Air Fryer Fiesta Potatoes: Quick, Crispy, And Delicious!

Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes are a popular side dish from the Taco Bell menu. They feature crispy, seasoned potatoes topped with nacho cheese and sour cream. This dish can be easily made at home in an air fryer, and is perfect for a quick lunch or as a side dish on taco night. The ingredients are simple and easy to prepare, and the air fryer ensures that the potatoes come out nice and crispy. You can also customise the dish with your choice of toppings and garnishes, such as scallions, jalapenos, or tomatoes.

Choosing the right potatoes

Types of Potatoes

Russet potatoes are the most recommended type of potato for making fiesta potatoes. Their high starch content contributes to a crispy texture when cooked. This variety is also known for its ability to absorb seasonings and flavours well. However, you can also experiment with other types of potatoes, such as Yukon Gold, fingerling, or yellow potatoes, to find your preferred taste and texture.

Amount of Potatoes

The amount of potatoes you need depends on the number of servings you want to make. Typically, a large potato or two medium-sized potatoes are enough for one serving. For a family-sized batch, you can use 4-5 medium/large potatoes.

Preparation

When preparing the potatoes, you can choose to peel them or leave the skin on. Peeling the potatoes is optional, but leaving the skin on can add extra crispiness to your dish. Cut the potatoes into uniform, bite-sized pieces, typically about 1-inch cubes. This ensures even cooking and a pleasant presentation.

Storage

If you want to prepare the potatoes ahead of time, you can store uncooked, seasoned potatoes in an airtight container or ziplock bag in the refrigerator for a few hours or even overnight. This will save you time when you're ready to cook them in your air fryer.

Cooking Method

Cooking the potatoes in an air fryer is a convenient and quick option. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they have enough space to cook evenly. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook them in batches. Cook for 10 minutes, then shake the basket and continue cooking for another 5-10 minutes until the potatoes are crispy and fork-tender.

Preparing the potatoes

Firstly, select the right type of potatoes. Russet potatoes are the most recommended variety for this dish due to their starchy texture and ability to crisp up nicely. However, you can also experiment with other types such as Yukon Gold, fingerling, or yellow potatoes.

Next, wash and dry the desired amount of potatoes. There is no need to peel the potatoes unless you prefer to, as leaving the peel on adds a bit of extra crispiness and some fibre and nutrients. Cut the potatoes into bite-sized pieces, ideally about 1-inch cubes. The key here is to ensure the pieces are evenly sized so they cook uniformly.

Now it's time to season the potatoes. Place the diced potatoes in a large mixing bowl and drizzle them with vegetable oil or canola oil. Toss the potatoes until they are evenly coated in oil. For a simpler cleanup, you can also place the potatoes in a large ziplock bag, add the oil, seal the bag, and shake well.

Once the potatoes are coated in oil, it's time to add the seasonings. You can use a store-bought taco seasoning mix or make your own blend. A simple blend could include a mixture of flour or cornstarch, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle the seasonings over the potatoes and toss or shake until they are evenly coated.

After the potatoes are seasoned, it's time to cook them in the air fryer. Place the potatoes into the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they are not overcrowded. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the potatoes in batches. Set the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and cook the potatoes for 10 minutes.

After 10 minutes, open the air fryer and shake the basket or stir the potatoes to redistribute them. This step is important to ensure even cooking and prevent the potatoes from sticking together. Return the basket to the air fryer and continue cooking for another 5 to 10 minutes, or until the potatoes are crispy and fork-tender.

Once the potatoes are crispy and cooked through, remove them from the air fryer and they are ready to be used in your Fiesta Potatoes dish! You can follow the rest of your chosen recipe for adding cheese, sour cream, and other toppings to create a delicious and crispy treat.

Making the seasoning

If you are using a store-bought packet of taco seasoning, simply tear it open and sprinkle it over your potatoes. You can also add some extra spices to the mix if you like, such as garlic powder or onion powder.

Once you have your seasoning ready, it's time to coat the potatoes. Place your diced potatoes into a large mixing bowl and drizzle them with vegetable oil. Toss the potatoes until they are all coated in the oil. Then, sprinkle your seasoning mixture over the potatoes and toss again until everything is coated evenly. Make sure you use enough seasoning to coat all the potatoes, and add more if needed.

You can also mix the potatoes with the oil and seasoning in a large ziplock bag for easier cleanup. Simply place the potatoes, oil, and seasoning into the bag, seal it, and shake until the potatoes are well coated.

And that's it! Your fiesta potatoes are now seasoned and ready to be cooked in your air fryer.

Air-frying the potatoes

Preparing the Potatoes:

Start by selecting the right type of potatoes. Russet potatoes are the most recommended variety due to their starchy texture and ability to crisp up nicely. However, you can also experiment with other types such as Yukon Gold, fingerling, or yellow potatoes. Peel the potatoes if desired, but leaving the peel on adds extra crispiness and is less work! Cut the potatoes into uniform, bite-sized pieces, about 1-inch cubes.

Coating the Potatoes:

In a large mixing bowl, toss the potato cubes with vegetable oil, ensuring they are evenly coated. For a simple option, you can use vegetable oil. Alternatively, you can use canola oil or any other light-flavored oil. Next, add your chosen seasonings to the bowl. You can use a store-bought taco seasoning packet, or make your own mix. A basic taco seasoning mix typically includes paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. You can also add flour or cornstarch to the mix for a crispier coating. Toss the potatoes until they are thoroughly coated with the seasoning mixture.

Air-Frying:

Preheat your air fryer to 375-400°F. Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Place the coated potatoes into the basket in a single layer, shaking the basket occasionally to redistribute them and ensure even cooking. The cooking time will vary depending on your air fryer and the desired level of crispiness, but generally, it will take around 10-20 minutes. For the best results, cook the potatoes until they are golden brown and crispy on the outside, and fork-tender on the inside.

Serving:

Once the potatoes are cooked to your desired level of doneness, remove them from the air fryer and place them into serving bowls. At this point, you can add your chosen toppings (see the section below for topping ideas). Alternatively, you can serve the potatoes plain and let your guests or family members add their desired toppings.

Topping Ideas:

The classic topping combination for fiesta potatoes includes nacho cheese sauce, sour cream, and green onions or scallions. For the nacho cheese sauce, warming it up before drizzling it over the potatoes is recommended. You can also add a variety of other toppings such as jalapeno slices, pickled onions, olives, guacamole, tomatoes, cilantro, or shredded cheese. Get creative and experiment with different toppings to find your favorite combination!

Adding toppings

Once your potatoes are cooked, it's time to add the toppings! The classic toppings for fiesta potatoes are nacho cheese sauce and sour cream. For the nacho cheese sauce, you can use a store-bought option like Rico's nacho cheese sauce, or make your own homemade sauce. For the sour cream, you can use regular or light sour cream, depending on your preference.

To warm up the nacho cheese sauce, simply heat it in the microwave for 30 seconds or until it's warmed through. You can also warm it on the stovetop or in the oven if you prefer.

In addition to the cheese and sour cream, you can add a variety of other toppings to your fiesta potatoes. Some popular options include:

• Scallions or green onions
• Jalapenos
• Tomatoes
• Guacamole
• Olives
• Pickled onions
• Cilantro
• Shredded cheese
• Salsa

Feel free to get creative and add your favourite toppings! You can also add some protein to turn this into a heartier meal, such as cooked, seasoned ground beef or pulled chicken or pork.

To assemble, place the cooked potatoes into individual bowls or ramekins. Drizzle the warm nacho cheese sauce over the potatoes, followed by a dollop of sour cream. Then, add your desired toppings. Serve and enjoy!

Frequently asked questions