A cheesy roll up from Taco Bell is a flour tortilla rolled up with beef, nacho cheese sauce, and seasoned rice. It’s a simple combination of ingredients that comes together to make a tasty, portable snack. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at exactly what goes into this fan favorite menu item.
The Tortilla
The base of the cheesy roll up is a soft flour tortilla. Taco Bell uses flour tortillas made from enriched bleached wheat flour for many of their menu items. The flour tortillas are thin and pliable enough to be easily rolled up around the fillings. They provide a neutral backdrop that allows the other ingredients to shine.
The Beef
Inside the tortilla is Taco Bell’s signature seasoned ground beef. Their beef is made from USDA inspected and certified beef. It’s ground and mixed with Taco Bell’s signature blend of seasonings and spices. The exact spice blend is proprietary, but likely contains flavors like cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, paprika, and more. The spiced ground beef adds flavor, texture, and protein.
The Cheese
No cheesy roll up would be complete without the cheese! Taco Bell uses their nacho cheese sauce, made from real cheddar cheese, milk, water, vegetable oil, and seasonings. The smooth, gooey cheese sauce adds a kick of salty, spicy, and tangy flavor. It also acts as the “glue” that bonds the other ingredients together.
The Rice
Inside the roll up you’ll also find Taco Bell’s seasoned rice. It’s made from rice, vegetables oils, spices, salt, garlic, and more. The rice provides a neutral carbohydrate base that absorbs the other flavors. The seasonings add extra dimension.
Assembly
To assemble a cheesy roll up, Taco Bell crew members grab a flour tortilla and warm it on the grill. Then they add a scoop of seasoned rice, ground beef, and nacho cheese sauce. The tortilla is rolled up tight to seal in the contents before serving. It’s also often wrapped in a branded Taco Bell wrapper.
Nutrition Information
So what exactly is in a cheesy roll up from a nutrition perspective? Here is the nutrition information according to Taco Bell:
| Amount Per Serving | Calories | Fat | Carbs | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Cheesy Roll Up | 370 | 18g | 39g | 13g |
As you can see, the cheesy roll up packs a decent amount of calories, fat, carbs, and protein into a small package. The majority of calories come from the refined carbohydrates in the tortilla and rice along with the fat from the cheese and beef. There are 13g of protein mainly from the seasoned beef.
It’s not the most nutritious menu option, but can make a filling snack or light meal. Some ways to make it slightly healthier would be to ask for it without rice or request less cheese and beef. You could also swap the classic roll up for a veggie or chicken version. Overall though, it’s designed to be an indulgent, tasty treat.
Variations
While the classic beef cheesy roll up is the OG, Taco Bell has introduced some variations over the years:
Chicken Cheesy Roll Up
Instead of ground beef, this version contains shredded, marinated all-white chicken meat filling. It has similar amounts of calories, fat, and carbs to the original beef version.
Veggie Cheesy Roll Up
This vegetarian version swaps the beef for black beans. It’s lower in calories, fat, and protein than the classic.
XXL Grilled Stuft Burrito
This massive burrito contains all the cheesy roll up fillings of rice, beef, and nacho cheese plus extras like sour cream, chipotle sauce, and crunchy red strips.
Mini Chicken Quesadilla
While not called a cheesy roll up, this item takes the same ingredients – tortilla, cheese, chicken – and folds them into triangles instead of wrapping into a roll.
Loaded Taco Burrito
Again, not named a cheesy roll up but contains the same fillings – tortilla, beef, rice, nacho cheese – along with lettuce, tomatoes, and salsa wrapped in a burrito instead of rolled.
Popularity & Why People Love It
The cheesy roll up has become incredibly popular, especially among Taco Bell fans, for several reasons:
- Nostalgia – It’s been on the menu for over 20 years, so many people have fond memories of enjoying them growing up.
- Simplicity – You know exactly what you’re getting: beef, cheese, rice, and tortilla.
- Portability – They are easy to eat on the go with no mess.
- Affordability – Cheesy roll ups are one of the most affordable items on the menu.
- Customization – While delicious as-is, you can also easily add other ingredients like lettuce, tomatoes, or sauces.
- Flavor – The seasoned beef, gooey cheese, rice, and tortilla is a winning combo.
- Speed – Cheesy roll ups are made quickly at the Taco Bell drive-thru or counter.
For the price, customization options, taste, and convenience, it’s no wonder the cheesy roll up remains a Taco Bell favorite after all these years. The simplicity and portability make it an ideal fast food option for people on the go looking for quick tastiness.
Prices & Availability
Cheesy roll ups are a permanent fixture on Taco Bell’s value menu. Pricing does vary slightly by location but is typically:
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Cheesy Roll Up (regular) | $1.00 |
| Cheesy Roll Up (add beef or chicken) | $1.49 |
| Cheesy Roll Up (supreme/loaded) | $2.49 |
The most basic cheesy roll up sans meat usually goes for only $1.00 in most regions. Adding beef or chicken raises the price slightly to $1.49 at many locations. To get one fully loaded with veggies, sauces, and other extras costs between $2-3 depending on toppings and location.
They are available all day at Taco Bell locations during regular business hours. However, prices and participation may vary. You can order cheesy roll ups at the counter, drive-thru, or try mobile ordering for fast pick up.
How Do They Make It?
Taco Bell has turned assembling cheesy roll ups into a fine art. Here is a step-by-step look at how they make them:
- Heat up a 12-inch flour tortilla on the grill for about 10 seconds.
- Add 2-3 oz. of seasoned beef and 1-2 oz. of nacho cheese sauce in a line across the middle of the tortilla.
- Next add 1-2 oz. of seasoned rice on top of the beef and cheese.
- Wrap one side of the tortilla over the filling, pulling back tightly to seal everything together.
- Continue rolling tightly until the tortilla is wrapped up.
- Wrap the finished cheesy roll up in a Taco Bell wrapper and serve hot.
It’s a simple, efficient assembly line process honed over years of making millions of cheesy roll ups. The quantities keep the roll up sealed while preventing overflow or mess. Heating the tortilla first helps meld the ingredients together too. Well-trained Taco Bell crew can assemble each one in under 30 seconds!
Copycat Recipe
Want to recreate Taco Bell’s famous cheesy roll up at home? Here is an easy copycat recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1 large flour tortilla
- 1/4 lb ground beef
- 1-2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1/4 cup nacho cheese sauce
- 1/4 cup seasoned rice or rice pilaf
Directions:
- Cook ground beef in a skillet over medium heat. Drain excess fat.
- Add taco seasoning and stir until well-combined with beef.
- Microwave tortilla for 15-20 seconds to warm and make pliable.
- Add beef mixture, nacho cheese, and rice in a line across the center of the tortilla.
- Fold sides over filling and roll up tortilla tightly.
- Wrap in foil or paper and enjoy!
Adjust the amounts of each ingredient to your preferences. For fully loaded roll ups, add chopped lettuce, diced tomatoes, salsa, sour cream, or other favorite toppings.
Storage
Cheesy roll ups are best consumed fresh and hot. But if you have leftovers, here are some storage tips:
– Let cool completely, then wrap tightly in plastic wrap or foil.
– Refrigerate for up to 3 days.
– Reheat in the microwave, toaster oven, or regular oven until hot and tortilla is crispy again.
– Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in refrigerator before reheating.
– The rice may absorb some moisture in the fridge, so the roll up may become a bit soggy.
– Reheating it crisps it back up, but texture won’t be quite as perfect as when freshly made.
Where to Buy Them
Cheesy roll ups are sold exclusively at Taco Bell locations. You’ll find them at over 7,000 Taco Bell’s globally. In the United States they are available at Taco Bells in 43 states.
Some options for buying cheesy roll ups include:
- Order at the counter inside Taco Bell restaurants.
- Use the drive-thru at standalone Taco Bell locations.
- Order ahead on the Taco Bell website or mobile app for quick pick up.
- Get delivery through Uber Eats, DoorDash, or Grubhub in select areas.
- Purchase frozen cheesy roll ups at select grocery stores to make at home.
Check your local Taco Bell’s address, hours, and delivery options online or in the app to find the closest location. Most locations open early for breakfast and close late night.
History
The cheesy roll up has a long history at Taco Bell that dates back over 20 years:
- It was first introduced to menus in 1999 as a limited time offer.
- The original name was Taco Bell Rollers.
- It sold for just 99 cents initially.
- After successful test markets, it was rolled out nationally in 2000.
- The name changed to Cheesy Roll Ups in 2001.
- It was added as an official permanent menu item in 2002 due to popularity.
- Many variations have been tested over the years like Bacon Cheesy Roll Ups.
- In 2020, a XXL Grilled Stuft Burrito version launched with even more fillings.
The portability, affordability, and taste of the cheesy roll up has made it a late night classic perfect for drive-thrus. It’s been a staple item at Taco Bell for over 20 years at this point and will likely remain popular for 20 more.
Conclusion
With its warm tortilla, melted cheese, seasoned beef, and signature spices, the Taco Bell cheesy roll up packs big Tex-Mex flavor into a tidy, portable package. This classic menu item combines nostalgia, simplicity, affordability, and customization to create the perfect fast food experience. Its popularity over decades proves why sometimes basic ingredients came together in just the right way. The cheesy roll up has earned its reputation as a fan favorite late night snack for a good reason.
