18 Taco Bell Copycat Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How does Taco Bell make their meat for tacos? ›

We prepare it much the same way you prepare taco meat at home: after simmering, it is drained of excess fat and pre-seasoned with our signature blend of 7 authentic seasonings and spices. It is then packaged with added water to lock in the flavor and for added moisture, and then shipped to our restaurants.

1954. Before Glen Bell created Taco Bell, he started Bell's Drive-In and Taco Tia in the San Bernardino area.

The largest order in Taco Bell history was 349 Beef Burrito Supremes, 201 Chicken Burrito Supremes, 101 Steak Burrito Supremes, and one Crunchy Taco. While Taco Bell has introduced an array of creative items to its menu, the top-selling item at the chain is the original crunchy taco.

After browning your meat, add our packet of seasoning mix and water, and let it simmer. Each 1-ounce packet will season 1 pound meat. Live more fervently, more authentically, more joyfully with Taco Bell.

Taco Bell Beef Ingredients

A little all-purpose flour helps to thicken the mixture so it all sticks together. Spices – Garlic and onion powder are must in just about any savory dish! Cumin, chili powder, and paprika add more flavor and heat without making the meat too spicy.

Taco Bell Corp. PepsiCo purchased Taco Bell in 1978, and later spun off its restaurants division as Tricon Global Restaurants, which later changed its name to Yum! Brands.

First came burgers… Then came tacos.

Glen first served tacos at one of his early restaurants that actually sold hamburgers and hot dogs.

Where did the bell in Taco Bell come from? His name was Glen Bell, and he opened the first Taco Bell restaurant back in 1962 in Downey, California.

Taco Bell main competitors are Rubio's Restaurants, Chipotle Mexican Grill, and Jack in the Box. Competitor Summary. See how Taco Bell compares to its main competitors: KFC has the most employees (820,000).

In contrast, Taco Bell's original menu offered just four Mexican-inspired food items (tacos, burritos, frijoles, and tostadas), as well as one standard American-food option, but with a twist, the chili burger, according to Insider.

What was Taco Bell's first item? ›

The earliest official Taco Bell menu offered frijoles, tostados, chili burgers, burritos (red or green) and tacos, all for 19 cents apiece. Each of these items stuck around well into the '70s, while Bell and his franchisees went about expanding the chain throughout California and beyond.

To use the seasoning mix, brown 1lb ground meat then add 2 – 2-1/2 Tablespoons seasoning with 1/3 cup broth or water, then simmer until the liquid has thickened and reduced, 1-2 minutes.

It also doesn't take as much cornstarch to thicken a sauce, making it ideal for including in a taco mix packet. The amount of flour needed would make the packet unwieldy. However, because cornstarch needs to be dissolved in liquid, you have to add water when cooking.

Taco Bell's primary meat mix consists of 88% USDA-inspected premium real beef.

Taco Bell is revealing what's in its beef, and it turns out it's actually mostly beef. The fast-food chain's recipe contains 88% beef and 12% "signature recipe," according to a new webpage posted by Taco Bell. Also, addressing a widespread rumor, Taco Bell beef is not grade D beef, according to the website.

Originally Answered: Is it true that the "ground beef" in many taco bell items is mostly texturized vegetable protein? No. It is 88% beef and 12% something else (flavorings, spices).

In the process, we all learned what is actually in Taco Bell's beef. Which, it turns out, is mostly beef, but not entirely; 12% of the "beef" the chain uses is actually a blend of other ingredients and spices. And that's fine, for the record, especially because the food tastes great.