cleanly.
The Seasonal Hot Sauce Packet
April brings a limited-edition foil design on the hot sauce packets. Collectible if you are into that. Functionally identical to the standard version. Mentioned because people will ask.
What to Order
Lead with the Triple Double Crunchwrap. Close with the Chocolate Empanadas regardless of what else you ordered. Skip the Loaded Taco Fries unless you are splitting with someone. That is the correct order of operations for the April 2026 Taco Bell menu.
The Bottom Line
Taco Bell's chocolate empanada is the kind of limited-time item that rewards fast movers. The full April menu is solid across the board - there's something for everyone whether you're in the mood for heat, comfort, or something sweet. Get in early before the rotation shifts.
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "FAQPage",
"mainEntity": [
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "What time does Taco Bell serve breakfast",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Taco Bell serves breakfast from open until 11am at participating locations. Hours may vary."
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "Does Taco Bell have a rewards app",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Yes. The Taco Bell app lets you earn points, access exclusive deals, and customize orders for pickup."
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "Is Taco Bell open 24 hours",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Many Taco Bell locations are open 24 hours, especially drive-throughs. Use the Taco Bell app or website to check hours at your nearest location."
}
}
]
}
Why the empanadas stand out
Taco Bell's dessert lineup has always been strangely thin for a chain that does so well with snackable, late-night food. Cinnamon Twists are familiar, but they rarely feel like the reason to order. Chocolate Empanadas have a better hook because they give customers a warm dessert with texture, filling, and a little bit of nostalgia. The format is simple enough for a drive-thru menu, but it feels more satisfying than a dry side item.
The dark chocolate filling is the key detail. If Taco Bell had gone too sweet, the empanadas would feel like a novelty that only works once. A slightly deeper chocolate flavor gives the pastry more balance, especially after salty items like tacos, nachos, or a Crunchwrap. The fried shell also helps because it gives the dessert contrast. You get crisp edges, warm filling, and a portion size that makes sense as an add-on rather than a full dessert commitment.
How the April menu looks as a whole
The rest of the April menu is useful because it gives different types of Taco Bell customers something to notice. Some items are built around value, some around nostalgia, and some around limited-time curiosity. But the Chocolate Empanadas are the easiest recommendation because they fill a gap the menu has had for years. Taco Bell is strongest when it turns small cravings into quick decisions, and this dessert does exactly that.
If you are already ordering a meal, add the empanadas while they are available. They are not trying to reinvent fast-food dessert, but they are one of the better sweet items Taco Bell has offered in a while.
in your inbox every week.
