Taco Bell Bean Burrito: Calories and Vegan Status

The burrito has 360 calories on the menu data this site uses, which is about 18 percent of a 2,000-calorie day. Some third-party trackers list 350, a small difference that likely comes from older or rounded figures. Taco Bell's own nutrition guide is the best tiebreaker if you track closely.

Most of those calories come from carbohydrates. Third-party data puts the carbohydrate share at about 62 percent, with fat making up most of the rest and protein a smaller slice. The tortilla and the beans supply the carbs, and the cheddar supplies most of the fat.

For a sense of scale, 360 calories is a light meal by fast food standards. It can work as a small lunch with a side, or as a snack between meals. Two of them add up to 720 calories, which is more than a Beefy 5-Layer Burrito plus a Crunchy Taco, so they fill you up quickly. Compare it with other items in the calories across the whole Taco Bell menu guide.

How Many Calories in a Taco Bell Bean Burrito?

It has 360 calories as served. Changing the order moves that number up or down.

The app shows the updated calorie count after you customize, so use it before you pay. Exact changes are not listed here, since each ingredient adds a different amount.

Taco Bell Bean Burrito Nutrition Facts: Protein and Fiber

Protein and fiber are where this burrito earns its reputation. Third-party nutrition listings show about 13 grams of protein and between 9 and 11 grams of fiber, depending on the source. Those are high numbers for a burrito that costs so little.

The fat, carbohydrate and sodium figures come from a third-party listing that uses the 350 calorie version, so treat them as close estimates. Sodium is the number to watch. At about 1,000 milligrams, one burrito covers close to 42 percent of the recommended daily limit of 2,300 milligrams.

Protein per calorie is decent. At 13 grams for 360 calories, the burrito gives you about 3.6 grams of protein per 100 calories. Fiber at that level is a real plus, because most fast food items give you very little. Beans are the reason.

On delivery apps the burrito starts at $3.40 plus, and the plus sign means the final price depends on the store and your options. Taco Bell's own online menu has shown it at $1.99 at a sample location, so the counter price can be far lower than the delivery price. Your store may differ from both numbers, because franchise owners set their own prices.

Delivery apps charge more for a few reasons. Many apply a markup to menu prices, and then add a service fee, a delivery fee, taxes and a tip on top of that. For a cheap item like this, the fees can add up to more than the burrito itself. If price matters, order for pickup in the Taco Bell app or at the counter.

Here is the cost per gram of protein, using the numbers above. At the $3.40 delivery price, the burrito costs about 26 cents per gram of protein. At $1.99, it drops to about 15 cents. The Burrito Supreme at $7.67 delivery costs more than twice as much while carrying beef, so the bean version is the clear bargain when you care about price per gram.

Taco Bell lists the item under Veggie Cravings and Burritos in this site's data, not under the value menu. It does not show up on the value list, but it is still among the lowest priced burritos, behind only the Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito at $2.43 plus.

It is vegetarian as served and can be made vegan if you order it correctly. As served, it contains cheddar cheese, which is dairy, so it is lacto-ovo vegetarian but not vegan. Taco Bell lists it among its American Vegetarian Association certified vegan options when it is ordered Fresco style.

Fresco style replaces mayo-based sauces, cheeses and reduced-fat sour cream with freshly prepared diced tomatoes. For this item, that removes the cheddar, which is the one clearly non-vegan part. The tortilla, the refried beans and the other ingredients are listed as vegan in third-party breakdowns, though you should confirm the red sauce on the official ingredient list if you are strict.

There is a real caveat. Taco Bell says that in some restaurants it uses the same frying oil for items that may or may not contain animal ingredients, and it cannot guarantee that cross contact with meat never happens. If that matters to you, ask the store how it prepares your order. A vegan diet, a religious restriction or an allergy might each need a different level of caution.

For the full vegan picture, see vegan options at Taco Bell.

How to Order a Taco Bell Fresco Bean Burrito

Follow these steps in the app, a delivery app or at the counter.

1. Choose the burrito from the Veggie Cravings or Burritos section.
2. Tap Customize and select Fresco style. In the app, this swaps the cheese and sauces for diced tomatoes.
3. Check the order summary. The cheddar should be gone and tomatoes should appear.
4. Use the order note in a delivery app to confirm "no cheese, Fresco style."
5. Confirm the updated calories before you pay.

The tortilla and beans stay the same. Because the cheese is gone, the burrito becomes lighter and less salty, and the tomatoes add a fresh note. If you order at a drive-thru, say Fresco style clearly and check the receipt, since a short request can get lost. Confirm the item at the window.

If you are weighing a bean burrito Taco Bell menu fans love against the heavier wraps, a side-by-side comparison helps. This table uses calories and delivery prices from this site's menu data.

Calories rise by 30 for the Supreme, by 130 for the 5-Layer and by 330 for the Grilled Cheese Burrito. The price rises faster than the calories do. The Supreme costs more than twice as much for 30 extra calories, which shows how much of that price is toppings and beef.

Compared with the Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito at 400 calories and $2.43 plus, this one is a little lighter and a little pricier. The rice makes the Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito feel bigger, while the beans, onions and red sauce here give a sharper, less creamy taste.

If you want more protein in total, the beef-based wraps carry more. The Beefy 5-Layer Burrito has about 18 grams of protein in third-party listings, against 13 for this one. Price flips the result, though. At delivery prices, this burrito gives you about 3.8 grams of protein per dollar, and the 5-Layer gives you about 3.0. So the beef version wins on total protein and loses on value.

The same pattern shows up with calories per dollar. At delivery from prices, this burrito returns about 106 calories per dollar, the 5-Layer about 80, the Supreme about 51 and the Grilled Cheese Burrito about 90. If your goal is the most food for the least money, it beats every pricier wrap except the value menu picks.

The best way to use the table is to start with your goal. For the lowest calories, pick this burrito. For a heavier meal with beef, pick the 5-Layer. For fresh toppings, pick the Supreme. For sheer size, pick the Grilled Cheese Burrito. Pair a light option with a side if you want a bigger meal.

A bean burrito Taco Bell kitchen builds can be adjusted in the app or with a note on a delivery app. The available options depend on the store, so look at what the app shows for your restaurant.

Common changes include holding the cheese, switching to Fresco style, adding or removing onions, and adding or changing sauces. Extra beans or added potatoes may be offered as paid add-ons at some stores, and the price change appears before you pay. Anything you add raises calories and, in most cases, the price.

A popular idea is to make it heartier by adding a beef or potato item. A "Beefy" version with seasoned beef added is a common fan request, but you should confirm that your store can add it. Another approach is to order the burrito plain and pair it with a side such as Nacho Fries or Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes.

Pairing is the easiest way to make a meal out of it. Using this site's delivery data, a few combinations look like this:

Add a drink and the totals rise again, so use the app to see the final number. The potatoes make the burrito feel like a plate of food, and the Crunchy Taco adds crunch to an otherwise soft meal.

If you want to go lighter, ask for no cheese or order Fresco style. If you want more flavor, add a sauce packet or hot sauce at the counter. You can see the choices on the sauces page.

It is a reasonably healthy choice by fast food standards, with a few caveats. Beans give it more fiber than almost anything else on the menu. At 360 calories it is light, and the fiber of roughly 9 to 11 grams and 13 grams of protein come from beans, which also bring iron and other minerals.

The weak spot is sodium. At about 1,000 milligrams, it covers around 42 percent of the daily limit of 2,300 milligrams in one burrito. Someone watching blood pressure or salt may want to skip the cheese, order Fresco style and pair it with water.

It suits people who want a cheap, filling and meat-free meal. It may not suit someone who needs a high-protein meal or has to limit sodium. For most people, one burrito is a sensible part of a day when the rest of the meals are lighter in salt.

Anyone who tracks nutrition closely should check Taco Bell's own guide, since the bean burrito Taco Bell figures on third-party sites can lag behind recipe changes.