What is the Healthiest Vegetarian at Taco Bell?

January 8, 2026 •

4 min read

According to a 2024 study by Cozymeal, some Taco Bell menu items can be part of a balanced diet. If you're wondering what is the healthiest vegetarian at Taco Bell, you'll be glad to know there are plenty of satisfying, customizable options beyond just ordering a side of black beans and rice.

Quick Summary

This guide reveals the most nutritious choices and customization tips for vegetarian and vegan meals at Taco Bell, focusing on healthier options like the Veggie Power Menu Bowl, Spicy Potato Soft Taco, and Black Beans and Rice. Learn how to modify your order for a healthier fast-food experience.

Key Points

Start with the Veggie Power Menu Bowl: This item offers the best blend of protein and fiber, making it a standout healthy option.
Customize your order with 'Fresco Style': This simple hack replaces dairy-based sauces with fresh diced tomatoes, significantly lowering the calorie and fat content.
The Black Beans and Rice side is a simple, healthy base: For a low-calorie, high-fiber meal, build your order around a side of black beans and rice.
Add healthy fats with guacamole: Instead of creamy, high-fat sauces, opt for a side of guacamole to add healthy fats to your meal.
Substitutions are your friend: Feel free to substitute beans for potatoes for variety, or ask for extra lettuce and tomatoes to boost volume and nutrition without adding many calories.
Watch the sodium content: Many menu items can be high in sodium, so pay attention to the nutrition facts and moderate intake if necessary.

Your Guide to Healthier Vegetarian Choices at Taco Bell

Taco Bell's menu has long been a go-to for vegetarians seeking a quick and convenient meal. The American Vegetarian Association (AVA) certifies many of their meatless items, and the chain even has a dedicated 'Veggie Mode' on its kiosks for easy ordering. With a little know-how, you can navigate the menu to find options that are not only delicious but also fit into a healthier lifestyle. The key lies in understanding the base items and knowing how to customize them to reduce fat and sodium while boosting fiber and protein.

The Healthiest Vegetarian Menu Item: A Deep Dive

While there's no single 'healthiest' item for everyone, the Veggie Power Menu Bowl is arguably the best starting point for a nutrient-dense vegetarian meal at Taco Bell. This bowl features a base of seasoned rice and black beans, topped with shredded lettuce, guacamole, freshly prepared pico de gallo, reduced-fat sour cream, and a three-cheese blend. For a truly healthy option, you can customize it by holding the cheese and sour cream. This simple modification significantly reduces the saturated fat and calorie content. The black beans and guacamole provide a good dose of fiber and healthy fats, respectively, making it a well-rounded choice.

Another excellent choice is the simple Black Beans and Rice side. This option is low in calories, contains fiber, and the combination of rice and beans provides a complete protein source. It can be a standalone healthy snack or the foundation for a larger, customized meal.

Customizing Your Way to Healthier Eats

One of the best features of Taco Bell's menu is its high degree of customizability, which allows you to take control of your meal's nutritional profile. The 'Fresco Style' hack is a game-changer for reducing calories and fat. Ordering any item 'Fresco Style' replaces the cheese, sour cream, and other creamy sauces with freshly diced tomatoes. This can transform an otherwise heavy item into a much lighter and fresher option. For example, a Black Bean Crunchwrap Supreme ordered 'Fresco Style' becomes a hearty, vegan-friendly wrap with significantly less fat.

Creative Customizations for Vegetarians

Swap beans for potatoes. If you're not a fan of beans, or just want some variety, you can ask to substitute beans for potato bites on most items. While this adds some carbohydrates, it provides a different texture and flavor profile. To keep it healthy, consider getting the Spicy Potato Soft Taco, which has a relatively low calorie count for a full taco.
Add extra vegetables. Increase the nutritional value and volume of your meal by asking for extra shredded lettuce or diced tomatoes at no additional cost. Adding guacamole can also provide healthy monounsaturated fats.
Hold the cheese and creamy sauces. This is the simplest way to reduce fat and calories. The bold flavors of the hot sauces, pico de gallo, and seasoned beans are often enough to make a delicious meal without the creamy additions.

Vegetarian Taco Bell Nutrition Comparison

To help illustrate the options, here is a comparison of common vegetarian items, focusing on their standard nutritional information. Customizing with 'Fresco Style' or holding cheese and sauces will generally lower the fat and calorie counts shown below.


Item	Calories	Fat (g)	Protein (g)	Fiber (g)	Sodium (mg)
Veggie Power Menu Bowl	410	20	12	11	850
Bean Burrito	360	10	13	8	1080
Spicy Potato Soft Taco	240	12	5	2	470
Black Bean Chalupa Supreme	340	17	10	6	460
Black Beans and Rice (Side)	160	4.5	4	5	370

Beyond the Menu: Building Your Own Healthy Meal

For the ultimate control over your nutrition, you can build a meal from the ground up using Taco Bell's basic ingredients. Start with a side of black beans and rice for a fiber and protein base. Add fresh pico de gallo and lettuce for extra vitamins and volume. You can also add a side of guacamole for healthy fats. This approach minimizes processed ingredients and keeps your meal fresh and light.

Conclusion

Finding the healthiest vegetarian option at Taco Bell is less about a single item and more about smart ordering. The Veggie Power Menu Bowl offers the best balance of macronutrients with a high fiber content, especially when customized by removing the higher-fat dairy ingredients. For a low-calorie, high-fiber foundation, the Black Beans and Rice side is unmatched. Remember the 'Fresco Style' customization hack to drastically cut fat and calories on any menu item. By being mindful of your choices and utilizing the available customization tools, you can enjoy a nutritious and satisfying vegetarian meal from Taco Bell.

For more in-depth nutritional information and additional healthy eating tips, explore Taco Bell's official nutritional calculator tool on their website.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Veggie Power Menu Bowl is arguably the healthiest vegetarian option, as it offers a balanced mix of fiber and protein from black beans and rice, along with fresh vegetables. For an even healthier choice, order it with no cheese or sour cream and extra pico de gallo.

To order healthy, start with a veggie-based item like the Veggie Power Menu Bowl or Bean Burrito. Use the "Fresco Style" modification to replace high-fat sauces and cheese with fresh diced tomatoes, and consider adding extra lettuce, onions, and jalapenos for flavor without extra calories.

The Bean Burrito is a solid choice, providing a good amount of fiber and protein. However, it can be high in sodium. You can make it healthier by ordering it 'Fresco Style' to remove the cheese, reducing the fat and sodium content.

The Black Beans and Rice side is a great low-calorie choice, coming in at around 160 calories. The Spicy Potato Soft Taco is another good, low-calorie option, clocking in at 240 calories, and can be made vegan by ordering it without cheese and chipotle sauce.

To reduce sodium, your best strategy is to order items 'Fresco Style' to remove cheese and creamy sauces, which are often major sources of sodium. Opt for fresh pico de gallo or guacamole for flavor instead.

Yes, Taco Bell's refried beans are vegetarian. Their website and American Vegetarian Association (AVA) certification confirms that their beans and many other ingredients contain no animal byproducts.

Yes, to make most items vegan, order them 'Fresco Style', which removes dairy, and swap any other non-vegan ingredients (like creamy chipotle sauce) for vegan-friendly options such as black beans, potatoes, and mild or hot sauce packets.