The Taco Bell Menu Graveyard: 15+ Discontinued Items Fans Still Crave (And Which Ones Returned In 2024)

Every fast-food chain has a menu graveyard, but none inspire the same level of nostalgic fervor and desperate fan petitions as Taco Bell. The brand is famous for its constant menu innovation, which, unfortunately, means a revolving door of beloved items are sent to the chopping block, often without warning. As of December 11, 2025, the conversation is dominated by the recent loss of the Chipotle Ranch Grilled Chicken Burrito and the massive, temporary return of classic items through the highly anticipated Decades Menu.

The continuous cycle of discontinuations and comebacks is a core part of the Taco Bell experience, turning every limited-time offer into a frantic, must-have event. From the legendary Bell Beefer that predates the modern menu to the spicy cult following of the Volcano Menu, fans are forever holding out hope that their favorite Tex-Mex creations will rise again. This comprehensive guide details the most missed items and gives you the latest on which classics made a triumphant, albeit brief, return.

The Most Recent Victims: Taco Bell Items Discontinued in 2023 & 2024

Taco Bell’s strategy often involves streamlining the menu to improve efficiency and make way for new, experimental items. This process inevitably leads to the quiet removal of fan favorites, often leaving a gaping hole in the hearts (and stomachs) of loyal customers. These are some of the most notable items that have been recently laid to rest, or whose limited-time return has concluded.

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• Chipotle Ranch Grilled Chicken Burrito: This was one of the most significant cuts of 2024, pulled from menus as part of a recent simplification effort. It was a staple for many looking for a quick, flavorful, and affordable meal, combining grilled chicken, creamy chipotle ranch sauce, and rice.
• Quesarito: Though it was removed from the main menu in 2022, it was still available as a mobile-order-only item until 2023, when it was finally laid to rest entirely. This item, a burrito wrapped in a grilled cheese quesadilla, had a dedicated following.
• Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Taco: While the Nacho Cheese version remains a permanent fixture, the Cool Ranch flavor was removed from menus in 2019. It did, however, make a temporary comeback as part of the 2024 Decades Menu.
• Mexican Pizza: A classic case of a discontinued item that returned due to overwhelming fan demand. The Mexican Pizza was cut in 2020 but was officially brought back as a permanent menu item in 2022, proving that fan campaigns can sometimes work.

The 2024 Decades Menu: A Nostalgic Comeback Tour

In a brilliant move to tap into menu nostalgia, Taco Bell launched its "Decades Menu" in August 2024. This limited-time offering brought back a rotating selection of classics from the 1960s through the 2000s, giving a new generation a taste of the Taco Bell menu graveyard and reigniting the passion of long-time fans. This event is the freshest, most relevant piece of information for any article on discontinued items.

The Decades Menu Item Roster (2024 Limited Return)

This list highlights the iconic items that returned for a brief, glorious moment in 2024, proving that "discontinued" doesn't always mean "forever."

• The '60s Tostada: A simple, classic flat-shell taco topped with beef, lettuce, and cheese, representing the brand's earliest days.
• The '70s Green Sauce Burrito: A testament to the fan-favorite Verde Sauce, this burrito featured that iconic mild green sauce that many still miss today.
• The '80s Meximelt: A simplified precursor to the quesadilla, it was a blend of seasoned beef, melted three-cheese blend, and sour cream, all wrapped in a warm flour tortilla.
• The '90s Gordita Supreme: The Gordita, a pita-like flatbread, was a massive hit when it debuted in 1998. The Supreme version, complete with sour cream and tomatoes, made a triumphant return.
• The '00s Double Decker Taco: A true fan legend, this item combined a soft flour tortilla layered with beans and wrapped around a crunchy taco shell. It was discontinued in 2019 but was one of the most requested items for the 2024 comeback.
• 7-Layer Burrito: A vegetarian favorite, this massive burrito was a layered masterpiece. It was removed in 2020 but returned to the joy of many plant-based diners.
• Caramel Apple Empanada: A dessert staple that was removed in 2021, its return on the Decades Menu was a sweet surprise for many.

The Hall of Fame: Permanently Discontinued Legends Fans Will Never Forget

Some items are so iconic they have achieved mythical status, living on through online petitions, fan-made copycat recipes, and endless Reddit threads. These items represent the true depth of the Taco Bell menu graveyard, and their absence is felt with every new menu launch.

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The Volcano Menu & Lava Sauce

For fans who like serious heat, the Volcano Menu is the holy grail of discontinued items. It first erupted onto the scene in the early 2000s and was instantly known for its vibrant red shell and the legendary Lava Sauce. This creamy, spicy, nacho-cheese-based sauce was the key ingredient in both the Volcano Taco and the Volcano Burrito. The menu has been removed and resurrected several times, most recently in 2023 for a limited run, proving that Taco Bell is aware of the massive demand for this fiery favorite. Every time a new spicy item is released, the question is always the same: Is it as good as Lava Sauce?

The Bell Beefer: The Fast Food Hybrid

The Bell Beefer is a relic of Taco Bell’s early days, a true piece of fast-food history. It was essentially Taco Bell’s answer to a sloppy joe or a loose-meat sandwich, served on a hamburger bun. The ingredients were simple: seasoned ground beef, shredded lettuce, diced onions, and a mild taco sauce. It was one of the original five items on the menu when the first restaurant opened in 1962, and its disappearance remains a mystery to many long-time fans who loved its unique, non-tortilla format.

The Enchirito

A true classic of the Tex-Mex genre, the Enchirito was a hybrid of an enchilada and a burrito. It consisted of a soft flour tortilla filled with seasoned beef, beans, and diced onions, all rolled up and smothered in red sauce and melted cheddar cheese, topped with three black olive slices. It was a staple for decades before its initial removal. It briefly returned in 2022 after winning a fan-voted contest against the Double Decker Taco, but its return was only temporary, leaving fans desperate for its permanent re-establishment on the menu.

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Other Beloved, Long-Gone Entities

The list of dearly departed items is long, and each one has a dedicated following. These items further illustrate the depth of the Taco Bell menu graveyard:

• Verde Sauce: The mild, tangy green sauce was a highly-missed condiment, though its flavor was briefly revived in the '70s Green Sauce Burrito.
• Beefy Crunch Burrito: Famous for the inclusion of Fritos chips, which gave it a signature crunch.
• Loaded Grillers: A line of small, affordable, grilled burritos that were perfect for a quick snack, including the Beefy Nacho Griller and Chipotle Ranch Griller.
• Pint-Sized Items: The removal of the Nachos Supreme and various potato items (like the Potato Bites) also caused an uproar, though potatoes have since returned in some forms.

The Future of Discontinued Taco Bell Items

The 2024 Decades Menu proved that Taco Bell is keenly aware of its fans' desires. The temporary return of classics like the Double Decker Taco and the Meximelt shows that the brand is willing to use nostalgia as a powerful marketing tool. While the constant menu churn can be frustrating, it also creates a sense of excitement and urgency. For now, fans must keep their eyes peeled for future limited-time offers, continue to sign petitions for the permanent return of the Enchirito and Bell Beefer, and hold out hope that the Lava Sauce will one day flow freely again.