Description
Loaded Potato Taco Bowl combines crispy oven-baked or air-fried potatoes with seasoned ground beef, creamy guacamole, fresh salsa, and melty Mexican cheese for a delicious, hearty meal that’s perfect for weeknight dinners or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Potatoes
- 700 g (1 lb 9 oz) potatoes, diced into 2 cm (¾ inch) cubes
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp sea salt flakes
- ¼ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
Beef Mixture
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ red onion, finely chopped
- 500 g (1 lb 2 oz) minced (ground) beef (regular or lean)
- 1 tbsp sweet paprika
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp sea salt flakes
- ¼ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
- 2 tbsp tomato paste (concentrated puree)
- ¼ cup (60 ml) water
Guacamole
- 2 avocados, mashed with a fork
- ¼ bunch coriander (cilantro), finely chopped
- ¼ red onion, finely diced
- Juice of 1 lime
- ½ tsp sea salt flakes
- ¼ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
Salsa
- 2 tomatoes, finely diced
- ¼ bunch coriander (cilantro), finely chopped
- ¼ red onion, finely diced
- Juice of 1 lime
- ½ tsp sea salt flakes
- ¼ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
Toppings and Serving
- 2 cups (250 g) grated Mexican cheese blend
- Lime wedges (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven or Air Fryer: For oven baking, preheat your oven to 220°C (425°F) or 200°C (400°F) if fan-forced, allowing it to heat for at least 20 minutes. Alternatively, preheat your air fryer to 200°C (400°F) for air frying potatoes.
- Prepare Potatoes: On a large baking tray lined with parchment paper, toss the diced potatoes with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, sweet paprika, garlic powder, sea salt flakes, and freshly cracked black pepper until evenly coated. Spread them out in a single layer to avoid overlapping.
- Bake Potatoes: Bake the potatoes in the preheated oven for 40–45 minutes until they turn crisp and golden, turning once halfway through and swapping trays if using two to ensure even cooking.
- Air Fry Potatoes: Alternatively, place the potatoes in a single layer in your air fryer basket and cook for 20–25 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until potatoes are golden and crispy on the edges.
- Cook the Beef: While the potatoes cook, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large heavy-based frying pan over medium-high heat. Add finely chopped red onion and sauté for 1–2 minutes until softened.
- Add Minced Beef: Incorporate the minced beef into the pan, cooking and breaking it up with a wooden spoon for 3–4 minutes until browned.
- Season the Beef: Stir in sweet paprika, ground cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, dried oregano, sea salt flakes, and freshly cracked black pepper. Cook for 30 seconds, stirring to blend the spices.
- Add Tomato Paste and Simmer: Mix in tomato paste, cooking for 1 minute to combine, then add water. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 3–4 minutes until most liquid evaporates, thickening the mixture.
- Make the Guacamole: In a medium bowl, combine mashed avocados, chopped coriander, diced red onion, lime juice, sea salt flakes, and freshly cracked black pepper. Stir and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Make the Salsa: In another bowl, stir together diced tomatoes, chopped coriander, diced red onion, lime juice, sea salt flakes, and black pepper. Refrigerate covered until serving.
- Assemble the Bowls: Divide the crispy potatoes among four bowls. Spoon over the seasoned beef mixture, then sprinkle with grated Mexican cheese. Add dollops of guacamole and salsa on top.
- Serve: Present the loaded potato taco bowls with lime wedges on the side for an optional fresh squeeze. Enjoy immediately while the potatoes are warm and cheese is melty.
Notes
- For extra melty cheese, sprinkle the grated cheese on top of the hot potatoes and beef immediately so it softens and melts naturally from the heat.
- If air frying, avoid overcrowding the basket to ensure potatoes cook evenly and become crispy.
- You can customize the meat seasoning blend to your preference by adjusting spice quantities.
- Use regular or lean minced beef depending on your preference for fat content.
- The recipe can be doubled easily by increasing ingredients proportionally and using multiple trays or batches in the air fryer.
