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The Taco Bell Spicy Chicken Crunchwrap Supreme was a limited time offering that was available in 2016. It contained spicy chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, sauce, and a crunchy tostada shell. The Spicy Chicken Crunchwrap Supreme provided a spicy and crunchy twist on Taco Bell’s classic Crunchwrap Supreme.
Ingredients
The main ingredients in the Spicy Chicken Crunchwrap Supreme were:
- Spicy Chicken – This was shredded, marinated chicken thigh meat that was seasoned with cayenne and other spices to give it a spicy kick.
- Lettuce – The lettuce provided a cool, fresh crunch and texture contrast.
- Diced Tomatoes – Small diced tomato pieces added a juicy sweetness.
- Crunchy Tostada Shell – A crisp corn tostada shell added crunch on the outside of the wrap.
- Spicy Ranch Sauce – The sauce tied all the ingredients together and added creaminess and a bold, spicy flavor.
- Flour Tortilla – A soft flour tortilla wrapped everything up.
Construction
The Spicy Chicken Crunchwrap Supreme was assembled by layering the ingredients between the outer flour tortilla and the inner tostada shell in the following order:
- Flour tortilla laid flat
- Spread spicy ranch sauce on tortilla
- Layer of shredded lettuce
- Spicy chicken placed on half of tortilla
- Diced tomatoes sprinkled on top of chicken
- Crunchy tostada shell placed on top of chicken and tomato side
- Empty side of tortilla folded over filling and tostada shell
- Edges of tortilla sealed together
This layered construction method allowed all the ingredients to be neatly contained within the crunchy tostada shell and soft flour tortilla exterior.
Size
The Spicy Chicken Crunchwrap Supreme was a decent sized menu item. Here are the dimensions:
- Diameter: About 7 inches
- Height: Approximately 2-3 inches tall
The Crunchwrap Supreme format allowed it to pack a good amount of food in a hand-held, on-the-go friendly size.
Calories and Nutrition
The Spicy Chicken Crunchwrap Supreme was a high calorie menu item, providing the following nutrition:
- Calories: 750 calories
- Fat: 37g
- Carbs: 64g
- Protein: 32g
As a meaty, saucy, crunchy, and doughy wrap, it delivered a hefty dose of calories from fat and carbohydrates. But it did also provide a good amount of protein.
Here is a nutritional info table comparing the Spicy Chicken Crunchwrap Supreme and the Original Crunchwrap Supreme:
| Item | Calories | Fat | Carbs | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spicy Chicken Crunchwrap Supreme | 750 | 37g | 64g | 32g |
| Original Crunchwrap Supreme | 520 | 24g | 48g | 28g |
The spicy chicken version had 230 more calories and 13g more fat than the original beef version. The extra calories and fat came from the fried spicy chicken and ranch sauce.
Price
In 2016 when it was available, the Spicy Chicken Crunchwrap Supreme was priced at:
- $2.99 – A la carte
- $5.99 – As part of a $5 meal box with side and drink
The a la carte price positioned it as a premium menu item costing $1 more than a regular Crunchwrap Supreme. The meal box offered a way to get extra value.
Reviews
The Spicy Chicken Crunchwrap Supreme received largely positive reviews from customers when it was available in 2016. Here is a summary of common reviews:
Positive Reviews
- Spicy chicken had a crispy coating and nice kick
- Crunchy tostada contrasted nicely with soft wrap
- Good amount of chicken and flavorful sauce
- Wrapped ingredients well with no mess
- Provided more flavor than the original Crunchwrap
Negative Reviews
- Ranch sauce was too heavy and oily
- Chicken was too spicy for some
- Difficult to eat due to crunchy shell
- Not enough chicken in some wraps
- Expensive compared to other menu items
Overall reviews leaned positive praising the spicy chicken and crunch, while criticisms focused on the heavy sauce and difficulty eating it.
Competition Comparison
Here is how the Spicy Chicken Crunchwrap Supreme compared to similar menu items from other fast food chains:
| Item | Calories | Fat | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spicy Chicken Crunchwrap Supreme | 750 | 37g | 32g |
| Wendy’s Spicy Chicken Wrap | 680 | 37g | 31g |
| Burger King Spicy Ch’King Wrap | 730 | 42g | 28g |
The Spicy Chicken Crunchwrap Supreme was comparable to the wraps from Wendy’s and Burger King in terms of calories, fat, and protein content. The Crunchwrap format gave it an advantage in terms of portability and mess-free eating.
Why Discontinued?
The Spicy Chicken Crunchwrap Supreme was discontinued and removed from the Taco Bell menu likely due to the following factors:
- High ingredient costs – Spicy chicken, ranch sauce increased expenses
- Slower prep time – Multiple ingredients made assembly slower
- Menu simplification – Reduced menu complexity to improve operations
- Limited time offering – Designed to only be promoted for a short period
- Lack of sales volume – Did not generate enough revenue to justify permanent placement
Discontinuing limited time offerings helps fast food chains focus on core menu items and control costs. So the Spicy Chicken Crunchwrap Supreme was destined to have a short lifespan by design.
Could it Return?
There is possibility the Spicy Chicken Crunchwrap Supreme could return to the Taco Bell menu someday because:
- Positive reviews and customer demand – Well-liked by those who tried it
- Trend towards spicy chicken – More fast food menus adding spicy chicken items
- Nostalgia factor – Old favorites sometimes brought back to capitalize on nostalgia
- Menu innovation – Taco Bell frequently rolls out new mashup items
However, the high costs and slower prep time could still prevent it from coming back. But popular limited time offerings often do eventually make a comeback even if in slightly changed form. So fans of the Spicy Chicken Crunchwrap Supreme still have reason to hold out hope for its potential return.
Conclusion
The short-lived Spicy Chicken Crunchwrap Supreme provided a spicy twist on Taco Bell’s classic crunchy wrap formula. Stuffed with flavorful spicy chicken, creamy ranch sauce, and a crispy tostada shell, it delivered bold southwestern flavors and textures in a craveable handheld package. Though discontinued likely due to high costs and slower prep times, this unique mashup has built something of a cult following among Taco Bell fans. There remains possibility that customer demand and menu innovation could someday convince Taco Bell to bring this spicy crunchwrap creation back in some form. Those who tried the Spicy Chicken Crunchwrap Supreme look back fondly on the memory of its spicy crunch.