Review: Taco Bell's New Mini-Gorditas Leave Me Wanting More

The creative minds at Taco Bell are constantly churning out new menu items ... whether customers asked for them or not. 2026 has been quite the busy year for the chain. We've already chowed our way through the new Luxe Value Menu that launched in January, featuring gems like the Avocado Ranch Chicken Stacker and the Chips and Nacho Supreme Dip. We witnessed history as the classic Mexican Pizza underwent a bold Cantina Chicken makeover. The chain even went through a Tajín phase this year.

We've already seen it all. But Taco Bell isn't slowing down. It just introduced a fresh batch of new and returning items in September 2026, and among them, a fresh new take on the Cheesy Gordita Crunch. They've been dubbed the Gordita Crunch Duos, essentially a mini version of the original Gordita Crunch sold in packs of two. They come in both a steak and a slow-roasted chicken option.

Now, I'll be the first to say that it doesn't feel like the creativity was really flowing with this one. Simply making something smaller and doubling up on them isn't exactly groundbreaking. However, with new meats and what appear to be new toppings, it's still possible that Taco Bell is onto something here. So I picked out both sets of Duos to see for myself. Let's find out if good things really do come in small packages.

Some recommendations are based on firsthand impressions of promotional materials and products provided by the manufacturer.

I ran over to Taco Bell on September 17, the day the new Gordita Crunch Duos hit the menu. I ordered both the steak version and slow-roasted chicken version of the Duos, which both come in packs of two. It doesn't appear that you can currently mix and match your minis to get one steak and one chicken in one bundle, but I feel like that should definitely be an option (your move on that one, Taco Bell).

Before tasting them, I took a closer look at the ingredients that make up each little taco, and I found that the steak and chicken are exactly the same with the exception of the meat swap. I then put both to the ultimate test by digging in. I checked the quality of the meat and the freshness of the other ingredients, but of course, a big part of a Gordita Crunch is the crunch factor. I paid close attention to how well the shell held up and how the crunchy shell paired with the cheese-filled soft shell.

I then decided, after considering the sauce, how I felt about the combination of flavors as a whole. I also couldn't help but compare both of the Duos to the standard full-sized Cheesy Gordita Crunch — both ingredient- and taste-wise. Ultimately, I came to a conclusion about whether these new Duos feel like a natural addition to the Taco Bell menu or whether they're simply an unnecessary remake.

The Steak Gordita Crunch Duos have a two-part Gordita shell as their base. That means a fried white corn shell sits inside a soft flatbread, while a mixture of mozzarella, pepper Jack, and cheddar cheeses gets sandwiched in between the two. Inside, grilled and marinated steak is the protein of choice, joined by lettuce, pico de gallo, and a creamy chipotle sauce. By comparison, the Cheesy Gordita Crunch is filled with seasoned beef, lettuce, shredded cheddar cheese, and a spicy ranch.

If you were hoping for a lot of steak in these tacos, I'm going to need you to lower your expectations. Sure, it's tender and has decent flavor, but the serving isn't even close to enough — we're talking about four small pieces of meat on each snack-size taco. The rest of the ingredients do help to make up for the scant steak. Between the melty cheese hiding between the shells, the light crunch, and the pico, which makes the entire thing feel a little more fresh and a little more complete, it still feels like a decent taco — especially when wrapped in that supple flatbread.

One thing that Taco Bell didn't skimp on is the chipotle sauce. It was oozing out the sides as I chowed down and blanketed the Duo in a deeply smoky flavor. It was actually a bit overbearing when paired with the steak itself (what little of it there was.)

It's the same deal here on the Slow-Roasted Chicken Gordita Crunch Duos. The shells are still doubled up and stuffed with cheese, and the toppings still include lettuce, pico de gallo, and a chipotle sauce. The meat is also still insufficient, but this time instead of steak it's slow-roasted chicken — the same kind that's used on Taco Bell's Cantina Chicken menu items.

Honestly, I think the chicken is one of the best proteins Taco Bell offers — aside from the beef on the Shredded Beef Dipping Taco (aka my favorite T-Bell taco of all time, which is unfortunately no longer available at my nearest location). I also think that the slow-roasted chicken works better than steak in this setting. Its stronger, savory flavor makes more of an impact, and its Mexican-inspired seasonings are a better match for the creamy chipotle sauce.

Everything else was just about the same. I still liked the juxtaposition of the soft and crunchy shells, glued together with a proper amount of gooey cheese. I also appreciate the addition of pico, which is something you don't get on the big Gordita. I just wish there had been a bit more of it for extra zest and to cut through some of the heavier flavors.

If you gravitate toward the regular Cheesy Gordita Crunch purely because of its double shell power and cheesy attributes, then I think you'll like the new Duos. Those elements are perfectly recreated here, just on a smaller scale. That being said, I'm personally not completely on board with this new rollout — but I could be if Taco Bell were to change just a few things.

For starters, these tiny tacos need far more meat. Not just double the amount; triple would be sufficient. The helping of seasoned beef in the Cheesy Gordita Crunch puts these to shame. Next, I think we need a sauce swap here. The smoky chipotle sauce is okay, but I think the spicy ranch used on the original Gordita would be better. That blend of creaminess, tang, and herbs goes well with anything, including both steak and slow-roasted chicken. Plus, I think the combo of spicy ranch and pico de gallo would be a game-changer.

Last, but certainly not least, the Duos would be better if you had the ability to intermingle. Even though I ended up liking the chicken version just a tad more, it would be fun to have one of each — just like a little taco sampler. Make all those important upgrades, Taco Bell, and I think you have something promising on your hands.

The Gordita Crunch Duos were launched on September 17 as limited-time menu items. At this same time, Taco Bell also brought back its Crispy Chicken Crunchwrap Sliders and its $9 Discovery Luxe Box. Plus, it introduced new Diablo Ranch Steak Nacho Fries. All of these items are now available at participating restaurants nationwide.

I paid $6.49 each for two-packs of the Steak Gordita Crunch Duos and the Slow-Roasted Gordita Crunch Duos in Columbus, Ohio, though prices may vary based on location. That works out to about $3.25 per mini taco. Also, for reference, the classic Cheesy Gordita Crunch is priced at $6.29. If you look at it that way, the Duos do seem like a slightly better deal.

As for nutrition, the steak and chicken versions have the same amount of calories: 340 for both little tacos. Compare that to 480 calories for the original Gordita Crunch.