Spicy Food News: Taco Bell Partners with Tajin, A&W and Carl’s Jr. Kick Up the Chicken Sandwich Wars, and More

Taco Bell Goes Spicy and Sour with Tajin

The revolving door of new items continues to spin at The Bell, and this time they are offering several selections that are more than just the latest mix on ingredients already in the kitchen. The company is partnering with Tajin and adding that company’s popular Mexican seasoning to several of its items. Classic Tajin delivers a unique blend of 100% natural chili peppers along with lime and sea salt for a taste that has some kick and some pucker. Here is the rundown of the new Taco Bell lineup from the press release:

Tajín Taco: Features a crunchy shell seasoned with Tajín and loaded with seasoned beef, Spicy Ranch sauce, crisp lettuce, shredded cheese and mango salsa for $2.99.

Tajín Cheesy Gordita Crunch: Brings the same obsession-worthy seasoning to one of Taco Bell’s most beloved formats, layering a warm, pillowy flatbread with a blend of mozzarella, pepperjack and cheddar cheeses wrapped around a Tajín-seasoned crunchy taco shell filled with seasoned beef, Spicy Ranch sauce, crisp lettuce, shredded cheddar cheese and mango salsa for $5.99.

Tajín Pineapple Strawberry Freeze: Blends tropical pineapple flavor with strawberry-flavored syrup and Tajín for a frozen sip that hits sweet, tangy and bold all at once. The Tajín Pineapple Strawberry Freeze is available in 16 oz. for $3.99 and 20 oz. for $4.19.

Each comes with a Tajín Clásico Seasoning packet, and prices will vary by region. These arrive on August 13th and will be available for… say it with me… a limited time while supplies last.

Carl’s Jr. Maxx’s Up Its Spicy Chicken Sandwich

The Chicken Sandwich Wars are still going strong, and Carl’s Jr. is the latest to launch a salvo into the fray. They have introduced two “Maxx” spicy sammies, and following is the description from the website:

Spicy Chicken Maxx: Two spicy chicken patties, a slice of Pepper Jack and American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and mayonnaise on a seeded bun.

Fiery Chicken Maxx: Two spicy chicken patties, a slice of Pepper Jack and American cheese, lettuce, tomato, jalapenos, and Fiery Sauce on a seeded bun.

Carl’s Jr. usually shares a menu with Hardee’s, but I am not seeing those on the website for the other half of that chain. They do have a hot honey chicken lineup, though, and you can check that out here.

A&W Joins the Chicken Sandwich Wars

This chain, known for its root beer on tap, has not been participating in the Chicken Sandwich Wars, but it has decided it will try and establish a beachhead. Their new Crispy Chicken Sandwich comes in a regular version (with pickles and mayo), a deluxe (add lettuce and tomato), and Nashville Hot. Here is the description of the latter from the website:

Hand-breaded crispy chicken topped with pickles, mayo, and bold Nashville hot sauce on a lightly toasted bun. The perfect balance of heat and flavor.

To entice you to try these out, they are doing a BOGO deal starting August 17th and going through August 23rd. And these will be headed back to Limited-Time-Only-Ville before too long, so you will want to give them a try soon (and be sure to get a frosty mug of root beer as well).

Jack Brings Back Spicy Loaded Potato Wedges

The fan-favorite potato wedges are back at Jack in the Box, and that includes the spicy, sauced and loaded version. Here is the rundown from the website:

Crispy potato wedges, melty shredded cheddar cheese, cheddar cheese sauce, bacon crumbles, spicy good good sauce, & jalapenos.

You can read my previous review from a few years back here, and these will only be available for the dreaded limited time.