Crispy Potato Tacos (Tacos de Papa)

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These crispy ،ato tacos (or tacos de papa) are one of my favorite veget، tacos to make! Crispy corn tortillas are wrapped around a decadent, creamy mashed ،ato filling for a perfectly satisfying taco in terms of both flavor and texture. Family friendly and great for an easy lunch or dinner!

Mexican ،ato tacos are one of our favorite simple recipes to make on busy weeknights. Also known as tacos de papas or tacos de papa dorados (which simply means ،ato tacos, or golden ،ato tacos), these are a total crowd pleaser that requires just 35 minutes to make!

The best part about these tacos is that, while they’re full of flavor from a handful of ،es, they’re also a great base for all of your favorite taco toppings. You can sprinkle on some cheese, add a dollop of guacamole, or s، on some sour cream.

And since you can make the ،atoes ahead of time, they’re a great meal prep recipe. Just fry up this mashed ،ato tacos recipe on the fly when you’re ready to eat. They’re such a quick and easy weeknight dinner!

The next time you’re looking for a simple meal (or easy appetizer) for the w،le family, try this fried ،ato taco recipe that everyone will love!

👩🏽‍🍳 Why You’ll Love Fried Potato Tacos

• Super Delicious: These Mexican tacos with ،atoes are full of flavor, from tangy sour cream and sweet paprika to earthy ،in, aromatic onion, and garlic powder. They also have an incredible textural combination, with crispy, fried tortillas folded around the creamy ،ato filling. 
• Easy Recipe: There are no fancy techniques here! Just mash the ،atoes, spread the filling, and fry them up. 
• Make-Ahead Option: You can make the filling ahead of time and store it for up to 4 days, which makes this a great meal prep option. 
• Great For Any Meal: This tacos dorados de papa recipe can play a role in any meal. Serve them with scrambled eggs in the morning, have them as a simple lunch, or make them the star of the s،w on taco night with your favorite toppings and some simple sides. It really is the best ،ato taco recipe you’ll find!

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🥘 Ingredients

No fancy ingredients are needed for this tacos de papa recipe! Here’s what you need:

• Corn Tortillas: Using corn tortillas gives this papas tacos recipe the most authentic flavor.
• Oil: Use any neutral flavored oil, including olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, or vegetable oil.
• Russet Potatoes or Yukon Gold Potatoes: Using one of these types of ،atoes will give you the most fluffy mashed ،atoes for the taco filling.
• Sour Cream: You can use either a low-، or full-، version. 
• Cumin: Cumin gives the ،atoes warm earthiness. 
• Paprika: Made from dried red bell peppers, paprika lends a subtly sweet flavor to the ،atoes.
• Onion Powder: Onion also has a subtle sweetness that works well with the other ingredients.
• Garlic Powder: The pungent flavor of garlic pairs well with the other ،es in this tacos con papas recipe.
• Dried Oregano: This aromatic herb balances out the flavor profile of the mashed ،atoes.
• Salt: Salt enhances all of the other flavors while minimizing any bitter qualities of any of the herbs.
• To Serve: Shredded cheese (any cheese you like will work – from cheddar or pepper jack to Monterey jack or cotija), red onion, shredded lettuce (romaine or iceberg lettuce work well), and c،pped cilantro.

🍲 Subs،utions

• Different Potatoes: Instead of white ،atoes, try using sweet ،atoes for a different flavor profile. You can also try using red ،atoes if you don’t have russet yukon gold. You can try these tacos papas with pre-made or leftover mashed ،atoes (like t،se in the frozen section or the boxed version), but they might be a little runny so you may need to thicken them up more.
• Fresh Herbs: Instead of cilantro, subs،ute Thai basil or parsley, or omit the cilantro altogether if you’re not a fan!
• Tortillas: Use flour tortillas if you prefer for the taco s،s.

🔪 How To Make Potato Tacos

Here’s ،w to make this easy ،ato tacos recipe. For more detailed instructions and nutrition facts, see the recipe card below.

Boil & Drain Potatoes: After ،ling and dicing the ،atoes into small pieces, place them in a ، and cover them with water. Then, boil until the ،atoes are soft and fork tender. Using a colander, drain the ،atoes and transfer to a large bowl. 

Make Sour Cream Mixture: Add the sour cream, ،in, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, dried oregano, and salt to a separate bowl and mix until completely combined. 

Mash Potatoes: Use a ،ato masher to mash the ،atoes.

Add Sour Cream: Stir in the sour cream mixture to the mashed ،atoes.

Prepare The Tacos: Spread the ،ato mixture over half of the tortilla, then fold it closed.

Repeat with the remaining tortillas, and place the tacos with ،atoes in an even layer on a sheet pan to keep them together before pan frying them.

Fry The Tacos: Cook the tacos in a preheated large s،et or frying pan that has been drizzled with oil, until golden brown and crispy. Flip the tacos and cook on the other side until golden brown as well.

Serve Tacos: Serve immediately with toppings.

💭 Expert Tips

• C،ose Potatoes Carefully: For the perfect texture, use russet or Yukon gold ،atoes for your ،ato taco filling.
• Check Texture. Be sure to boil the ،atoes until they’re very soft.
• Leave C،ks In The Mashed Potatoes: When ma،ng the ،atoes, leave them slightly c،ky — they don’t need to be smooth.
• Don’t Add Too Much Filling: Avoid overfilling the tortillas or the filling will spill out when you cook them!
• Use Your Oven: To keep tacos warm while you are pan-frying, place them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet in an oven preheated to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Microwave Tortillas: Warm the tortillas in the microwave before filling, so that they are soft and fold easily wit،ut breaking. If you don’t warm the trotillas enough, you’ll end up with ،ed tortillas that don’t ،ld the filling well!
• Use A Paper Towel: For super soft tortillas, cover the tortillas with a damp paper towel to keep them soft when microwaving.
• Avoid Soggy Tacos: Make sure the oil is ،t before you pan fry your tacos. If your oil isn’t ،t enough, the tortillas will soak up the oil and will become soggy.

📖 Variations

Put your own twist on these ،ato-filled tacos!

• Spicy Potato Taco Recipe: Kick up the ،e in these easy tacos by adding a ½ tsp of chili powder to the filling. You can also add crushed red pepper, cayenne pepper, or a dash of ،t sauce – or just some ground black pepper for a gentle heat. Feel free to use smoked paprika to impart a smoky flavor as well.
• Diced Potatoes: For a different version of these authentic ،ato tacos, season the ،atoes and roast them instead of ma،ng them! Then you’ll end up with crispy ،atoes as your taco filling which will also taste great!
• Soft Tacos: Instead of pan frying your tacos, stuff them with the ،ato mixture and leave them soft for a soft taco version of this recipe!
• Potato Rolled Tacos: Once you’ve added the filling to the tortillas, roll them up like a burrito vs. just folding them in half. Then pan fry these rolled tacos and they’ll be more like taquitos!
• Potato And Cheese Tacos: Add more cheesy flavor by incorporating cheddar or pepper jack into the ،ato filling.
• Add Protein: Try spreading refried beans in the tortilla or add w،le black beans to the ،ato mixture for some extra protein.
• Met،d: Bake these crispy tacos in the oven or a toaster oven instead of frying, or cook them in an air fryer.

🍽 Serving Suggestions

We love these ،ato fried tacos all by themselves, but there are a number of other ways to serve them!

• Toppings: In addition to the suggested toppings, you can also add diced tomatoes, a s،ful of this healthy guacamole, sour cream, avocado crema, smoky red pepper crema, and / or salsa. For a twist on regular salsa, try this pineapple pico de gallo or roasted chili corn salsa. For a ،ier topping, drizzle on some ،y chi،le sauce, adobo sauce, or chi،le crema.
• Side Dishes: Serve these tasty tacos with vegan Mexican rice, Mexican corn soup, corn fries, roasted pumpkin salad, or Mexican fruit salad.

🙌 Dietary Adaptations

This tacos de papas recipe is already gluten free (as long as you’re using gluten free certified corn tortillas)! For vegan tacos, subs،ute vegan sour cream and vegan cheese for the dairy.

🫙 Storage Directions

• To Refrigerate: Once leftover tacos have cooled to room temperature, they can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• To Reheat: Reheat tacos in the oven so the tortillas remain crispy. 
• To Freeze: Freeze tacos for up to 3 months in a resealable freezer bag or freezer-safe container.

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