Review: Taco Bell - Loaded Chicken Flatbread Taco

Taco Bell's Loaded Chicken Flatbread Taco features grilled chicken, iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, and Avocado Ranch sauce folded in a Gordita flatbread.

I bought one for $1.49.

The Gordita flatbread shell is an interesting Taco Bell ingredient as it's not like other flatbreads commonly encountered in the US (or Mexico for that matter) such a flour tortilla, a pita, or even lavash. It's also not like a Mexican gordita shell, which is a thick shell that's typically made of corn (but can be made with flour) and most similar to an arepa. That being said, I like Taco Bell's Gordita shell quite a bit. It has a slightly dry, wrinkled surface with an airy, pillowy crumb and a slightly moist, gummy chew to it. I find it a lot more interesting than a flat and uniform flour tortilla.

While the chicken wasn't plentiful, there was just enough to cover the taco from end to end (although you still get those empty top bites of just shell and maybe some lettuce that seems a key feature at Taco Bell). It was moist and seasoned with a decently resilient bite to it (not quite like fresh cooked chicken but similar to buying chicken strips from the packaged deli section of the supermarket).

The lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese don't add much flavor but provide a familiar variety of textures and the veggies were relatively fresh on this visit.

The Avocado Ranch sauce offered a fresh, tangy richness and flavor that pulled everything together.

With the familiar mix of existing ingredients, Taco Bell's Loaded Chicken Flatbread Taco basically amounts to a Chicken Gordita with Avocado Ranch sauce at a bargain price (the Gordita was going for over $3 before it was discontinued and $1.49 is just a little more expensive than a plain soft taco from Taco Bell). It's a bit of a curiosity why they're calling it a "Flatbread Taco" rather than a "Gordita" but maybe it's so fans of the Gordita can more easily forget that they got rid of the Gordita (then again, the Cheesy Gordita Crunch is still on the menu). While familiar, it's cheap and tasty.

Nutritional Info - Taco Bell Loaded Chicken Flatbread Taco
Calories - 270 (from Fat - 100)
Fat - 11g (Saturated Fat - 3g)
Sodium - 580mg
Carbs - 28g (Sugar - 4g)
Protein - 16g