Spicy Potato Soft Tacos (Taco Bell Copycat)

Forget the drive through window, these spicy potato soft tacos are easy to make right in your own kitchen. They’re the ultimate comfort food in the palm of your hand.

Pillow-soft tortillas are filled with a crispy and spicy potato filling. A cool and smoky sweet chipotle sauce drizzled on top completes the flavor and makes these the ultimate Taco Bell copycat. But, we think our version is even better (seriously).

Why you’ll love this recipe

• Taco Bell copycat: If you love the flavor of the very popular spicy potato tacos at Taco Bell, you’ll love these even more. All of the smoky chipotle flavor is there, but the ingredients are much fresher in our version.
• They’re vegetarian: These tacos are perfect for meatless Monday or satisfying the vegetarian in your household. They’re so flavorful, you won’t even miss the meat.
• They’re versatile: You can top these tacos off with any of your favorite ingredients. You can also use the homemade chipotle sauce on other dishes, like homemade chili!
• Easy to make: These tacos could not be easier to make. We use frozen potatoes to keep the dish incredibly simple and accessible.

Ingredients needed

• Four tortillas (street taco size) – You’ll want to use soft flour tortillas in the smallest size available. Look for the label “street taco” if possible.
• Frozen diced potatoes – We like the simply potatoes brand, but any brand of frozen diced potatoes or hash browns will work. Be sure to look at the ingredients. If there are any additional spices added, it may change the flavor of these tacos. You can also experiment with different ingredients in place of the potatoes. Try tofu, cauliflower or chickpeas.
• Taco seasoning – One packet (1oz) of your favorite taco seasoning is all you need. You can make your own taco seasoning, but for simplicity, we like using Old El Paso brand.
• Mayonnaise – Miracle whip works best in this recipe. But, if you do not have Miracle Whip, you can add 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to regular mayonnaise.
• Sour cream – This will be mixed along with the mayonnaise for the irresistible sauce. We like using full-fat sour cream, but a light version tastes great too.
• Chipotle in adobo sauce – If you can’t find chipotle sauce on it’s own, you can purchase a can of whole chipotles in adobo sauce. There is about ¼ cup of sauce in a 7 oz. can.
• Onion powder, garlic powder, and smoked paprika – These are the spices that flavor the sauce. Mixed along with the other ingredients, you get the perfect balance of flavor.

How to make spicy potato soft tacos

Preheat the oven to 400°F and combine all the spicy chipotle sauce ingredients in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate. This will give a little extra time for the flavors to combine.

Pour the diced potatoes into a large bowl, sprinkle the packet of taco seasoning over the potatoes and give them a good toss to fully coat. Add 2 Tbsp. of vegetable oil and toss to coat.

Spread the potatoes onto a parchment or foil lined baking sheet and bake in the oven for 30 minutes.

While the potatoes are cooking, warm the tortillas by placing them in a frying pan over medium heat for about 1 minute per side. Store the warmed tortillas under a clean kitchen towel.

After the potatoes are cooked, allow them to cool for 5 minutes. Then, begin assembling your spicy potato soft tacos.

Suggested toppings for these tacos

If you’re looking to replicate the Taco Bell version of these tacos, you’ll want to top them with fresh shredded lettuce and a Mexican cheese blend. But, these tacos taste great with a variety of other toppings as well.

Suggested toppings:

• Colored tortilla strips
• Warmed black beans
• Vegetarian Refried beans
• Guacamole
• Avocado slices
• Pickled jalapeños
• Cheeses like cheddar jack or Cojata
• Sauteed bell peppers and onions

Recipe testing

• We used regular mayonnaise for the chipotle sauce and it really lacked the much needed “zing”. Miracle Whip brand salad dressing works really well, but adding a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to the regular mayonnaise also did the trick.
• We tried a cornstarch mixture along with the potatoes to help crisp them up, but found it wasn’t needed at all. In fact, it made them a bit messy. The frozen potatoes tossed in olive oil with the taco seasoning resulted in perfect, crispy potatoes.

Expert tips and FAQs

• If the frozen potatoes are sticking together, place them in a strainer and run them under cold water until they fall apart (before seasoning!).
• Make the sauce as far ahead as you can, this way the flavors can blend.
• Always warm your flour tortillas. This will make them much more delicious, with a soft crunch on the outside, and a pillowy texture inside.
• Do not substitute powdered chipotle pepper for the adobo sauce, you will not achieve the same flavor.
• If the sauce seems too thick, add milk or water by the teaspoon and stir until you get the desired consistency.

How do I store these tacos?: The potatoes can be stored for up to 4 days in the refrigerator.

How spicy are the potatoes? That’s one of the best parts of this recipe, it’s totally up to you! You can use spicy taco seasoning, or mild depending on your preference. If you like it extra-spicy, add a teaspoon of cayenne powder to the potatoes before cooking.

Can I refreeze the potatoes if I have leftovers? There will be lots of quality and flavor loss due to the loss of moisture from the initial cooking. We don’t recommend it.

Can I air fry these potatoes? Absolutely, preheat to 400°F, spray the basket with non-stick spray, pour a single layer of seasoned potatoes into the basket and cook for 20 minutes or until crispy.

Other recipes you’ll love

• Easy Chipotle Chicken Tacos
• Slow Cooker Barbacoa For Tacos
• Pineapple Jalapeño Salsa