What Has the Least Carbs in Taco Bell? A Guide to Low-Carb Orders

November 4, 2025 •

4 min read

According to Healthline, a modified Power Menu Bowl can have as few as 4 grams of net carbs. Knowing what has the least carbs in Taco Bell and how to customize your order is key for staying on track with a low-carb diet. With the right strategy, you can enjoy a satisfying meal without derailing your goals.

Quick Summary

This guide breaks down the lowest-carb options at Taco Bell by focusing on items that can be customized by removing high-carb ingredients like shells, rice, and beans. Learn specific modification strategies and discover the best menu items for a low-carb diet.

Key Points

Modified Power Menu Bowl is the safest bet: Ordering the Chicken or Steak Power Menu Bowl without rice and beans results in a low-carb, filling meal, typically with 4-6g net carbs.
Remove the tortilla for maximum carb reduction: The highest carb ingredients are tortillas and shells. Removing them from quesadillas, melts, and burritos drastically lowers the carb count.
The Chicken Chipotle Melt is an ultra-low-carb choice: Without the tortilla, this item is one of the leanest options available, with only about 1 gram of net carbs.
Customize with low-carb add-ons: Enhance flavor and fats by adding extra meat, cheese, sour cream, and guacamole. Many hot sauces are also carb-free.
Avoid rice, beans, and chips: These are the primary sources of carbohydrates. Always ask for these items to be left out of your order.

Your Low-Carb Guide to the Taco Bell Menu

Eating low-carb or keto at Taco Bell may seem impossible, but with a few simple modifications, you can enjoy a delicious and satisfying meal. The primary strategy involves eliminating high-carb items like tortillas, shells, rice, and beans, and focusing on the protein, cheese, veggies, and sauces. By customizing your order, you can transform many menu items into a keto-friendly bowl.

The Lowest-Carb Champions

For those seeking the absolute lowest carb count, a few specific items are the clear winners. These meals can be ordered as-is or with minor tweaks to drastically reduce the carbohydrate load.

Chicken Chipotle Melt (No Tortilla): This is often cited as one of the lowest-carb options available. By removing the flour tortilla, you're left with a mix of grilled chicken, melted cheese, and creamy chipotle sauce. The net carb count is typically around 1 gram. You can request this in a small bowl or a side cup.
Chicken Quesadilla (No Tortilla): Similar to the melt, a quesadilla without the tortilla is a great choice. It contains grilled chicken, a three-cheese blend, and creamy jalapeño sauce. The net carbs for this modified item are around 3 grams.
Power Menu Bowl (No Rice or Beans): The Power Menu Bowl is a favorite for low-carb eaters because it's designed to be customized. When you order it without the rice and beans, you still get a hearty mix of seasoned chicken or steak, shredded cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, guacamole, and avocado ranch sauce. This modified bowl typically has around 4-6 grams of net carbs.

Customizing the Classics for a Low-Carb Lifestyle

Beyond the lowest-carb standouts, many other menu items can be adapted. The key is to order the fillings in a bowl instead of their usual high-carb vessel.

Burrito Supreme (No Tortilla): This option, served in a bowl, provides seasoned beef, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, sour cream, and red sauce. Without the tortilla and beans, it becomes a flavorful taco salad-style meal.
Crunchwrap Supreme (No Shell/Tortilla): A Crunchwrap is normally a carb-heavy item, but you can request the fillings—seasoned beef, cheese sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, and sour cream—in a bowl. This makes for a great deconstructed taco salad.
Crunchy Tacos (No Shell): For a simple low-carb meal, you can order a few Crunchy Tacos and ask for them without the shell, served in a bowl. This gives you a scoop of seasoned beef, cheese, and lettuce. You can also add other keto-friendly toppings.

Ordering Hacks and Tips

To make your Taco Bell order as low-carb as possible, remember these key rules:

Eliminate the Carbs: Always skip the tortillas, taco shells, chips, rice, and beans. These are the main sources of carbohydrates in most meals.
Embrace the Bowls: Request that your order be served in a bowl. This prevents any mishaps with shells or tortillas and makes it easier to eat.
Boost the Fats and Flavor: Add extra meat, cheese, sour cream, or guacamole to increase your fat and protein intake, which helps with satiety. Most Taco Bell hot sauces are also low-carb.
Consider "Fresco Style": To make any item lower in calories and fat, you can order it "Fresco Style," which replaces cheese and sour cream with fresh diced tomatoes. However, if your goal is low-carb/keto, the fat from cheese and sour cream is often desired.

Low-Carb Taco Bell Options Comparison

This table outlines some of the best low-carb options and their approximate net carb counts when customized correctly. Note that these values can vary based on portion size and specific restaurant preparation.


Menu Item	Modifications	Approximate Net Carbs	Notes
Chicken Chipotle Melt	No Tortilla	1g	Great for a quick, high-fat snack.
Chicken Quesadilla	No Tortilla	3g	A satisfying, cheesy meal without the carbs.
Power Menu Bowl	No Rice, No Beans	4-6g	The most versatile and filling option.
Crunchwrap Supreme	No Tortilla, No Shell	~8g	All the fillings of a Crunchwrap in a bowl.
Beefy 5-Layer Burrito	No Tortilla, No Beans	~10g	A budget-friendly, low-carb hack.

Conclusion

Don't let a low-carb diet keep you from enjoying Taco Bell. By knowing which ingredients to avoid and which to focus on, you can easily craft a meal that aligns with your dietary needs. The most reliable and lowest-carb choices involve ordering fillings in a bowl, such as the customized Power Menu Bowl or a quesadilla without the tortilla. Remember to use the online nutrition calculator to plan your specific meal for maximum accuracy. For more information, explore the official Taco Bell FAQ on keto options: Taco Bell Keto FAQ.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, but you must modify it. Order the Cantina Chicken Bowl with no rice and no beans to significantly reduce the carbohydrate count. You can also add extra lettuce and chicken.

Taco Bell's seasoned meats contain small amounts of carbs from the seasonings and additives, but are generally low enough for most low-carb diets when consumed without high-carb ingredients like tortillas and rice.

A standard Crunchy Taco contains about 10 grams of net carbs due to the corn tortilla shell. To make it low-carb, order the contents in a bowl and skip the shell.

To get a low-carb breakfast, order an item like the Cheesy Toasted Breakfast Burrito or Breakfast Crunchwrap, but request it without the tortilla and hash browns. This leaves you with eggs, cheese, and bacon or sausage.

Many of Taco Bell's sauces are low in carbs. Hot sauce packets and Diablo sauce contain 0g net carbs, while Avocado Ranch, Creamy Chipotle, and Creamy Jalapeño sauces are typically around 1g net carb. Nacho cheese sauce is around 2g net carbs.

To turn a Nachos BellGrande into a low-carb meal, you need to order it without the tortilla chips and beans. You'll get seasoned beef, nacho cheese sauce, sour cream, and tomatoes in a bowl, which is much lower in carbs.

Taco Bell offers customizable bowls that can be made very low-carb, giving it an advantage over many fast-food places where buns and fries are hard to avoid. However, many of Taco Bell's ingredients are highly processed, so it's best to consider it an occasional option rather than a health food staple.