Homemade Taco Bell Spicy Potato Taco Recipe

Discover the vegetarian taco that even meat lovers crave with this Taco Bell Spicy Potato Taco copycat recipe. Golden, crispy, seasoned potato bites are nestled in a warm, soft tortilla and then topped with a homemade smoky chipotle sauce that delivers the perfect kick of heat. Finished with cool, crunchy lettuce and melty cheddar cheese, this Mexican-inspired favorite comes together in just 20 minutes of prep and 10 minutes of cooking time. Skip the drive-thru and create these restaurant-quality vegetarian tacos right in your own kitchen for a fraction of the cost and all of the flavor.

Why This Recipe Works

The secret to recreating Taco Bell’s beloved Spicy Potato Tacos lies in the perfect balance of textures and flavors. The potatoes are seasoned with a carefully calibrated blend of spices before frying, creating crispy exteriors with fluffy centers that absorb flavor without becoming mushy. The homemade chipotle sauce combines creaminess with smoky heat, providing complexity that store-bought sauces lack. This recipe works because it manages the temperature contrast between warm potatoes, cool lettuce, and room temperature tortillas, preventing the common soggy taco problem. The careful layering of ingredients ensures each bite contains the perfect balance of spicy, creamy, crunchy, and savory elements.

Why you should try making this copycat spicy potato soft taco recipe

Making a copycat Taco Bell Soft Potato Taco at home means you get to control the ingredients and make it as healthy or indulgent as you want. You can choose to use organic potatoes, fresh lettuce, and low-fat sour cream to make a healthier version, or you can indulge in some extra cheese and spicy salsa for a more indulgent treat.

The best part? You can customize the level of spiciness according to your taste buds. Add more or less of the fiery chipotle sauce to your taco to make it as mild or as spicy as you like.

One Recipe, Countless Options

When something is this delicious, it is hard to get enough of it! But who wants to eat tacos all the time? The good news is that there are almost endless other ways that you can utilize the spicy potato filling and the Taco Bell spicy chipotle sauce to create something entirely new! Try one of the following suggestions or try experimenting on your own. Share your creations with us in the comments below.

• Substitute the fried potatoes and spicy chipotle sauce for homefries. They are perfect with any style of eggs and an ideal side dish for Huevos Ranchos. Try mixing them with black beans as a filling for a Southwest omelet.
• Turn the recipe into a spicy veggie patty. Slightly mash two cups of cold potato taco filling and one cup of black beans together. Stir in a half cup of canned diced tomatoes and a quarter cup of small, diced onions. Add enough Taco Bell spicy chipotle sauce to help bring it together. Cook over medium heat in a well-greased skillet to brown on both sides. Serve on a bun like a burger or over rice.
• Try dipping chicken tenders or french fries into the spicy chipotle sauce. Spread the sauce liberally on a roast beef or cold meatloaf sandwich to add a bit of smoky spice.

Ingredients

Here’s what you need to make spicy potato tacos and chipotle sauce:

For the Crispy Potatoes:

• Russet potatoes – Creates the perfect crispy exterior and fluffy interior for frying
• All-purpose flour – Forms the base of the seasoned coating
• Onion powder – Adds savory depth to the potato coating
• Garlic powder – Provides essential aromatic flavor
• Paprika – Contributes rich color and mild pepper flavor
• Cayenne pepper – Delivers a subtle heat to the potatoes
• Kosher salt – Enhances all the flavors in the potato coating
• Vegetable oil – Necessary for deep frying the potatoes

For the Chipotle Sauce:

• Sour cream – Creates a creamy base with tangy undertones
• Mayonnaise – Adds richness and helps emulsify the sauce
• Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce – Provides the signature smoky heat
• Table salt – Balances and enhances the sauce flavors
• Fresh lime juice – Brightens the sauce with citrus acidity

For Assembly:

• Flour tortillas – Serves as the soft, warm wrapper for the taco
• Shredded Cheddar cheese – Adds melty richness and sharpness
• Shredded iceberg lettuce – Provides essential cool crunch

How to Make Taco Bell Spicy Potato Taco

1. Wash, peel, and cut potatoes into bite-size cubes.
2. Rinse the cut potatoes and pat dry with a paper towel. Ideally, the potatoes should be cut into 1/2-inch by 1/4-inch pieces.
3. Heat oil in a deep fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Combine flour, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper in a medium-sized bowl.

5. Drop potato chunks into the flour, and toss to coat well.
6. Shake off excess seasoning before placing potatoes into the deep fryer.
7. Deep fry for 10 to 12 minutes or until the potatoes are golden brown.
8. Remove potatoes from the fryer, and drain on a wire rack.

9. Place all sauce ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
10. Warm tortillas, and then add two to three tablespoons of potatoes to each tortilla.
11. Drizzle on the chipotle sauce and top with shredded lettuce and cheese.

Tips For Serving a Taco Bell Spicy Potato Soft Taco

• Serve as part of a make-your-own taco fiesta. A Southwest or south-of-the-border theme is perfect for a party or potluck. Tacos and burritos are inexpensive and straightforward for your guests to assemble independently, giving you more time to mingle. Don’t forget the margaritas!
• Use corn tortillas instead of flour ones. Corn tortillas have so much more flavor than flour tortillas, but you must know how to heat them correctly to bring out the flavor. Forget using the microwave or oven; for the best results, heat in a dry pan on the stove over medium until both sides begin to color, but not too long before they become crispy.

Storage and Reheating

• Warm tortillas just before serving for the best texture
• Store potato filling and sauce separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days
• Reheat potatoes in a 350°F oven for 5-7 minutes to restore crispiness
• Avoid microwaving the potatoes as they will become soggy

Love Taco Bell? Try these copycat recipes

• Taco Bell Hard Shell Taco
• Taco Bell Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes
• Taco Bell Mexican Pizza
• Taco Bell Enchirito

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