SUPER Easy Spicy Potato Soft Tacos
These spicy potato soft tacos are going to be your new FAVE. They take 2 minutes to prep, 20 minutes to cook in the air fryer and they’re giving alllll the Taco Bell vibes. It’s an easy copycat recipe that transforms a fast food favorite into a quick, simple dinner any night of the week. The whole family will love this homemade version!
So I’ve said this before but I’m really not a fast food person. It just doesn’t appeal to me much. Not in a health snob way (I truly do believe all foods can fit in a healthy lifestyle) but more in a food snob type of way. Lol not that that’s better it’s just the truth.
But about once a year, usually at the tail end of a trip when our snack stash is low and we have a really long car ride ahead, my husband convinces me to get Taco Bell.
And my order you ask? A cheesy bean and rice burrito and a spicy potato soft taco. A few weekends ago we were on our way home from Sunriver and we hit up Taco Bell and I ate the Spicy Potato soft taco. Then this week while I was meal planning I wanted it again and thought how EASY it would be to make it at home. With the shortcut of tater tots!? C’MON.
You wouldn’t think a taco made up of potato and iceberg lettuce would be so delicious but oh my gosh, it’s simple, tasty and keeps you coming back for bite after bite.
So here’s what we’ve got going on:
- Warmed soft flour tortillas
- Freshly grated cheddar cheese
- Crunchy shredded iceberg lettuce
- Crispy browned tater tots
- Creamy spicy chipotle sauce
Why you’ll love this recipe:
-it’s a super satisfying vegetarian main dish and perfect for a Meatless Monday meal or to share with your vegetarian friends!
-it covers all the flavors and textures- spicy, cheesy, savory + crunchy, creamy, crispy and chewy!
-it’s inexpensive. This recipe in total costs about $10 for 3-4 very generous 2-3 taco portions!
Here’s how to make them:
Air fry your tater tots. Place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket and air fry for 20-22 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until golden brown and crispy. Alternatively, you can just bake them in the oven per the package instructions!
Shred the lettuce. Grate the cheese. Warm the tortillas.
Combine the mayo, sour cream, juice of half a lime and about 1 tablespoon adobo sauce + 1 chopped chipotle pepper from a can of chipotles in adobo. Whisk together until smooth. I personally think this creamy sauce is the star of the show!
Pro tip: store the rest of your chipotle peppers in a small glass airtight container in the freezer and pull it out whenever you need to use them for a recipe!
Assemble: layer the tortillas with cheese, lettuce, 6-7 tater tots and a generous drizzle of creamy chipotle sauce. That’s IT! I’m embarrassed to call this a recipe, it’s so easy.
What to serve with these Spicy Potato Soft Tacos:
On a hectic weeknight, I make these and call them dinner! But a side salad and chips and salsa would be fabulous additions to round out the meal.
You could also add a protein choice like carnitas pork or seasoned fish.
FAQ
Honestly, whichever you like! I’m particularly fond of these Alexia crispy seasoned potato puffs.
Absolutely, just bake the tator tots on a lined parchment tray for however long the package specifies!
To make these vegan use a vegan cheddar alternative and instead of the creamy chipotle sauce, make these easy vegan “queso”
You can use Russet potatoes or gold potatoes. Chop into 1/2 inch cubes, drizzle with olive oil and your favorite seasonings and air fry for 15-20 minutes at 400 degrees, shaking the basket halfway through.
Ensure that the brand of tator tots you are using is gluten-free and use corn tortillas or gluten-free flour tortillas.
I highly recommend these crispy seasoned potato puffs!
If you like this recipe you may like these other copycat recipes:
OR check out these other Mexican-inspired main dishes:
Blackened mahi mahi fish tacos
Chipotle salmon with mango pico de gallo
Veggie-loaded enchilada skillet
Watch how to make Spicy Potato Soft Tacos:
SUPER Easy Spicy Potato Soft Tacos
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Total Time: 24 minutes
- Yield: 10 tacos 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: Mexican
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These flavorful potato tacos are giving Taco Bell but without the drive-thru. Simple, vegetarian and less than 5 minutes of prep- weeknight dinner win at its finest!
Ingredients
Creamy Chipotle Sauce:
- 1/4 cup mayo
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- Juice of 1/2 lime
- 1 tablespoon adobo sauce + 1 chipotle pepper, chopped, from a can of chipotles in adobo
Tacos:
- 14 oz crispy seasoned potato puffs (or sub regular tator tots)
- 3oz sharp or mild cheddar, grated
- 1/2 head iceberg lettuce, thinly sliced/shredded
- 10 street taco-sized tortillas
Instructions
Spicy sauce: Combine the mayo, sour cream, juice of half a lime and about 1 tablespoon adobo sauce + 1 chopped chipotle pepper from a can of chipotles in adobo. Whisk together until smooth.
Tater tots: Place the tots in a single layer in the air fryer basket and air fry for 20-22 minutes at 400 degrees F, shaking the basket halfway through, until golden brown and crispy. Alternatively, you can just bake them in the oven on a baking sheet per the package instructions!
Other prep: Shred the lettuce. Grate the cheese. Warm the tortillas. I like to do this over the flame of my gas stovetop but you can also wrap them in foil and warm in the oven or wrap them in a damp paper towel and microwave them for a minute or so.
Assembly: layer the tortillas with cheese (I like to let the cheese melt into the tortilla), lettuce, 6-7 tater tots and a generous drizzle of creamy chipotle sauce.
Notes
To lighten up the sauce you can use plain Greek yogurt in place of the sour cream.
Nutrition information is just an approximation and may vary slightly based on brands used.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 taco
- Calories: 224
- Sugar: 1.3 g
- Sodium: 526.5 mg
- Fat: 13.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 20.6 g
- Protein: 5.5 g
- Cholesterol: 12.6 mg
