The Quesalupa quickly became a fan favorite when it debuted in 2016, combining the cheesy qualities of a quesadilla with a crispy chalupa shell to create a double layer filled with seasoned beef, lettuce, cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes and a dollop of sour cream. Vegetarians can replace the beef with black beans.
The $ 2.99 item will relaunch nationwide on Thursday and is available for a limited time. A combo meal, with a Quesalupa, two crunchy tacos, and a large drink, costs $ 6.99.
Taco Bell describes the new iteration as an “epic cheesy experience,” with 50% more cheese – a mixture of melted gingerbread and mozzarella – compared to its predecessor. The restaurant chain began testing the new version in a number of locations in Knoxville, Tennessee in September.
It also offers fans early access to the Quesalupa through its fledgling loyalty program. Users of the Taco Bell app can start ordering the cheesy creation on Wednesday, a day before it reappears on menus. Taco Bell began beta testing its rewards program last year.
The parent company of Taco Bell Yum brands YUM has found he is overtaking digital orders and his rewards program as they represent only 12% of orders – much lower than rivals. Yum has said it plans to expand its loyalty program this year, which will help restaurants expand their customer base and collect user data for targeted deals.
Meanwhile, Chipotle CMG has said digital orders accounted for about half of orders last year, or $ 3 billion in sales. The chain recently announced that its own quesadillas will now be sold as a digital item through its app or website starting Thursday.
The Quesalupa is the latest item to be added to Taco Bell’s menu, which was slashed last summer. The chain recently announced that a new fried chicken taco will be appearing on national menus later this year, and potato products will also appear on Thursday.