Easy Recipe For Ground Beef Potato Tacos

Inside: Our family recipe for authentic hard shell fried tacos filled with ground beef and shredded potato, known as “papas”. Sponsored post by Mirum Shopper. All opinions are my own.

Before I knew street tacos existed, I grew up eating ground beef potato tacos. When I think of “tacos,” these come to mind first!

When someone special came to the house, we made these ground beef potato tacos to honor that guest. These tacos pack tons of flavor and are a bit labor-intensive to make. Everyone in my family agrees they're worth the work!

My family does not have soft tacos, pre-formed shells, or pre-cooked beef—only genuine, authentic ground beef potato tacos like these.

Depending on where you grew up, you might have a different picture of tacos than I do. I bet once you try these hard-shell homemade tacos, you'll agree they're the best! 😉

If you're looking for a soft taco recipe, try these:

• Chile Verde Soft Tacos
• Pork Street Tacos
• Mini Chicken Street Tacos

Why Use Potatoes in Taco Recipes?

I know, right? It might seem weird to have potatoes in tacos but hear me out.

Shredded potatoes give these tacos a unique taste. We can all agree that potatoes taste amazing! They're one of the foods I miss most since starting a low-carb eating plan. Luckily for you, if you are here, you are not eating low-carb, and I am going to admit, I am kind of jealous you are eating these tacos right now.

Potatoes in tacos have roots in our Mexican culture and in the reality of dealing with poverty. Growing up, my grandma taught us that shredded potatoes can make a pound of ground beef stretch to make at least 20 tacos versus 8-10 tacos using one pound of beef alone.

When your family is struggling, you have to do what you can to feed everyone on a budget. Shredded potatoes added to ground beef for tacos make the meat go further, feeding more people. The fact that potatoes in tacos taste great is a bonus.

Shredded Potatoes Make Tacos Taste Better

Though the shredded potatoes in this recipe have roots in financial struggle, the taste of ground beef and potatoes in these tacos is really amazing. And isn't that how it is in most cultures? People take easy, cheap food and make it taste amazing through cooking, spices, and ingenuity.

What makes tacos “authentic”? Read this …

Fun Fact: Who Invented Hard Shell Tacos?

Are you wondering who invented American hard-shell tacos? According to Atlas Obscura, they were invented in the 1940s, but an early cookbook published in 1914 references a taco-like recipe, possibly an empanada.

The origins of Mexican tacos date back to the 1800s, based in mining towns where the workers called the tortillas wrapped around meat and fillings “taco”, after the paper used to wrap around charges used in mining.

Updating Traditional Ground Beef Potato Tacos Recipe for Today

Since my grandma passed this recipe down to my dad, who then passed it down to me, we've made a few changes. Here's what we changed:

We add Knorr Caldo de Res Bouillon (Beef flavor Bouillon) to the meat for extra flavor.

We also use a heartier, more nutrient-rich potato variety, Yukon Gold, instead of Russet potatoes, like my grandma used for her taco recipe.

Shredding Potato for Tacos

We shred the potato in larger pieces so you can see and taste it in the meat.

My grandma shredded the potato as small as possible because the point was NOT to taste it. My dad long associated the taste of the potatoes in the tacos with being poor. His family believed that tasting the potatoes was a reminder of being poor.

Now that the family is prospering, even my dad has recently agreed that the potato makes the tacos so good.

If you want to taste the potato in the tacos, use a large or wide-hole grater.

If you do not want to taste the potato in the meat, use a fine food grater with small holes.

Add Extra Flavor to Tacos With Bouillon

We use bouillon to add extra flavor to the meat. Bouillon is available in cubes or powder form.

If you get the bouillon cubes, you'll need to grind them into a powder to mix into the meat. You can use a mortar and pestle to do this, or you can wrap the bouillon in a paper towel and smash it with a meat tenderizing hammer or a cutting board.

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I realized I never actually taught my ex-husband how to make these ground beef potato tacos so that's why you see him making them in the photos. Our daughter knows how to make these ground beef potato tacos and while she is visiting family in North Carolina this month, she is making these tacos on request for the family. Everyone loves them!

Follow These Step-By-Step Directions to Make This Ground Beef Potato Tacos Recipe:

Mix the meat with the shredded potatoes, spices, and bouillon until blended.

Press about 2 TBSP of meat to one side of the corn tortilla. Form it to fit the tortilla, about 1/2″ from the edge of the tortilla. It should look like half a circle.

Stack the tortilla with meat on a plate, alternating directions.

Heat the oil in a frying pan on medium-high heat.

How to Fry Hard Shell Tacos:

Using tongs, gently hold the tortilla into the oil while it softens. Once the center of the tortilla (bottom of taco) is soft, fold it and lay the taco on it's side in the oil. Allow the taco to cook until the tortilla looks crispy like a tortilla chip. Flip and cook the other side.

Line a bread pan with paper towels. Remove the taco from the oil, tilting it sideways in the bread pan so the oil runs out of the taco down into the paper towels. Or line a cookie sheet with paper towels and put a cookie rack on top to set the tacos on to drain.

Cook 3 to 4 tacos at a time until they are all cooked.

Toppings for Hard Shell Tacos:

Shred or thinly slice the iceberg lettuce. Add tomatoes and onion to a bowl with the lettuce. Add mayonnaise and mix well. Open a taco. Spoon in 2 TBSP of the lettuce mixture. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top. Add hot sauce or avocado if desired.

Best Sides for Hard Shell Tacos

We love to serve these with avocado slices, Mexican Rice (Arroz Rojo), and cowboy beans. We set them up buffet style, where everyone puts the tacos together the way they like best; more lettuce for my mom, more cheese for my dad, and so on.

What’s Your Favorite Way to Eat Tacos?

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