Description
Hearty taco potatoes bring Mexican-inspired comfort to your dinner table with a spicy, cheesy twist. Crispy potato wedges loaded with seasoned ground beef, melted cheese, and zesty toppings create a satisfying meal you’ll crave.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) lean ground beef
- 4 to 6 medium russet potatoes
- 1 packet (28 grams) taco seasoning
Toppings:
- Shredded lettuce
- Cheddar cheese
- Sour cream
- Salsa
- Guacamole
Garnish:
- Green onion
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Thoroughly scrub potatoes, pierce multiple times with a fork, and individually wrap in aluminum foil for even heat distribution.
- Bake potatoes for approximately 60 minutes until completely tender when pierced with a knife, ensuring soft interior texture.
- Meanwhile, heat a skillet over medium-high temperature and cook ground beef, continuously breaking it into small crumbles until no pink remains.
- Drain excess fat from the beef using a colander, then return meat to the skillet.
- Sprinkle taco seasoning over beef, add recommended water, and stir thoroughly. Simmer the mixture for 10 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and sauce to thicken.
- Remove potatoes from oven, let rest for 3-5 minutes to cool slightly. Carefully unwrap foil and slice each potato lengthwise down the center.
- Gently squeeze potato sides to create an opening, then generously fill with seasoned beef mixture.
- Layer toppings systematically: first shredded cheese, then crisp lettuce, dollop of sour cream, fresh salsa, and creamy guacamole.
- Finish by sprinkling finely chopped green onions across the loaded potatoes for a vibrant garnish.
- Serve immediately while potatoes remain warm and toppings are fresh.
Notes
- Choose russet potatoes with uniform size for even cooking and consistent texture.
- Prick potatoes thoroughly to prevent potential steam buildup and potential potato explosions during baking.
- Pat ground beef dry before cooking to achieve better browning and develop deeper flavor profiles.
- Drain excess fat completely to reduce unnecessary greasiness and create a cleaner-tasting beef mixture.
- Consider using lean ground beef or ground turkey for healthier protein alternatives.
- Experiment with homemade taco seasoning to control sodium levels and customize flavor intensity.
- Allow potatoes to cool slightly before cutting to prevent burning your hands during preparation.
- Load toppings generously but strategically to maintain potato structural integrity.
- Prepare toppings in advance for quick assembly and seamless serving experience.
- Store leftover taco potatoes in airtight containers and reheat in oven to maintain crispy potato skin.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg