Taco Bell Brings Back the Quesalupa for the First Time Since 2016

In 2020, Taco Bell taketh away. Now, they giveth once again.

In yet another sign that they intend to make good after a year spent fielding complaints from fans about the conspicuous absence of their favorite menu items, they've revived the beloved but dearly departed Quesalupa back to their fourth meal rotation for the first time in nearly five years. And it's not just back — it's also cheesier than ever.

If there was ever a Taco Bell treat that personified the live mas mentality, it'd have to be the Quesalupa. Combining the best traits of a cheesy quesadilla along with Taco Bell's crispy chalupa shell, this thing's loaded with a double layer of seasoned beef plus the usual Taco Bell accoutrements like sour cream, cheddar cheese, lettuce, and diced tomatoes. Since the Bell's gone out of their way these days not to step on any vegetarian toes, they'll also offer a version of the Quesalupa that swaps out the beef for black beans.

And, yes, it is cheesier. In fact, Taco Bell says the new and improved Quesalupa constitutes an "epically cheese experience" thanks to a 50 percent increase in queso. In this case, that takes the form of a melty mixture of pepper jack and mozzarella, providing plenty of gooey goodness in each bite.

The good news is that the Quesalupa already went through the regional testing phase last September, so its March 11 (limited-time) release is a truly nationwide affair. Will this $2.99 menu item be enough to distract us from the looming one-year anniversary of Covid-19 and its destructive disruption of our daily lives? Who knows. But if ever there was a time to live mas with a combination Chalupa and quesadilla, it's right about now.