Taco Bell to Test Beyond Meat’s Plant-Based Carne Asada

Taco Bell is getting in on the plant-based trend with meatless carne asada made with Beyond Meat. 

The option will be available at dozens of Dayton, Ohio locations starting October 13, CNBC reported. Taco Bell plans to include Beyond Carne Asada in its quesadilla, but customers can add the meat alternative to other orders as well. The meat-free steak is made from vital wheat gluten and fava bean protein to attempt to replicate the taste and texture of traditional carne asada.  

Though Taco Bell’s parent company Yum Brands has been slow to adopt plant-based meat alternatives, the chain has actually had a passionate vegan and vegetarian following for years due to its meat-free options, such as potatoes and black beans, and customizable menu. 

Earlier this year, Taco Bell also tested its own plant-based meat substitute made from soy and pea protein at its restaurants in Birmingham, Alabama. 

In 2021, Yum Brands signed a deal with Beyond Meat to create exclusive menu items for its chains, which also include KFC and Pizza Hut. It took longer than anticipated to create a carne asada alternative that Taco Bell was satisfied with. According to Missy Schaaphok, Taco Bell’s director of global nutrition and sustainability, the product has been in the works for almost two years.

Taco Bell says it wants to make plant-based products more affordable for consumers. Price parity with meat is part of Beyond Meat’s long-term goals. The company believes cheaper meat substitutes will lead more consumers to change their diets. 

A report from management consulting firm Kearney found that three-quarters of consumers were likely to purchase plant-based products in the next year. For the remaining 25% who did not plan on purchasing, the price was one of the biggest factors, with more than half (53%) saying the price was a limiting factor.