I tried 8 new Taco Bell menu items this year, and the best one was the cheapest

I'm a huge Taco Bell fan, and I've been testing new dishes from the chain since 2020. I've been wowed by some of its innovations (like the Grilled Cheese Burrito, one of my all-time favorites), and this year there were plenty of new creations.

From a variety of new burritos to the return of some tried-and-true favorites, Taco Bell gave us plenty to eat — and talk about — in 2022.

Here's my ultimate ranking.

The Beefy Melt Burrito was one of three new burritos that were released as part of Taco Bell's "Cravings Value Menu," which was launched in January.

The $2 burrito includes seasoned rice, seasoned beef, nacho cheese sauce, fiesta strips, a three-cheese blend, and sour cream all wrapped in a warm tortilla.

Taco Bell's Beefy Melt Burrito was a disappointment to me. For a burrito with "beef" in its name, there was barely any meat in the one I tried. And I couldn't taste any of the nacho-cheese sauce either.

The burrito was really just a ton of dry rice, in my experience. After two bites, I threw out the rest.

Read my full review of Taco Bell's Beefy Melt Burrito here.

The $3.99 dish — which was tested in Sacramento, California, earlier this year — featured Taco Bell's nacho fries topped with grilled marinated steak, warm nacho cheese sauce, and creamy chipotle sauce.

The dish was topped with a blend of mozzarella, cheddar, and pepper-jack cheeses that were grilled before serving.

A spokesperson told me that the Grilled Cheese Nacho Fries were inspired by Taco Bell's Grilled Cheese Burrito, which happens to be my favorite burrito on the chain's menu. So my hopes were high before I tried this dish.

And while the crispy nacho fries and steak tasted delicious together, most of their flavor was overpowered by all that cheese. It's a fun idea for sure, but I think this dish still needs some work.

Read my full review of Taco Bell's Grilled Cheese Nacho Fries here.

The 7-Layer Nacho Fries, which were released in November, feature seven different ingredients: seasoned beef, black beans, diced tomatoes, reduced-fat sour cream, warm nacho-cheese sauce, creamy chipotle sauce, and shredded cheeses.

The $3.99 dish — which can also be ordered as a burrito — is topped with Taco Bell's revamped guacamole, which a spokesperson told me is prepared daily and made with Hass avocados, tomatoes, and onions.

Taco Bell's 7-Layer Nacho Fries are reminiscent of the classic carne asada fries I always love to get when I'm in San Diego.

You'd think the seven different ingredients — all loaded on top of fries — would be overwhelming, but everything worked really well together. The seasoned beef had great flavor, the guacamole was fresh and creamy, and the delicious sauces didn't make the fries soggy.

A dose of extra hot sauce would really tie everything together, but overall, I was definitely impressed (and can't wait to try the burrito version).

Read my full review of Taco Bell's 7-Layer Nacho Fries here.

The Enchirito debuted in 1970 but disappeared from Taco Bell's menu in 2013. In September, the chain asked fans to vote for the return of a discontinued dish and the Enchirito won, beating out the Double Decker Taco with a whopping 62% of the votes.

The $3.79 Enchirito — which was available at all Taco Bell locations until November 30 — featured a rolled-up soft flour tortilla loaded with seasoned beef, beans, and diced onions. It came topped with melted shredded cheddar cheese and the chain's classic red sauce.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I first saw the Enchirito, but I thought the mashup of an enchilada and a burrito worked surprisingly well.

The beef and beans tasted delicious together, and I loved the stringy cheesy loaded right on top. But the best part was the red chili pepper in the sauce, which added some nice heat without being too over the top.

Read my full review of Taco Bell's Enchirito here.

Taco Bell's beloved Mexican Pizza returned in May after more than 170,000 people signed a petition and famous fans like Dolly Parton and Doja Cat proudly proclaimed their love for the menu item, which was discontinued in November 2020 after 35 years.

Parton's passion for the Mexican Pizza — which features ground beef and refried beans sandwiched between two tortilla shells topped with tomatoes, pizza sauce, and cheese — was first revealed when I asked about her love of Taco Bell during a Zoom interview in January.

Parton was telling me about her usual Taco Bell order when she mentioned that she also used to love the Mexican Pizza.

When I asked the country-music legend if she thought Taco Bell should bring the Mexican Pizza back, Parton's answer was immediate — and enthusiastic.

"I think they should!" she said.

While I don't think the Mexican Pizza looked very visually impressive, I thought the dish had a great combination of texture and flavors. I loved the crispy tortilla base, which gave each bite a satisfying crunch, and the seasoned beef tasted delicious alongside the beans.

The tomatoes added a lovely fresh kick, and I enjoyed the pizza sauce — I just wish there had been more of it.

Read my full review of Taco Bell's Mexican Pizza here.

The $2 Chipotle Ranch Grilled Chicken Burrito was released in January as part of Taco Bell's new "Cravings Value Menu."

The burrito includes grilled chicken, fiesta strips, avocado ranch sauce, creamy chipotle sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, and shredded cheddar cheese wrapped inside a warm flour tortilla.

The Chipotle Ranch Grilled Chicken Burrito is so different from the other burritos on Taco Bell's menu. It's got this delightfully crispy texture that reminded me of a deli wrap, and the veggies were unbelievably fresh.

The grilled chicken was nicely cooked and tasted delicious, and the well-distributed ranch and chipotle sauces added tons of great flavor.

Read my full ranking of Taco Bell's burritos here.

In October, Taco Bell released a new version of nacho fries made in collaboration with TRUFF, a popular Southern California-based hot-sauce brand that's beloved by Oprah.

The $4.49 dish, which was available for a limited time, featured Taco Bell's seasoned fries topped with grilled marinated steak, shredded cheddar cheese, fresh diced tomatoes, warm nacho cheese sauce, and reduced-fat sour cream.

Taco Bell and TRUFF also created a new spin on the brand's classic Hotter Hot Sauce for the special menu item.

After I tasted the Loaded TRUFF Nacho Fries at Taco Bell's headquarters earlier this year, I texted dozens of friends and told them to order some immediately — that's how much I loved these fries.

The fries were cooked to crispy perfection, maintaining their texture even with all that cheese and sauce on top. The steak also tasted delicious and worked well with the flavor of the seasoned fries.

But the real star of the show was the TRUFF sauce, which added the perfect amount of heat. If there's one limited-edition menu item that returns in 2023, I hope it's these fries.

Read my full review of Taco Bell's Loaded TRUFF Nacho Fries here.

The $2 Fiesta Veggie Burrito, which was released in January as part of the "Cravings Value Menu," comes with seasoned rice, black beans, red strips, chipotle sauce, tomatoes, guacamole, a three-cheese blend, and reduced-fat sour cream.

Taco Bell's Fiesta Veggie Burrito may be the simplest dish on this list, but I still found it to be one of the most exciting new menu items. From the black beans to the seasoned rice, everything worked beautifully together for one very delicious burrito.

The real star was the guacamole, which tasted unbelievably fresh. Every bite was bursting with flavor, and the guacamole helped to enhance the entire burrito. Taco Bell's fantastic guacamole truly seems to be one of its best-kept secrets, and in 2023, I'm hoping the chain will highlight it in even more new dishes.

And in what's been a rough year for the economy, it's great to see fast-food chains come up with affordable menu items that still feel — and taste — fresh.

Read my full review of Taco Bell's Fiesta Veggie Burrito.