Taco Bell Healthy Options - Reviewed by Dietitians
- Dr. Michael Brandwein
- Jun 19
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 25
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Key Takeaways:
Ordering Fresco style, choosing grilled chicken over beef, and skipping heavy sauces or cheese can reduce calories, saturated fat, and sodium.
Options like the Chicken Power Bowl (470 cal, 27g protein) or 3 Soft Chicken Tacos (~480 cal, 36g protein) offer balanced macronutrients.
Taco Bell's menu easily supports vegan or vegetarian preferences using black beans, potatoes, and guacamole in place of meat or dairy.
Research published in Advances in Nutrition directly associates frequent fast food consumption with increased caloric intake and diminished diet quality.
Oversized portions, low fiber, and high sodium content dominate the critique, but that’s not the whole story.
Despite its reputation, fast food remains a practical resource for millions of Americans.
Taco Bell, in particular, has introduced options that cater to a broader range of dietary preferences without compromising flavour or accessibility.
So what happens when you want to control calories, manage your portions, and still grab something fast?
With the right selections, Taco Bell can align with your nutritional goals.
What Are the Low-Calorie Taco Bell Menu Options?
Go Fresco Style: Easy Swap, Big Calorie Drop
Ordering “Fresco style” at Taco Bell replaces mayo-based sauces, shredded cheese, and sour cream with freshly prepared diced tomatoes.
This simple switch cuts calories without sacrificing flavor. Most signature menu items, from tacos to burritos, shed 20–100 calories when made Fresco.
Want a Crunchy Taco that skips the heaviness? Fresco style gets it down to just 140 calories per serving, keeping things crisp without the guilt.
Power Menu Bowl: Veggie or Chicken, Both Under 500 Calories
The Power Menu Bowl delivers balanced macronutrients and plenty of texture, you can feel good about digging into this one.
The Veggie version contains 420 calories, 12g of fiber, and 9g of protein, thanks to black beans, seasoned rice, guacamole, romaine lettuce, tomato, and reduced-fat sour cream. Choose the Chicken Power Bowl for an added 26g of protein with a moderate 470 calories.
Check the Taco Bell nutrition calculator for more info.
Skip the cheese, ask for extra lettuce, or go light on rice to drop even more without losing satisfaction.
Bean Burrito Fresco Style
The traditional Bean Burrito sits at 350 calories. Make it Fresco style and bring that down to 320. It contains 9g of fiber and 13g of protein, driven mostly by pinto beans and the soft flour tortilla. This item delivers satiety at a lower caloric cost than most fast-food burritos.
Pro tip: Add jalapeños or onions for virtually zero extra calories and a bold flavor profile.
Need a low-sodium trick? Ask for “easy sauce” or remove red sauce entirely to cut sodium without overhauling the item.
What are the Healthiest Options at Taco Bell?
Grilled Chicken Power Bowl
The healthiest Taco Bell option is the Grilled Chicken Power Bowl with 470 calories and 27g of protein.
It combines grilled chicken breast, seasoned rice, black beans, romaine lettuce, guacamole, pico de gallo, avocado ranch sauce, shredded cheddar cheese, and reduced-fat sour cream.
While it weighs in at around 470–500 calories depending on customizations, the protein-to-calorie ratio offers strong nutritional value for those focusing on fullness and muscle recovery.
Three Soft Tacos with Chicken or Steak
Each chicken taco contains around 12 grams of protein and 160 calories, bringing the trio to roughly 36 grams of protein and under 500 calories.
Steak options offer similar figures, though slightly higher in fat, depending on the cut used at the time.
Keep things balanced by skipping the extra sauces or swapping to fresco-style. Want more texture or fiber?
Add black beans to one of the tacos; it boosts satiety with minimal calories.
Tip: Choose Chicken Over Beef
At Taco Bell, swapping out seasoned beef for grilled chicken reduces saturated fat intake while maintaining a high protein yield.
For example, replacing beef with chicken in a Crunchwrap removes about 4 grams of saturated fat and adds an extra gram or two of protein. In day-to-day macros, that shift supports heart health and sustained energy without sacrificing flavor.
Stick to grilled protein choices, avoid fried or breaded options.
Add black beans for fiber and plant-based protein.
Consider customizing with extra chicken, it costs more, but doubles the protein payload.
Which Plant-Powered Picks Are Available at Taco Bell?
Black Bean Crunchwrap Supreme (Fresco Style)
Choosing the Fresco Style strips out sour cream and cheese, replacing them with diced tomatoes and a focus on fiber-forward, plant-based ingredients.
The result?
A warm, crunchy shell packed with 12 grams of protein, 9 grams of fiber, and under 500 calories.1
Veggie Power Bowl
Built around a foundation of rice, black beans, guacamole, lettuce, tomatoes, and reduced-fat sour cream, the veggie power bowl offers 12 grams of plant-based protein and over 10 grams of fiber.
Want to cut back on calories or go fully dairy-free?
Just remove the cheese and sour cream, the flavor stays intact thanks to guac and seasoned beans.
Vegan Adaptations
Skip meat, cheese, and sour cream; add black beans, lettuce, pico de gallo, potatoes, or guacamole.
The Black Bean Chalupa becomes fully vegan once you remove the cheese and sour cream. Even breakfast can be modified.
Order fresco style to remove dairy and replace with tomatoes.
Ask for beans in place of beef in any item.
Opt for guacamole, potatoes, lettuce, tomato, and onions to bulk up veggie content.
Steer toward tortillas, chalupa shells, or rice bowls—many of these are already vegan-friendly.
What Are The Plant-Based Options on the Taco Bell Menu?
Black Beans, Pinto Beans, and Potatoes as Hearty Swaps
Black beans deliver 8g of protein and just 0.5g of saturated fat per half-cup serving, making them a filling and lower-fat alternative to meat. Pinto beans come close, offering 7g of protein per half-cup along with added fiber.
Seasoned potatoes bring in 2g of protein per serving, but they create texture and satisfaction that mimic traditional meat fillings.
Pair them with lettuce, tomatoes, guacamole, and jalapeños to build a rich flavor profile without animal protein.
Beyond Meat (If Available): How to Order and Add It to Your Meal
Some Taco Bell locations offer Beyond Meat’s plant-based protein, a meatless ground beef substitute made from pea protein and rice.
When available, request it in place of any meat option, either through the app or at the counter. It works especially well in burritos, tacos, and Crunchwraps.
Order a Black Bean Crunchwrap Supreme and sub out the beans for Beyond Meat for a soy-free protein boost.
Customize the Power Bowl by choosing Beyond Meat in place of grilled chicken while keeping all the fresh veggies and rice.
This option contains 13g of protein per 3-ounce serving with no cholesterol and zero animal-derived ingredients.
Tools like the Nutrition Calculator strip away the guesswork. You see the impact of every ingredient in real time.
Taco Bell Nutritional Comparison Table
Item | Calories | Protein (g) | Fiber (g) |
Grilled Chicken Power Bowl | 470 | 27.0 | |
Veggie Power Bowl | 420 | 12.0 | 10.0 |
3 Soft Chicken Tacos | 480 | 36.0 | |
Bean Burrito (Fresco) | 320 | 13.0 | 9.0 |
Crunchy Taco (Fresco) | 140 | ||
Black Bean Crunchwrap Supreme (Fresco) | 500 | 12.0 | 9.0 |
Chicken Power Bowl (customized) | 450 | 26.0 | |
Soft Steak Tacos (3) | 500 | 33.0 | |
Black Bean Chalupa (No Dairy) | 340 | 8.0 | 6.0 |
Beyond Meat Taco (Est.) | 190 | 13.0 | 3.0 |
Potato Taco (Est.) | 230 | 4.0 | 2.0 |
Breakfast Soft Taco (customized) | 300 | 15.0 | 2.0 |
FAQs About Healthy Taco Bell Options
What’s the healthiest meal at Taco Bell?
The Grilled Chicken Power Bowl offers 27g of protein and under 500 calories—great for a balanced meal.
What is “Fresco style”?
“Fresco style” replaces cheese, sour cream, and mayo-based sauces with diced tomatoes, cutting 20–100 calories per item.
Can I eat vegetarian or vegan at Taco Bell?
Yes. Order beans instead of meat, skip cheese/sour cream, and use guac, lettuce, and tomatoes to bulk up flavor.
Are there low-calorie options under 400 calories?
Yes. Try a Bean Burrito Fresco Style (320 cal) or a Crunchy Taco Fresco (140 cal).