I was standing in line at Taco Bell last week watching the person ahead of me pay almost $9 for a single Crunchwrap Supreme meal when my friend nudged me and whispered, “That person just wasted at least four bucks.” She was right. With fast food prices climbing faster than ever in 2025, knowing the right ordering tricks at Taco Bell can mean the difference between an affordable meal and throwing money away. Most people don’t realize that the exact same ingredients can cost dramatically different amounts depending on how you order them. Ready to stop overpaying?
Check prices at different locations before ordering
Did you know the price of a Crunchwrap Supreme can range from $3.39 in Big Spring, Texas to a whopping $8.49 at a New Jersey mall? That’s more than double the price for the exact same item! This huge price gap exists because Taco Bell allows each franchise to set their own prices based on local costs and competition. So before you head to your usual Taco Bell, take a minute to check if there’s a cheaper location nearby. Sometimes driving just an extra mile or two can save you several dollars on your order.
Thankfully, there’s now an easy way to compare Taco Bell prices in your area. A website called Taconomical pulls data from Taco Bell’s official mobile ordering system to show you exactly which locations near you offer the best deals. You can zoom in on your local area and compare prices for everything from single tacos to combo meals. For example, in Massachusetts, the same Crunchwrap Supreme costs $4.99 at the Square One Mall location but $5.89 in Salem – almost a dollar difference for identical food!
Order the cheesy bean and rice burrito with beef
One of the best money-saving tricks comes straight from Taco Bell employees themselves. Instead of ordering the Burrito Supreme for $3.99, start with a cheesy bean and rice burrito from the value menu and add beef. This simple swap gets you almost the same burrito for less than $2 – that’s savings of over 75%! The base burrito is just $1 when ordered through the app, and adding beef costs less than a dollar extra. You’ll still get plenty of food, but at a fraction of the price.
This hack works because Taco Bell charges much more for “premium” menu items even when they contain mostly the same ingredients as value menu options. Another example: a basic bean burrito costs $1.59, but if you try to create something similar by adding rice and beef to it, the price jumps to $2.84. So starting with the cheesy bean and rice burrito as your base is key. With Taco Bell having raised prices by 10% between 2020 and 2021 (and continuing to increase them since), these kinds of hacks are more valuable than ever.
Ask for your burrito to be grilled for free
Want to make your burrito taste better without spending an extra cent? Just ask for it to be grilled. This simple request takes your regular soft burrito and transforms it into something that tastes much more premium – with a slightly crispy exterior and melted cheese inside. The best part? It’s completely free! Taco Bell won’t charge you anything to throw your burrito on the grill for a minute, but the flavor improvement is substantial. This works especially well with the cheesy bean and rice burrito we talked about earlier.
Many people don’t know you can request this for any burrito on the menu. The grilling process melts the cheese more thoroughly and creates a nice seal that keeps the burrito from falling apart while you eat it. It’s the same cooking method used on their more expensive items, but you can get it on a $1 burrito just by asking. This is particularly helpful if you’re ordering through the drive-thru, where you can simply request it when speaking your order.
Get triple-layer nachos instead of chips and queso
If you’re craving chips and dip at Taco Bell, skip ordering the chips and queso as separate items. Instead, go for the triple-layer nachos from the value menu. You’ll get the same chips plus queso, red sauce, and beans for about 50 cents less than you’d pay for just chips and queso alone. This might seem like a small difference, but it adds up quickly – especially if you’re feeding a family or group of friends. Plus, you’re getting beans and red sauce thrown in for free!
You can make these nachos even better by asking for extra free sauces. Taco Bell will give you additional packets of salsa, creamy jalapeño sauce, and chipotle sauce at no extra charge if you ask. These sauces would normally cost extra if added directly to a menu item, but they’re free as side packets. Load up your triple-layer nachos with these extras, and you’ve essentially created a much more expensive nacho platter for just a dollar or two.
Substitute potatoes or beans for meat to save money
Meat is usually the most expensive ingredient in any Taco Bell item. A smart way to save money is to substitute potatoes or beans for meat in your favorite menu items. For example, instead of getting a beef Crunchwrap Supreme, order it with potatoes or beans instead. You’ll save around a dollar, and you might even prefer the taste! The potato option gives a nice crispy texture that works really well with the crunchy tostada shell inside the Crunchwrap, while beans provide a creamy, protein-rich alternative.
This substitution works with nearly any item on the menu – burritos, tacos, quesadillas, and more. The potatoes are seasoned with Taco Bell’s signature spices, so they’re flavorful enough to stand in for meat. And beans are actually the traditional filling for many authentic Mexican dishes anyway. Some locations might charge a small fee for the substitution, but it’s still significantly cheaper than paying for meat. Try ordering your next favorite item with this simple swap and see if you can even tell the difference!
Use the app to access exclusive deals and rewards
The Taco Bell app is your secret weapon for saving money. First, it gives you access to exclusive deals that aren’t available in-store. Second, it lets you earn points on every purchase through the rewards program, which you can redeem for free food. As of 2025, Taco Bell’s loyalty program has grown by 50% compared to last year, and they’re offering better rewards than ever. But perhaps most importantly, the app lets you customize your order precisely, which means you can use all the money-saving hacks we’ve discussed without having to explain them to a cashier.
One of the biggest advantages of the app is being able to see exactly how much each customization costs before placing your order. Want to know if adding beef to your bean burrito is cheaper than ordering a beef burrito outright? The app will show you the exact price difference. Plus, the app regularly offers free items with purchase or discounted combo deals that aren’t advertised in stores. Taco Bell’s loyalty program members also get early access to new menu items and sometimes receive birthday rewards. If you eat at Taco Bell more than once a month, not using the app is literally leaving money on the table.
Order from the value menu and customize
Taco Bell’s value menu is a gold mine for saving money, with over 10 items priced under $3. But the real trick is using these items as your starting point and then customizing them to create what you actually want. For example, the spicy potato soft taco costs just a dollar, but add a few customizations and you can transform it into something that would cost three times as much if ordered directly. The same goes for the cheesy roll-up and cinnamon twists – both are basic items that can be improved with simple, low-cost additions.
The key is knowing which customizations are worth the upcharge and which aren’t. Adding extra cheese or sour cream usually costs less than adding guacamole or meat. Sometimes removing an ingredient you don’t want and replacing it with something you do prefer actually costs less overall. For instance, you could order a beefy Fritos burrito, remove the Fritos (no charge for removing), and add onions for a minimal cost. You’ve now created a custom burrito that would cost much more if you ordered it as a specialty item. This strategy requires some experimentation, but the savings are worth it.
Create your own combo meals with value items
Taco Bell’s advertised combo meals are convenient but rarely the best deal. Instead of paying for their pre-selected combos, create your own meal from value menu items. For example, instead of getting the Mexican Pizza combo for about $9, order a cheesy bean and rice burrito ($1), a spicy potato soft taco ($1), and a Beefy Melt Burrito ($2). You’ve just created a filling meal for about $4 – less than half the price of the combo! You can add a drink for another dollar if needed, and you’re still saving significantly.
This approach works because Taco Bell’s combos often include a premium item paired with a less expensive side and a drink, with minimal savings over ordering individually. By building your meal entirely from value items, you avoid paying the premium markup altogether. It’s similar to how some people found they could save money by ordering two Mexican Pizzas and a Double Steak Grilled Cheese Burrito separately rather than as a combo. The key is to ignore the pretty pictures of combos on the menu board and focus on creating maximum value with individual selections.
Next time you’re headed to Taco Bell, don’t just pull into the nearest location and order whatever catches your eye. Take a minute to check prices at different stores, start with value menu items as your base, ask for free upgrades like grilling, and use the app to score exclusive deals. With fast food prices continuing to rise, these simple hacks can save you hundreds of dollars a year if you’re a regular Taco Bell customer. The best part? Your food will taste just as good – maybe even better – than what you were paying full price for before.
