High-Protein Taco Bell: Best Orders and Exact Protein

The best high-protein order at Taco Bell is the 5-piece Crispy Chicken Nuggets: 26g of protein for 320 calories, or 8g of protein per 100 calories. Every number on this page comes from Taco Bell's own nutrition data, checked October 2, 2026.

Most of Taco Bell’s menu is built on tortillas, cheese, and beans, so the protein per calorie runs lower than at the chicken chains. The chicken items are where the protein is: the nuggets, the Cantina Chicken menu, and the chicken versions of the standards. The Cantina Chicken Rolled Quesadilla lists 33g of protein for 570 calories.

The 5 best high-protein Taco Bell orders

Each total is either one item exactly as Taco Bell lists it or two of the same item added together, with no custom modifications.

1. 5-piece Crispy Chicken Nuggets

   26g protein 320 calories 8g per 100 cal

   Order: Crispy Chicken Nuggets, 5 piece

   Breaded chicken with no tortilla, which is why it has the best protein per calorie on the menu.

2. Two chicken soft tacos

   24g protein 320 calories 8g per 100 cal

   Order: 2 x Soft Taco - Chicken

   Two of the lightest chicken items on the menu, for a full meal.

3. Cantina Chicken Rolled Quesadilla

   33g protein 570 calories 6g per 100 cal

   Order: Cantina Chicken Rolled Quesadilla, as listed

   The most protein in a single item outside the 10-piece nuggets.

4. 3-Cheese Chicken Flatbread Melt

   20g protein 320 calories 6g per 100 cal

   Order: 3-Cheese Chicken Flatbread Melt, as listed

   A smaller chicken item from the value menu.

5. Cantina Chicken Bowl

   26g protein 580 calories 4g per 100 cal

   Order: Cantina Chicken Bowl, as listed

   The bowl option, if you would rather skip the tortilla.

Every Taco Bell item with real protein, ranked

Everything with at least 12g of protein from Taco Bell’s nutrition data, plus the beef versions of a few items so they can be compared. Value menu items that repeat a regular item are listed once. Breakfast is only at participating locations.

1. Breakfast Quesadilla - Steak: Breakfast is served at participating locations only (Taco Bell lists it as regional).
2. Grande Toasted Breakfast Burrito - Steak: Breakfast is served at participating locations only (Taco Bell lists it as regional).
3. Breakfast Quesadilla - Bacon: Breakfast is served at participating locations only (Taco Bell lists it as regional).
4. Hash Brown Toasted Breakfast Burrito - Steak: Breakfast is served at participating locations only (Taco Bell lists it as regional).
5. Breakfast Crunchwrap - Steak: Breakfast is served at participating locations only (Taco Bell lists it as regional).
6. Breakfast Quesadilla - Sausage: Breakfast is served at participating locations only (Taco Bell lists it as regional).
7. Grande Toasted Breakfast Burrito - Bacon: Breakfast is served at participating locations only (Taco Bell lists it as regional).
8. Grande Toasted Breakfast Burrito - Sausage: Breakfast is served at participating locations only (Taco Bell lists it as regional).
9. Breakfast California Crunchwrap - Bacon: Breakfast is served at participating locations only (Taco Bell lists it as regional).
10. Breakfast Crunchwrap - Bacon: Breakfast is served at participating locations only (Taco Bell lists it as regional).
11. Breakfast Crunchwrap - Sausage Patty: Breakfast is served at participating locations only (Taco Bell lists it as regional).
12. Hash Brown Toasted Breakfast Burrito - Bacon: Breakfast is served at participating locations only (Taco Bell lists it as regional).
13. Breakfast California Crunchwrap - Sausage: Breakfast is served at participating locations only (Taco Bell lists it as regional).
14. Hash Brown Toasted Breakfast Burrito - Sausage: Breakfast is served at participating locations only (Taco Bell lists it as regional).
15. Chili Cheese Burrito (regional): Regional item, not on every menu.
16. Cheesy Toasted Breakfast Burrito - Bacon: Breakfast is served at participating locations only (Taco Bell lists it as regional).

Best Taco Bell picks by goal

Easy ways to add protein at Taco Bell

Taco Bell doesn’t publish numbers for adding extra meat, but it does publish chicken versions of several items. Here’s what the switch changes, using Taco Bell’s numbers for both.

Make it at home

The black bean quinoa bowl is the closest thing on this site to a meatless Taco Bell bowl, and the white chicken chili and turkey chili cover the same seasoned meat and beans in a bowl.

FAQ

Does Taco Bell still have the Power Menu Bowl?

No. It isn't in Taco Bell's current nutrition data. The Cantina Chicken Bowl is the bowl on the menu now, at 26g of protein for 580 calories.

What's the highest-protein item at Taco Bell?

The 10-piece Crispy Chicken Nuggets, at 51g of protein for 640 calories. Outside the nuggets, the Cantina Chicken Rolled Quesadilla lists 33g for 570.

Is chicken or steak higher in protein at Taco Bell?

They come out the same in most items. The chicken and steak quesadillas both list 26g, and the chicken and steak Burrito Supreme both list 19g. Beef is the lower one: the Burrito Supreme with beef lists 16g.

What are Taco Bell's vegetarian protein options?

From Taco Bell's certified vegetarian menu, the Cheese Quesadilla lists 18g of protein for 440 calories, the Veggie Mexican Pizza 14g for 460, and the Bean Burrito 13g for 360.

What's a high-protein breakfast at Taco Bell?

The Breakfast Quesadilla with steak, at 28g of protein for 500 calories. Taco Bell only serves breakfast at participating locations, so check that yours does.

Where these numbers come from

Nutrition checked October 2, 2026 against Taco Bell's official nutrition information. Taco Bell's nutrition page serves its numbers through Nutritionix (last updated September 30, 2026). Items are as Taco Bell builds them; breakfast is only at participating locations.

More places to eat out

• See the best order at every chain
• High-Protein Chipotle: Best Orders and Exact Protein