The Taco Bell Volcano burrito was a popular menu item that was available at Taco Bell restaurants from 2008 to 2013. It was a beef burrito topped with spicy Volcano sauce, rice, beans, fiesta salsa, and more. In this article, we will take a deep dive into all the ingredients and components that made up this fan-favorite burrito from Taco Bell’s past.Main Burrito Ingredients
Here are the main ingredients that formed the base of the Volcano burrito:
Flour Tortilla
The Volcano burrito was wrapped in a soft, warm flour tortilla. Taco Bell’s flour tortillas are made with enriched bleached wheat flour.
Seasoned Rice
The Volcano burrito contained seasoned rice. Taco Bell’s rice contains rice, water, lime juice concentrate, and salt.
Refried Beans
Refried beans were included in the Volcano burrito. Taco Bell’s refried beans are made from pinto beans, soybean oil, salt, onion powder, maltodextrin, yeast extract, garlic powder, and other spices.
Beef
The Volcano burrito contained Taco Bell’s signature seasoned beef. The beef is made from beef, water, seasoning (salt, spice, onion powder, tomato powder, sugar, garlic powder, oregano, cocoa powder), wheat flour, trehalose, potassium chloride, yeast extract.
Sauces and Toppings
In addition to the main flour tortilla, rice, beans, and beef, the Volcano burrito was topped with the following sauces and toppings:
Volcano Sauce
The namesake Volcano sauce was a spicy red sauce made from water, red pepper sauce (aged red cayenne peppers), food starch modified, spices, tomato paste, vinegar, onion powder, natural flavors, garlic powder, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate as preservatives, xanthan gum, and extractives of paprika. This sauce gave the burrito its hot and spicy kick.
Mexican Pizza Sauce
The Volcano burrito also contained Taco Bell’s Mexican pizza sauce. This tomato-based sauce contains tomato puree (water, tomato paste), water, onion, food starch-modified, chili pepper, sodium acid sulfite (to protect flavor), garlic, natural flavors, citric acid, potassium chloride, sugar, spices, yeast extract, lactic acid, xanthan gum, potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate (as preservatives), calcium chloride, disodium inosinate, and disodium guanylate.
Fiesta Salsa
Fiesta salsa, a chunky and flavorful salsa, was another ingredient in the Volcano burrito. Taco Bell’s fiesta salsa is made from diced tomatoes, onion, cilantro, lime juice, salt, chili pepper, and garlic.
Sour Cream
The Volcano burrito contained a creamy drizzle of sour cream. Taco Bell’s sour cream is made from cultured pasteurized milk and cream, modified cornstarch, guar gum, dextrose, and monosodium phosphate.
3-Cheese Blend
A three cheese blend was melted on top of the Volcano burrito. Taco Bell’s cheese contains pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes, and powdered cellulose (to prevent caking). The cheese blend is a proprietary mixture of cheddar, asadero, and pepper jack cheeses.
Nutrition Facts
The Volcano burrito was a hefty burrito packed with ingredients. Here is the nutrition breakdown for the standard Volcano burrito:
| Nutrition Facts | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 760 |
| Total Fat | 29 g |
| Saturated Fat | 11 g |
| Trans Fat | 1.5 g |
| Cholesterol | 50 mg |
| Sodium | 1810 mg |
| Carbohydrates | 96 g |
| Fiber | 7 g |
| Sugar | 5 g |
| Protein | 26 g |
As you can see, the burrito lived up to its Volcano name with higher amounts of fat, cholesterol, and sodium. The burrito provided a hefty 26g of protein.
History of the Volcano Burrito
The Volcano burrito was introduced by Taco Bell in 2008 as part of a new Volcano menu that featured spicy and flavorful items. It was launched alongside the Volcano taco and Volcano nachos.
Taco Bell promoted the Volcano menu with its “Bolder Bolder” ads and marketing campaign focusing on fiery and intense flavors. Television commercials featured a businessman sweating and breathing fire as he tasted the new Volcano menu items.
When it was first introduced, the Volcano burrito sold for $2.99 a la carte or could be purchased in a $5.00 Volcano burrito meal box with a taco, drink and side of chips and nacho cheese sauce.
The burrito became popular for its smoky and spicy Volcano sauce. However, it was discontinued in 2013 as Taco Bell streamlined its menu and got rid of underperforming items. Fans hoping for its return were disappointed as the burrito has not come back to the menu since its discontinuation.
Volcano Burrito vs Quesarito
Since the Volcano burrito was discontinued, many fans have wondered how it compares to the current Quesarito burrito on Taco Bell’s menu. Let’s take a look:
| Volcano Burrito | Quesarito |
|---|---|
| – Flour tortilla | – Flour tortilla |
| – Seasoned beef | – Seasoned beef |
| – Seasoned rice | – Chipotle sauce |
| – Refried beans | – Nacho cheese sauce |
| – Volcano sauce | – No Volcano sauce |
| – 3 cheese blend | – 3 cheese blend |
| – Sour cream | – No sour cream |
As the table shows, both burritos have flour tortillas, seasoned beef, 3 cheese blend, but the sauces and other fillings differ. The Volcano burrito packed more ingredients like rice, beans, and sour cream, while the Quesarito has chipotle and nacho cheese sauces. The spicy Volcano sauce is what really sets the Volcano burrito apart.
Demand for the Volcano Burrito’s Return
Ever since the Volcano burrito was taken off the Taco Bell menu in 2013, fans have been vocal about wanting it back. Online petitions have begged Taco Bell to reintroduce the burrito.
In 2016, TacoBell even responded and hinted at the possibility of the Volcano burrito or something similar making a comeback. However, the burrito still remains discontinued as of 2023. Fans continue to post on social media about missing the Volcano burrito and ask if it will ever return to Taco Bell’s menus.
It seems unlikely the original Volcano burrito will return. However, Taco Bell could consider bringing back a reimagined version, perhaps with a new spicy sauce or under a different name. The demand is certainly there among Taco Bell’s most loyal customers who still fondly remember the smoky, spicy Volcano burrito.
Other Discontinued Taco Bell Items
The Volcano burrito isn’t the only menu item Taco Bell has discontinued over the years. Here is a look at some other items that have been relegated to the Taco Bell archives:
Mexican Pizza
The Mexican Pizza was a beloved menu item that had layers of beans, salsa, cheese, and more stacked between two crispy tortillas. It was discontinued in 2020 but brought back in 2022 due to popular demand.
Grilled Stuft Nacho
This crunchy triangle-shaped snack had layers of chipotle, sour cream, Taco Bell beef, nacho cheese sauce, and crunchy red strips. It was taken off menus in 2015.
Smokehouse Brisket Burrito
This burrito contained tender smoked brisket, chipotle sauce, rice, sour cream, and more. It had a limited run in 2016 before disappearing.
Naked Chicken Chips
These chicken nugget-style chips were covered in crispy tortilla chip crumbs and served with nacho cheese. They were available in 2016 and 2017.
Quesalupa
This 2015 creation contained a cheese-stuffed chalupa shell filled with ingredients like meat and cheese. The unique hybrid item was popular but eventually taken off the menu.
Cinnabon Delights
These bite-sized cinnamon rolls dipped in frosting were a favorite limited time dessert item in 2012 before getting removed.
Bringing Back the Volcano Burrito
As we’ve seen, Taco Bell has discontinued and brought back menu items before. So it’s possible the Volcano burrito could someday make its return. Here are some ways Taco Bell could go about reviving this spicy burrito:
– Launch it as a limited time offering – Bring back the Volcano burrito for a few months and promote it as a limited time opportunity to get it before it’s gone again. This can generate hype and a sense of urgency to get it while you can.
– Use it to promote a new spicy sauce – The Volcano sauce was a major ingredient. Taco Bell could develop a new spicy sauce and highlight it on the Volcano burrito as part of a new Volcano menu.
– Add some menu twists – Taco Bell could keep the overall Volcano concept but add in some new flavors, ingredients, or shells to make it fresh. This allows them to market it as an exciting new take on a classic.
– Bring it back in select markets first – Test the return of the Volcano burrito in a few regional test markets first before committing to a national rollout. This allows them to gauge customer feedback and fine-tune the burrito if needed.
– Make it a customization option – Rather than its own menu item, bring back the Volcano sauce and ingredients so fans can recreate the Volcano burrito through custom orders.
No matter how they go about it, bringing back this fiery burrito could certainly heat up sales and appeal to Taco Bell’s most nostalgic fans. The demand is clearly there, so it may just be a matter of time before the Volcano erupts back onto the menu.
Conclusion
The Taco Bell Volcano burrito has reached an almost mythic nostalgia-tinged status since being discontinued back in 2013. With its spicy Volcano sauce, seasoned beef, beans, rice, cheese, and other bold Tex Mex flavors, it was a favorite during its menu run from 2008 to 2013.
As we’ve explored, this massive burrito was packed with ingredients like a flour tortilla, Mexican pizza sauce, fiesta salsa, sour cream, and a three cheese blend. While current hits like the Quesarito have replaced it, the Volcano burrito still holds a special place in Taco Bell fans’ hearts and taste buds.
It seems unlikely the original burrito will make an unchanged return to menus, short of time travel back to 2008. However, with its legions of devotees and Taco Bell’s own hints at reinventing it, some version of this fiery burrito may erupt again someday. Until then, Volcano burrito lovers will have to reminisce about its smoky spicy goodness in their dreams and memories.