If you’re staring at a bag of leftover Taco Bell and wondering whether it’s even possible to warm it up without turning it into mush, here’s the answer:
Yes, you can reheat Taco Bell. But the method depends entirely on the item.
Some things reheat beautifully (burritos, quesadillas, potatoes).
Some things barely survive (chalupas, Crunchwraps).
And some things should probably be put out of their misery (hard shells, nachos).
Below is the fastest, most reliable way to reheat every Taco Bell item, based on:
- my own experience
- fan insights from r/TacoBell
- former employee comments
- food-science basics (moisture + gentle heat = your friend)
No filler. Just exactly what you need.
Quick Answer: (Best Overall Method, Works for Most Taco Bell Items)
If you just want the method that gives you the closest thing to “fresh from the drive-thru,” here it is:
The oven (or toaster oven) is the best way to reheat Taco Bell because it warms the inside evenly without making the outside soggy, something the microwave can’t do.
How to do it:
- Remove lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, guac, and cold sauces.
- Wrap the item in foil to protect it from drying out.
- Heat in a 350°F oven or toaster oven for 10–12 minutes.
This restores the warmth, texture, and structure better than any other method, crunchy items stay crisp, soft items stay soft, and nothing turns rubbery or wet.
This works for:
- Soft tacos
- Burritos
- Chalupas
- Gorditas
- Crunchwraps
- Quesadillas
- Potato items
The ONLY things it can’t save?
Hard-shell tacos and nachos.
(Those die the moment they leave the drive-thru.)
How to Reheat Taco Bell Burritos
(Bean Burrito, Beefy 5-Layer, Cheesy Bean & Rice, etc.)
These are the BEST Taco Bell leftovers.
Best method (oven):
- Remove sour cream if possible
- Wrap burrito in foil
- Bake at 350°F for 12–15 minutes
- Unwrap for last 2 minutes if you want a light crust
2nd best (skillet):
- Heat a pan on medium-low
- Warm burrito seam-side down for 3–4 minutes
- Flip and repeat
- Cover with a lid to steam the center
Microwave method:
- Wrap in a damp paper towel
- Heat 20–30 seconds at a time
- Eat immediately (microwaved burritos stiffen FAST)
Reddit insight:
“Taco Bell burritos reheat really well. Better than most food..”,r/TacoBell
Soft Tacos (Beef Soft Taco, Spicy Potato Soft Taco)
These actually reheat great, especially potato ones.
Best method (oven):
- Remove lettuce + tomatoes
- Wrap taco in foil
- 350°F for 8–10 minutes
Skillet method:
- Heat on low
- Cover pan to steam
- Flip once
Special note (potato tacos):
Potatoes reheat AMAZINGLY.
Hard-Shell Tacos (Crunchy Taco, Doritos Locos)
Harsh truth: You can’t “reheat” crispy tacos.
You can only revive them enough to be edible.
Best chance:
- Remove lettuce + tomato
- Place shell (still filled) in toaster oven
- Heat at 300°F for 5–6 minutes
They will NOT become crispy again.
They soften because the fat in the fried shell absorbs moisture. No reheating method reverses this.
Chalupas
Chalupas are controversial because that fried shell changes drastically when cold,but they DO reheat better than expected.
Best method (toaster oven or oven):
- Remove lettuce + tomato
- Place chalupa on baking sheet
- Heat at 350°F for 8–10 minutes
This re-crisps the fried shell and melts the cheese.
Reddit insight:
“Reheated chalupas in the toaster oven,incredible. Shell gets crisp again.”,u/bodiesenmotion
Quesadillas (Chicken, Steak, Cheese)
These are almost impossible to mess up.
Best method (skillet):
- Heat over medium-low
- Add quesadilla
- Warm 2–3 minutes per side
- Cover for a minute to melt cheese fully
Microwave:
- 15–20 seconds
- Works fine but less crispy
Crunchwrap Supreme
Crunchwraps are tricky because they have:
- cold ingredients
- a soft tortilla
- and a crispy tostada shell inside (which goes soggy fast)
Best method (skillet + oven combo):
- Open the Crunchwrap slightly and remove lettuce + tomato
- Reassemble
- Warm in skillet on medium-low, 3 minutes per side
- Optional: oven at 350°F for 3–4 minutes to re-crisp the tostada layer
Crunchwraps NEED direct heat contact to crisp.
Anything With Potatoes (Nacho Fries, Spicy Potato Tacos, Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes)
Potatoes are one of the best reheating items.
Best method for fries:
- Air fryer 375°F for 3–4 minutes
- Or oven 400°F for 7–10 minutes
Best method for Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes:
- Microwave 20–30 seconds
- They reheat shockingly well
Nachos (Unfortunately…)
Nachos are DOA as leftovers.
You can save them by turning them into something else:
Nacho Bake Hack:
- Dump entire nacho tray into a baking dish
- Add extra cheese
- Bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes
Reddit swears by this:
“Leftover nachos = nacho casserole. Don’t fight it.”,r/TacoBell
Mexican Pizza (Surprisingly salvageable)
Remove lettuce (if added).
Best method:
- Oven at 350°F
- Heat 6–8 minutes
It gets crisp again because the flat surface evaporates moisture.
Which Taco Bell Items Reheat BEST? (Fan Consensus)
From 200+ Reddit threads:
Top Tier (reheat perfectly):
- Cheesy Bean & Rice Burrito
- Beefy 5-Layer Burrito
- Bean Burrito
- Quesadillas
- Chipotle Chicken Melt
- Spicy Potato Soft Taco
- Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes
Good:
- Chalupa
- Soft tacos
- Crunchwrap (with work)
Bad:
- Hard-shell tacos
- Nachos
- Anything loaded with lettuce
Quick Reheating Chart
| Item | Best Method | Time |
| Burritos | Foil + 350°F | 12–15 min |
| Soft tacos | Foil + 350°F | 8–10 min |
| Chalupas | Toaster oven 350°F | 8–10 min |
| Crunchwrap | Skillet + 350°F | 3 min/side + 4 min |
| Quesadillas | Skillet | 2–3 min/side |
| Nacho fries | Air fryer 375°F | 3–4 min |
| Fiesta potatoes | Microwave | 20–30 sec |
| Hard tacos | Toaster oven | 5–6 min (still soft) |
Why Taco Bell Gets Weird When You Reheat It
Taco Bell’s biggest enemy is moisture migration:
- Lettuce leaks water into everything
- Cheese firms when cooled
- Fried shells absorb moisture
- Tortillas dry out fast
To counter this:
You always want gentle heat + steam + crisping at the end.
Before You Go
If you want Taco Bell leftovers to actually taste good, follow the rule:
Remove the cold stuff → reheat gently → crisp at the end → reassemble.
If you want more reheating guides like this, check out my:
Reheating Foods Hub, the best way to warm leftovers without drying them out
I reheated my Taco Bell Mexican pizza in a skillet with a tight fitting lid (a plate would work too as long as it’s a glass plate!). Medium low heat, dry non-stick skillet and a few drips of water. Heat the skillet, n when hot, add your food. Check after 3 minutes to see if the bottom is browning. If so, add a few drops of water n cover. Let cook for another 3-4 minutes n check. Food should be heated n ready to enjoy!