NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – Chipotle Mexican Grill is returning chorizo to its menu as a limited-time offering.

The spicy sausage is prepared using paprika, toasted cumin and chipotle peppers, then seared on a grill. The chorizo is sourced from “responsibly raised” pork and chicken.

“Chorizo had a big following in its heyday, and a lot of our customers were disappointed when it was taken off the menu,” said Chris Brandt, chief marketing officer at Chipotle. “As part of our overall commitment to menu innovation and delivering the craveable food our customers love, we’re spicing things up and bringing chorizo back to our menu.”

The fast-casual chain launched chorizo nationwide in 2016 after testing the item in Kansas City, Missouri, restaurants in 2015. The nationwide rollout initially was delayed due to a series of food safety problems that troubled the company and forced executives to rethink food safety interventions. Among other food safety practices, Chipotle adopted high pressure processing (HPP) to treat its chorizo sausage. Packages of chorizo are shipped to an HPP tolling facility as a final intervention before shipping.

The company re-introduced chorizo as a test in Columbus, Ohio, New York City, Sacramento, California, and San Diego; in addition to one restaurant in Denver and Dulles International Airport in Washington.