Taco Bell is testing a proprietary plant-based protein in Birmingham, AL for a limited time. It is featured in the new Crispy Melt Taco and Nachos BellGrande, but fans can also try it in any menu item at no extra cost.

The Crispy Melt Taco starts with a white corn shell tortilla with layers on layers of a blend of shredded cheddar, mozzarella, and Monterey pepper jack cheeses, plus warm nacho cheese sauce.

The taco then features a choice of protein. Vegetarians and flexitarians alike will rejoice at the first option, which is a brand-new, boldly seasoned plant-based protein. A soy and pea protein proprietary blend, this protein is inspired by classic Taco Bell flavors. The taco is topped with crispy lettuce, even more cheddar cheese, juicy diced tomatoes and reduced-fat sour cream.

Fans can also opt for the taco to be made with real seasoned beef. Regardless of protein, the Crispy Melt Taco is available for just $2.49.

During this test, the proprietary plant-based protein will also be featured in Nachos BellGrande, and it can be added to any menu item through order customization. The protein is certified vegan by the American Vegetarian Association (AVA).

KFC Mac & Cheese Bowls are back!  The bowls, which debuted in 2019, are making a return to restaurants nationwide on July 18 for $5. Fans can get their Mac & Cheese Bowls starting July 11, via an exclusive digital offer on the KFC mobile app and KFC.com.

KFC Mac & Cheese Bowls are a cheesy twist to KFC’s popular Famous Bowls. The $5 bowl features KFC’s rich and creamy cheddar mac & cheese topped with KFC’s crispy popcorn chicken and a sprinkle of a three-cheese blend.  You can order a Spicy KFC Mac & Cheese Bowl version, too, featuring KFC’s spicy, smoky Nashville Hot sauce.  You can make it a combo by adding a side of KFC’s Secret Recipe Fries and a medium drink.

Yum! Brands announced Tuesday that it will fully leave Russia, as the invasion of Ukraine continues.

In June, the company transferred ownership of all Pizza Hut franchise assets to a local operator that will rebrand the stores. Yum! is also in advanced talks to transfer ownership of its KFC restaurants, operating system, and master franchise rights. Once that transaction is complete, the company will fully exit Russia.

In March, Yum! suspended operations of all corporately owned restaurants and halted investment and development efforts. Russia is home to roughly 1,000 KFC and 50 Pizza Hut units, most of which are under license or franchise agreements with independent owners. At that time, the company redirected all profits from Russia to humanitarian efforts and donated $1 million to the Red Cross. Yum! also used its disaster relief fund to support Ukrainian franchise employees and matched worker donations to UNICEF, Red Cross, World Food Programme, and International Rescue Committee.

Taco Bell and Cheez-It have come together for the ultimate Test Kitchen test: the Big Cheez-It Tostada. The Big Cheez-It Tostada features the eye-catching Cheez-It square topped with seasoned beef, reduced-fat sour cream, fresh diced tomatoes, crisp lettuce and shredded cheddar cheese.

But that’s not all. A crunchier, exclusive surprise awaits for users of the Taco Bell website and mobile app: the Big Cheez-It Crunchwrap Supreme. This version includes seasoned beef, nacho cheese sauce, lettuce, reduced-fat sour cream and diced tomatoes, but the typical tostada shell is swapped for the oversized Cheez-It cracker before being wrapped inside a tortilla that’s grilled to go. This is the first time Taco Bell has offered a digital exclusive as part of a one-restaurant test.

The Big Cheez-It Tostada ($2.49) and the Big Cheez-It Crunchwrap Supreme ($4.29) are both currently testing at only one Taco Bell location in Irvine, CA for two weeks.

Taco Bell’s most innovative restaurant will have a four-lane drive-thru.  Nicknamed “Taco Bell Defy”, the new prototype opens in Minnesota in June.  Three of the four drive-thru lanes are specifically mobile orders and third-party delivery, while the fourth is a traditional lane with speaker box and menu board. After customers complete their order in the drive-thru, a Team Member places the meal in a vertical lift system that transports the order to guests.

KFC is continuing its partnership with rapper (and Kentucky native) Jack Harlow.  KFC announced the new “Jack Harlow Meal,” which will drop at KFC locations nationwide beginning June 6.

The combo meal, hand-selected by Harlow himself, includes the brand’s spicy chicken sandwich, mac & cheese, secret recipe fries, a side of ranch, and a lemonade.

“From releasing ‘Come Home the Kids Miss You’ and now launching my own meal at KFC, I’m having a super blessed summer,” Harlow said in a press release.

He added that the meal brings together his childhood favorites from growing up in Louisville (like the brand’s classic mac & cheese) to newer menu items such as the spicy chicken sandwich (released in 2021) and secret recipe fries (first introduced in 2020.)

Thursday, May 19 is the first day the pizza is officially available to order, but Taco Bell Rewards members have early access Tuesday and Wednesday when ordering on the mobile app for in-store or drive-thru orders. Loyalty members who joined by the Super Bowl also will have a reward to get the pizza for free, redeemable through June 1. As an IOU, Taco Bell Rewards Members who received a mystery reward back during the Big Game will score a free Mexican Pizza when it’s back May 19, and loyalty members will get first dibs with early access to the menu item beginning May 17.  The free pizza reward is valid from 5/19 through 6/1 and redeemable only via the Taco Bell mobile app for in-store/drive-thru pickup orders.