Two cheesy gordita crunches from Taco Bell cost $4.98 total based on current 2023 pricing. Let’s take a deeper look into this question and examine the key factors that determine the price of this popular Taco Bell menu item.
What is a Cheesy Gordita Crunch?
The cheesy gordita crunch is a signature menu item from Taco Bell that has been available since the 1990s. It consists of a soft flour tortilla layered with a crunchy taco shell, then stuffed with seasoned ground beef, spicy ranch sauce, nacho cheese sauce, lettuce, and cheddar cheese. This creates a tasty combination of soft and crunchy textures along with savory, cheesy flavors.
The cheesy gordita crunch is a popular menu choice among Taco Bell customers thanks to its craveable blend of tastes and textures. It provides a satisfying helping of protein from the seasoned beef along with creaminess from the cheese sauce and cool crunch from the taco shell. Many customers add customizations like jalapeños, reduced fat sour cream, or avocado ranch sauce to make it their own.
Taco Bell Pricing Factors
There are several key factors that go into Taco Bell’s pricing for menu items like the cheesy gordita crunch:
- Ingredients cost – The cost of ingredients like tortillas, ground beef, cheese, lettuce, sauce packets, etc. impacts the base price.
- Labor cost – The cost of paying employees to prep and assemble each menu item.
- Rent/overhead – Taco Bell’s prices account for rents, utilities, and other costs of running each restaurant location.
- Profit margin – Adding a profit markup allows Taco Bell to earn income from each sale.
- Competitive pricing – Prices are set based on competitor’s menu prices in the fast food category.
- Regional variances – Prices may vary slightly between different parts of the country.
- Marketing promotions – Special deals and discounts like combo meals impact pricing.
By carefully analyzing all these factors, Taco Bell can determine optimal pricing for items like the cheesy gordita crunch to appeal to customers while achieving profitability targets.
Current Cheesy Gordita Crunch Pricing
According to Taco Bell’s online menu prices as of October 2023, here is the current pricing for a cheesy gordita crunch:
- A single cheesy gordita crunch is $2.49
- A combo meal with a cheesy gordita crunch, Doritos chips, and a medium drink is $5.49
Therefore, the total price for two cheesy gordita crunches purchased individually is $4.98 before tax. That provides two servings containing a soft flour tortilla, crunchy taco shell, seasoned beef, creamy cheese sauce, lettuce, and cheddar cheese in each one.
Price Customizations
There are several ways customers can customize their cheesy gordita crunch order and impact the total pricing:
- Substitutions – Swapping beef for beans or chicken may lower price slightly.
- Add-ons – Adding extras like guacamole, bacon, or pico de gallo raises price per item.
- Combo meal – Bundling with a drink and chips offers savings vs. purchasing individually.
- Mobile app deals – The Taco Bell app regularly offers discounts on certain menu items.
- Time/day discounts – Specials during breakfast hours or happy hour may impact pricing.
Being flexible on customizations makes it possible to find the best value when purchasing two cheesy gordita crunches. Take advantage of add-on options and limited time discounts to maximize your order.
Price Comparison vs. Other Taco Bell Favorites
It can be helpful to compare the price of two cheesy gordita crunches versus other popular picks on the Taco Bell menu. Here is a price comparison of ordering two servings of some top menu items:
| Menu Item | Total Price for 2 Servings |
|---|---|
| Cheesy Gordita Crunch | $4.98 |
| Crunchy Taco | $2.98 |
| Soft Taco | $4.48 |
| Burrito Supreme | $5.98 |
| Nachos BellGrande | $6.98 |
| Quesadilla | $3.98 |
This comparison shows the cheesy gordita crunch provides a satisfying blend of flavors and textures at a mid-range price point on the Taco Bell lineup. It costs slightly more than basic tacos, but less than larger combo items like the burrito or nachos.
Price Per Ounce Analysis
Another useful way to compare value across Taco Bell items is looking at the price per ounce. This accounts for differences in serving sizes between menu options. Here is a price per ounce comparison between two cheesy gordita crunches and other items:
| Menu Item | Total Ounces | Price Per Ounce |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Cheesy Gordita Crunches | 13.1 oz | $0.38 |
| 2 Crunchy Tacos | 7.4 oz | $0.40 |
| 2 Soft Tacos | 9.5 oz | $0.47 |
| 2 Burrito Supremes | 19.4 oz | $0.31 |
This comparison shows that when adjusting for total ounces received, the cheesy gordita crunch provides a mid-range value compared to other items. The price per ounce comes out slightly higher than basic crunchy tacos, but lower than soft tacos or more substantial burritos.
Factors Impacting Future Pricing
Looking ahead, there are several key factors that could lead Taco Bell to adjust cheesy gordita crunch pricing higher or lower in the future:
- Rising ingredient costs – Beef, cheese, produce prices going up would increase prices.
- Minimum wage changes – Labor cost impacts of minimum wage hikes may raise prices.
- New equipment investments – Upgrading stores, kitchen tech could allow efficiency to reduce prices.
- Enhanced promotions – Deals and combo meals could lower effective per item prices.
- Competitive pressure – Matching other chains’ value menu offers may force price reductions.
Taco Bell carefully monitors all these dynamics when setting optimal pricing for maximum appeal to customers while achieving profit goals. Any cheesy gordita crunch price changes in the future will likely be driven by some combination of the factors outlined above.
Price Comparison to Making at Home
With basic ingredients and a few kitchen tools, it’s possible to recreate Taco Bell favorites like the cheesy gordita crunch at home. Here is an estimated price comparison of making two cheesy gordita crunches at home versus purchasing them:
| Purchase From Taco Bell | Make at Home |
|---|---|
| 2 cheesy gordita crunches: $4.98 | Tortillas: $0.50 |
| — | Ground beef: $1.50 |
| — | Taco seasoning: $0.30 |
| — | Cheese: $0.75 |
| — | Lettuce: $0.40 |
| — | Sauce: $0.25 |
| Total: $4.98 | Total: $3.70 |
The home version saves about $1.30 compared to buying two ready-made cheesy gordita crunches from Taco Bell. However, it requires having all the necessary ingredients on hand, plus time spent cooking and assembling. The convenience of grabbing pre-made cheesy gordita crunches on a Taco Bell run may be worth the small premium pricing for some consumers.
Conclusion
The next time you’re craving the one-of-a-kind crunch and cheesy flavors of a Taco Bell cheesy gordita crunch, you can expect to pay $4.98 total for two servings based on current pricing. Taco Bell considers factors like ingredient costs, profit margins, and market competitiveness when pricing this popular menu item. While making cheesy gordita crunches at home can save a little money, the convenience and customization options of ordering from your neighborhood Taco Bell may be preferable for cheese-loving, crunch-craving customers.
