Taco Bell is the go-to place if you are on the road, hungry, and looking for a great Mexican meal.
With an exceptional range of options, from Mexican burritos to tacos and rice bowls, Taco Bell promises something for everyone.
But, what about those of us who enjoy a plant-based, vegan diet? In this guide, we are going to take a closer look at some of the vegan friendly options available at Taco Bell, so that you know what to order guilt-free on your next visit.
What Can A Vegan Eat At Taco Bell?
With a Taco Bell at almost every corner, you are bound to find one on your next road trip or adventure.
If all of your friends want to stop for some food, you don’t want to be left out, ordering a simple salad because nothing else on the menu is suitable.
The good news is that there are many vegan-friendly options at Taco Bell, you just have to know how to order and customize the menu items to make them suitable.
We’ll take you through the best options below:
Burritos
You have a few options to order the famous burritos from Taco Bell. You can order these grilled too!
One of the most popular options is the Bean Burrito. Be aware that this comes with cheese, so you will have to specify that you do not want it with your order. You can also order it ‘fresco style’ so that the cheese is substituted for tomatoes.
The Bean Burrito is served with onions, red sauce, and refried beans inside of a burrito.
Our personal favorite is the Veggie Burrito Supreme. This again comes with cheese and some sour cream, so order it without these added, and swap them for tomatoes or guacamole. The Veggie Burrito Supreme comes with pinto beans, tomatoes, lettuce, red sauce and onions.
You can also order the Black Bean Crunchwrap Supreme. This is served with black beans, tomatoes, and lettuce, but also comes with nacho cheese and sour cream. Order it fresco style, or remove these ingredients entirely. Without these it can be a little plain, so try adding your favorite Taco Bell sauce on top to spice it up.
Tacos
You cannot go to Taco Bell and not get a taco! For vegans, the best options are the Black Bean Soft/Crunchy Taco and the Refried Bean Soft/Crunchy Taco.
The Black Bean Soft or Crunchy Taco comes with black beans and lettuce, but you can swap the cheese for tomatoes and add some sauce on top for more flavor.
The Refried Bean Soft or Crunchy Taco comes with refried beans and lettuce, so again, add some salsa or sauce and order without cheese.
Nachos
If you love nachos, then you don’t have to miss out. For vegans, you can order the Nachos BellGrande. Choose these in the ‘fresco’ style for more tomatoes, and remove the beef. These nachos come with nacho tortilla chips and refried beans.
You can also choose the Chips and Nacho Cheese, but sub the cheese for guacamole or a different topping to make it more interesting, or you will just get chips.
Bowls
Another one of our favorite vegan friendly options at Taco Bell is the Power Menu Veggie Bowl.
This comes with cheese, sour cream, and an avocado dressing, all of which are not vegan. If you order it ‘fresco’ style, then this will remove all ingredients with dairy products, and it comes with black beans, guacamole, lettuce, tomatoes, and seasoned rice.
Chalupa
There is only one Chalupa option for vegans – the Black Bean Chalupa. This is served with sour cream and cheese, so remove these. This chalupa is served with black beans, tomatoes, and lettuce.
Pizza
Mexican food not really your style? You can order a pizza at Taco Bell instead!
Order the Veggie Mexican Pizza without cheese, which will come with refried beans, Mexican pizza sauce, tomatoes, all served on Mexican style pizza shells. As always, you can add your own toppings.
Sides
If you are particularly hungry, and want some sides to go with the vegan-friendly options above, then we have some suitable side dishes for you.
For instance, you can have a bowl of black beans, seasoned ice, chips and nacho cheese (with no cheese), nacho fries covered in Mexican spices (with no cheese sauce), Pintos N Cheese (sub out the cheese and enjoy the pinto beans and red sauce), potatoes, hash browns, or the cinnamon twists.
Toppings
You may have noticed that some of the above options are a little boring when you remove the non-vegan ingredients.
Without things like sour cream and avocado dressings on top, the burritos and tacos can seem a little bland.
So, what can you put on top of your food to make it taste more exciting? Well, the Diablo Sauce, Mild Sauce, Hot Sauce, Fire Sauce, Red Sauce and Breakfast Sauces are all suitable for vegans, so you can pop these on top of your tacos to pack a punch of flavor.
Extras
Here are some of the extras available at Taco Bell that are all vegan friendly.
- Potatoes
- Seasoned Rice
- Black Beans
- Refried Beans
- Tomatoes
- Guacamole
- Onions
- Red Sauce
- Jalapeno Peppers
- Nacho Fries
- Fiesta Strips
Certified Vegan Ingredients At Taco Bell
We have gathered some ingredients that are certified vegetarian and vegan by the American Vegetarian Association.
When it comes to protein, the black beans and the refried beans are great options, and they are both vegan friendly.
For toppings, you can safely eat cilantro, fire-roasted salsa, mild breakfast salsa, iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce, jalapenos, onions, pico de gallo, guacamole, and tomatoes.
Sides available are express nacho chips, and seasoned rice.
Other vegan ingredients include the border sauce, diablo border sauce, hot border sauce, fire border sauce, green chile sauce, green tomatillo sauce, red sauce, flour tortillas, taco shells, tostada shells, and Gordita flatbreads.
Top Tips For Ordering At Taco Bell
There are a few tips that you can keep in mind when ordering at Taco Bell. As a vegan, it is good to remember that even Veggie options can be non-vegan because they may have dairy or cheese ingredients supplemented.
Just be sure to speak to your server and ensure that all non-vegan ingredients such as meat, cheese, sour cream and others are removed from your order. You can also ask for your order to be made ‘fresco style’ which removes all dairy and guacamole and replaces these ingredients with tomatoes.
Also be aware that you can customize ANY order at Taco Bell, so you can make it your own, and ensure that it is suitable. Another tip is to order online or at a screen so that you can substitute items and ingredients yourself, and replace them with ones that you know are vegan friendly (after perusing our list above).
Final Thoughts
There are plenty of options available for vegans at Taco Bell as long as you get your customization on.
Just be aware that menus are subject to change, and always check with the server at the restaurant you are visiting to be sure that you are not served non-vegan ingredients with your meal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Taco Bell Guacamole Vegan?
Yes! Taco Bell’s guacamole is 100% vegan and certified by the American Vegetarian Association. It contains avocado, lime juice, salt, tomatoes, onions, spices, and other vegan-friendly ingredients.
Are Taco Bell Nachos Vegan?
The tortilla chips are vegan, but they come with nacho cheese sauce, which isn’t. Simply order without cheese and add guacamole or hot sauce instead.
Does Taco Bell Offer Beyond Meat?
Taco Bell has tested a Beyond Meat option—Vegan Carne Asada ‘steak’—at select locations. Availability may vary, so check your local menu.
Are Taco Bell Fries Vegan?
Yes, Taco Bell’s Mexican seasoned fries are vegan! Just skip the nacho cheese dip.
Is Taco Bell’s Rice Vegan?
Yes, the Mexican seasoned rice is vegan-friendly. Pair it with black beans for a plant-based meal.
Are Fiesta Strips Vegan?
Yes! These crunchy tortilla strips are made with corn masa flour, beet juice, and other plant-based ingredients.
Are Taco Bell Flour Tortillas Vegan?
Yes, Taco Bell’s flour tortillas contain no animal products, making them suitable for vegans.
