Craving comfort food with a fun twist? These Taco Potatoes are your answer! Imagine crispy, seasoned potatoes loaded with savory taco meat and your favorite toppings. This dish transforms classic taco night into an exciting, hearty meal that everyone will adore. It’s incredibly easy to make, comes together in just about 30 minutes, and is perfect for busy weeknights. Get ready to discover a new family favorite that brings joy and simplicity to your kitchen.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love These Taco Potatoes
These Taco Potatoes are destined to become a regular in your meal rotation for so many reasons.
- Quick and Easy Weeknight Dinner: You can have a delicious, homemade meal on the table in under 30 minutes.
- Highly Customizable: Everyone can build their perfect plate with their favorite taco toppings.
- Satisfying Comfort Food: Hearty potatoes and flavorful meat make for a truly comforting and filling meal.
- Fun Alternative to Traditional Tacos: Shake up your routine with this creative and delicious twist on a classic.
- Crispy Air-Fried Potato Base: The air fryer ensures perfectly golden and tender potatoes every time.
Ingredients
Gather these simple ingredients to create your amazing Taco Potatoes. Freshness makes all the difference!
- 2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and small diced
- 3-4 Tablespoons oil (olive oil or vegetable oil works great)
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 pound ground beef (lean ground beef is recommended) For those prioritizing a balanced diet, it’s worth noting the heart-healthy benefits of lean beef.
- 1 packet taco seasoning (your preferred brand)
- Water (amount called for on the back of the taco seasoning packet)
- 8 ounce bag Mexican shredded cheese
- Optional toppings: pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream, fresh cilantro, diced onions, jalapeños
Notes & Substitutions
You have many options to customize these Taco Potatoes to your family’s taste.
- Potato types: Russet potatoes offer a classic crispy texture. Feel free to use red potatoes for a slightly creamier interior or even sweet potatoes for a touch of sweetness and vibrant color.
- Meat alternatives: Ground turkey or ground chicken are excellent leaner alternatives to ground beef. For a vegetarian option, seasoned black beans or crumbled plant-based meat substitutes work wonderfully.
- Seasoning: If you don’t have a taco seasoning packet, create your own blend. Try a mix of chili powder, paprika, cumin, and a pinch of cayenne for heat. Cajun seasoning also adds a fantastic flavor.
- Cheese: While Mexican shredded cheese is classic, cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a pepper jack blend are all delicious choices.
- Oil: Olive oil adds a nice flavor, but any neutral-flavored oil like vegetable or canola oil will work well for air frying the potatoes.
Equipment
You don’t need many special tools to make these delicious Taco Potatoes.
- Air fryer (essential for crispy potatoes)
- Large skillet (for browning the ground beef)
- Mixing bowls (for seasoning the potatoes)
- Spatula (for cooking and stirring)
Instructions
Making these Taco Potatoes is straightforward and fun! Follow these steps for a perfect meal.
Prepare Potatoes
Begin by getting your potatoes ready for cooking. First, peel and dice 2 pounds of russet potatoes into small, even pieces. Aim for ½-inch cubes so they cook uniformly and crisp up nicely. Next, transfer the diced potatoes to a large mixing bowl. Drizzle 3-4 tablespoons of oil over the potatoes, ensuring every piece gets lightly coated. Then, sprinkle 1 ½ teaspoons of salt, ½ teaspoon of pepper, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon of onion powder over the oiled potatoes. Mix thoroughly with your hands or a spatula until all potato pieces are evenly seasoned. This ensures a flavorful bite in every single piece of your delicious Taco Potatoes.
Air Fry Potatoes
Now, it’s time to get those potatoes perfectly crispy. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Arrange the seasoned potatoes in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Be careful not to overcrowd the basket, as this can steam the potatoes instead of crisping them. If necessary, cook the potatoes in batches to achieve the best texture. Cook the potatoes for 18-20 minutes, shaking the basket 2-3 times during cooking. This ensures even browning and a consistent crispy texture. You want the potatoes to be golden brown on the outside and wonderfully tender inside before removing them from the air fryer.
Cook Taco Meat
While the potatoes are air frying, you can cook the flavorful taco meat. Place 1 pound of ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the ground beef, using your spatula to break it into small crumbles as it cooks. Once the meat is fully cooked through and no longer pink, drain any excess grease thoroughly. Draining off excess grease after cooking is a simple step that contributes to reducing the fat and calorie content of ground beef.
This step prevents your Taco Potatoes from becoming oily. Next, add 1 packet of taco seasoning to the browned beef, along with the amount of water specified on the back of your seasoning packet. Stir everything together well, then bring the mixture to a simmer. Cook according to the packet directions, usually until the liquid is absorbed and the meat is richly flavored. Remove the skillet from the heat once done.
Assemble Taco Potatoes
Finally, it’s time to bring everything together for your amazing Taco Potatoes. Arrange the crispy, air-fried potatoes on a serving dish or individual plates. Next, generously top the potatoes with the seasoned ground beef. Sprinkle a good amount of Mexican shredded cheese over the hot beef and potatoes. The residual heat will gently melt the cheese, making it wonderfully gooey. Immediately add any desired optional taco toppings, such as fresh pico de gallo, creamy guacamole, and a dollop of sour cream. Serve your delicious Taco Potatoes warm and enjoy!
Pro Tips for Perfect Taco Potatoes
Achieve the best Taco Potatoes every time with these helpful tips.
- Crispy Potatoes: Never overcrowd your air fryer basket. Cook the potatoes in batches if needed for optimal crispiness.
- Even Seasoning: Spend a moment tossing the diced potatoes thoroughly with oil and seasonings. This ensures consistent flavor in every bite.
- Prevent Soggy Meat: Always drain excess grease from the ground beef completely. This keeps your taco potatoes from being greasy.
- Spice Level: Adjust the amount of taco seasoning or add a pinch of cayenne pepper if you prefer a spicier dish.
- Oven Method: No air fryer? Roast your seasoned potatoes on a baking sheet at 400°F (200°C) for 35-40 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Fresh Toppings: Freshly made pico de gallo and creamy guacamole elevate the flavor of these taco potatoes immensely.
Serving Suggestions, Storage, & Variations
These Taco Potatoes are incredibly versatile, making them perfect for any occasion.
- Serving: Serve your Taco Potatoes warm as a satisfying main dish. For a fun family meal, set up a topping bar with a variety of options like salsa, diced onions, black olives, corn, and fresh cilantro. This lets everyone customize their own plate.
- Storage: Store any leftover cooked potatoes and seasoned ground beef separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Store wet toppings like sour cream or pico de gallo separately.
- Freezing: You can freeze the cooked, seasoned ground beef and cooked potatoes for up to 3 months. Ensure they are completely cooled before freezing in an airtight, freezer-safe container. Avoid freezing with wet toppings.
- Reheating: For the best texture, reheat the potatoes in the air fryer or oven until crispy again. Warm the ground beef gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.
- Variations: Try making loaded baked potatoes by baking whole potatoes until tender, then splitting them and adding the taco meat and toppings. Use different proteins like shredded chicken or seasoned black beans for variety.
Nutrition Information
Here is the estimated nutrition information for one serving of Taco Potatoes.
| Nutrient | Value |
|---|---|
| Calories | 768 kcal |
| Carbohydrate Content | 43 g |
| Protein Content | 38 g |
| Fat Content | 50 g |
| Sodium Content | 1325 mg |
| Fiber Content | 3 g |
| Sugar Content | 2 g |
| Serving Size | 1 serving |
Disclaimer: Nutritional values are estimates and may vary based on specific ingredients and portion sizes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Got questions about making these delicious Taco Potatoes? I’ve got answers!
- What other seasonings can I use for the potatoes? You can experiment with Cajun seasoning, a Mrs. Dash garlic and herb blend, or individual spices like chili powder, paprika, and cumin for your potatoes.
- Can I make the potatoes in the oven instead? Absolutely! Roast the seasoned potatoes on a baking sheet at 400°F (200°C) for 20 minutes, stir them, then roast for another 15 minutes or until golden and tender.
- Can I use different potatoes? Yes, red potatoes offer a slightly creamier texture, and sweet potatoes provide a unique sweet and savory twist to the taco potatoes.
- Can I make baked potatoes instead? Definitely! Follow your favorite baked potato recipe until the potatoes are tender, then simply split them open and load them with the taco meat and desired toppings.
- What to do with leftover Taco Potatoes? Store leftovers in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. For longer storage, freeze the cooked potatoes and meat separately for up to 3 months without any wet toppings.
Conclusion
These Taco Potatoes truly offer the best of both worlds: the comforting heartiness of potatoes and the irresistible flavors of tacos. This easy recipe makes weeknight dinners enjoyable and stress-free, perfect for busy schedules. With minimal prep and quick cooking, you can confidently create a delicious meal that the whole family will love. So go ahead, give this recipe a try and let your creativity shine with all your favorite toppings! Enjoy your new go-to family meal.
Taco Potatoes
Equipment
- air fryer
- Large Bowl
- Skillet
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 pounds russet potatoes peeled and small diced
- 3-4 Tablespoons oil
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- water amount called for on the back of the taco seasoning packet
- 8 ounce bag Mexican shredded cheese
Optional Toppings
- pico de gallo
- guacamole
- sour cream
Instructions
Preparation
- Coat diced russet potatoes with oil.
- Season potatoes with salt, pepper, garlic, and onion powder, mixing well to coat.
- Air fry potatoes at 400°F for 18-20 minutes, shaking the basket occasionally.
- Brown and drain ground beef, then add taco seasoning and water as per packet instructions; cook and remove from heat.
- Serve by layering cooked potatoes, seasoned ground beef, Mexican shredded cheese, and optional toppings like pico de gallo, guacamole, or sour cream.