What is the Healthiest Dish at Taco Bell?

October 11, 2025 •

4 min read

According to a 2021 study, approximately 86% of American adults consume fast food at least once a day, proving that convenient, quick meals are a part of many people's lives. But if you are watching your diet, you might be asking: what is the healthiest dish at Taco Bell? It might surprise you that the Cantina Chicken Bowl is often cited by dietitians as a top choice, thanks to its balance of protein, fiber, and vegetables.

Quick Summary

This guide reveals dietitian-recommended, healthier menu items at Taco Bell, including customized options. Learn about lower-calorie and high-protein choices like the Cantina Chicken Bowl, soft tacos, and bean burritos. Discover how modifications like ordering 'Fresco Style' can significantly reduce calories and fat while boosting fresh ingredients.

Key Points

Top Pick: Cantina Chicken Bowl: Dietitians often recommend the Cantina Chicken Bowl for its balanced macros, high protein, and fiber content.
Customize with 'Fresco Style': This key modification replaces high-fat creamy sauces and cheese with fresh pico de gallo, drastically reducing calories.
Focus on Protein and Fiber: Add extra grilled chicken or black beans to increase protein and fiber, which enhances satiety and keeps you full longer.
Choose Grilled over Fried: Opt for soft tacos with grilled chicken or steak instead of fried shells and crunchy options to cut excess fats.
Mind Your Sauces and Drinks: Skip high-calorie, creamy sauces and sugary sodas. Stick to water, unsweetened tea, or low-cal sauce packets.
Consider the Bean Burrito: For a satisfying, high-fiber vegetarian option, the Bean Burrito is an excellent choice, especially when customized.
Utilize the Nutrition Calculator: For the most accurate, personalized information, use Taco Bell's official nutrition calculator to build and analyze your meal.

Navigating the Taco Bell Menu for Healthier Choices

Eating healthy doesn't mean you have to avoid fast food entirely. Taco Bell's highly customizable menu makes it possible to enjoy a satisfying meal while making smarter nutritional choices. The key lies in understanding which items and modifications to select. Focus on whole ingredients like beans, chicken, and fresh vegetables, and be mindful of high-calorie, high-sodium sauces and fried items.

The Healthiest Menu Standouts

When looking for the healthiest dish at Taco Bell, several items consistently rise to the top. The Cantina Chicken Bowl is a fan favorite among dietitians for its balanced macros and generous portion of vegetables. For a lower-calorie option, the humble Soft Taco is a simple yet effective choice. Vegetarians also have plenty of satisfying, healthy options, such as the Bean Burrito and Black Beans and Rice.

Customization is Your Best Tool

To make any Taco Bell item healthier, customization is your secret weapon. Taco Bell's "Fresco Style" option is a game-changer, replacing dairy-based items like sour cream and cheese with freshly diced tomatoes. Another strategy is to swap fried ingredients for grilled ones, such as ordering a Soft Taco with grilled chicken instead of a Crunchy Taco.

A Healthier Taco Bell Order: A Step-by-Step Guide

Start with a solid base. Choose items with lean protein and fiber, like the Cantina Chicken Bowl or a Bean Burrito.
Go "Fresco Style." This simple modification removes high-fat dairy and sauces, replacing them with fresh pico de gallo.
Add extra vegetables. Increase your fiber and nutrient intake by asking for extra lettuce or tomatoes.
Add black beans. Beans are an excellent source of plant-based protein and fiber, helping you feel full and satisfied longer.
Go easy on the sauces. Creamy sauces are often high in calories and sodium. Opt for a packet of Mild or Fire sauce instead, which are low in calories.
Choose water or unsweetened iced tea. Avoid sugary sodas that add empty calories to your meal.

Cantina Chicken Bowl vs. Veggie Power Menu Bowl

Here is a side-by-side comparison of two popular healthy options at Taco Bell based on standard, non-customized versions (nutrition may vary by location).


Feature	Cantina Chicken Bowl	Veggie Power Menu Bowl
Protein	~24g	~12g
Fiber	~10g	~11g
Calories	~490-530	~410-430
Key Ingredients	Chicken, rice, beans, guac, pico, lettuce, cabbage, sour cream, cheese, avocado ranch	Black beans, rice, guac, pico, lettuce, sour cream, cheese, avocado ranch
Best For	High protein, meat-eaters	Vegetarians, lower calories

Both bowls offer a robust nutrient profile, with high fiber and a good mix of macros. The Cantina Chicken Bowl provides more protein, while the Veggie Power Menu Bowl is lower in calories. Your choice depends on your specific dietary goals, but either is a strong choice when looking for the healthiest dish at Taco Bell.

Other Notable Healthy Choices

Besides the bowls, several other menu items are good candidates for a healthy meal with the right customizations:

Soft Taco (Beef or Chicken) Fresco Style: A classic, low-calorie choice. Ordering it "Fresco Style" removes the cheese, cutting down on saturated fat and calories while adding fresh tomatoes.
Bean Burrito: A fiber-rich, satisfying vegetarian option. To lower sodium and calories, ask for it "Fresco Style" and omit the creamy sauces.
Black Beans and Rice: A simple, high-fiber, and naturally vegan side dish that works well alone or added to a larger meal.
Crunchy Taco: At only 170 calories per taco, it's one of the most calorie-efficient options on the menu. You can also swap the beef for black beans for a vegetarian alternative.

Putting it all Together: Example Healthy Meals

High-Protein Meal: Cantina Chicken Bowl, extra chicken, hold the creamy avocado ranch and sour cream.
Lower-Calorie Meal: Two Soft Tacos Fresco Style with chicken, plus a side of Black Beans and Rice.
Vegetarian Feast: Black Bean Burrito Fresco Style, a Cheesy Roll Up (ask for light cheese), and side of chips with guacamole.

Conclusion: Your Healthiest Order at Taco Bell

Choosing the healthiest dish at Taco Bell is not about finding a single item, but rather learning to navigate the menu strategically. The Cantina Chicken Bowl is a dietitian-recommended, well-balanced choice, but customization is the ultimate tool for achieving your dietary goals. By opting for lean proteins, doubling up on vegetables, embracing the "Fresco Style" modification, and choosing lighter sauces, you can transform your meal from an indulgent fast-food fix into a nutritionally smarter option. Fast food doesn't have to be a diet destroyer; with the right choices, you can enjoy Taco Bell while staying on track with your wellness journey.

For more nutritional information and a full breakdown of menu items, visit the official Taco Bell Nutrition Calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ordering 'Fresco Style' means that high-fat, dairy-based ingredients like mayonnaise-based sauces, sour cream, and cheese are replaced with freshly prepared pico de gallo (diced tomatoes) to reduce calories and fat.

Yes, many of Taco Bell's vegetarian options, such as the Bean Burrito and Veggie Power Menu Bowl, can be quite healthy. They are often rich in fiber and protein, especially when customized by removing creamy sauces.

You can reduce sodium by ordering 'Fresco Style' to eliminate cheese and creamy sauces, which are high in salt. Another way is to go easy on the salty condiments and opt for a simple side like Black Beans and Rice.

The Cantina Chicken Bowl is considered one of the healthiest options by dietitians due to its balanced macronutrient profile, which includes lean protein, complex carbs from rice and beans, and plenty of fiber from vegetables. It is more nutrient-dense than many other fast-food meals.

The Soft Taco Fresco Style with chicken is a great low-calorie choice, clocking in at around 150 calories per taco. A side of Black Beans and Rice is another low-calorie, high-fiber option.

Yes, it is possible to eat Taco Bell and still meet your weight loss goals by making smart, informed choices. Focus on lower-calorie, high-protein, and high-fiber items and utilize customization options to cut down on excess calories and fat.

Adding black beans increases your meal's protein and fiber content, which helps improve satiety and makes you feel full longer. This can be particularly useful for keeping your appetite in check.