Description
Hearty Taco Stuffed Baked Potatoes bring Mexican-inspired comfort to classic potato dishes. Crispy potato skins loaded with seasoned ground beef, melted cheese, and zesty toppings create a satisfying meal that invites you to savor each delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Base Ingredients:
- 4 large baked potatoes
- ½ medium onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
Seasonings and Toppings:
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning mix (store-bought or homemade)
- ½ cup water
- 1 cup salsa
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch pepper
- 1 tablespoon sour cream per potato, optional
- Diced tomatoes for garnish
- Green onions for garnish
Instructions
- Thoroughly wash 4 large russet potatoes (about or 227 grams each), scrubbing away any dirt and pat dry with paper towels.
- Pierce potatoes multiple times with a fork to allow steam to escape, then rub with olive oil and sprinkle kosher salt across the entire surface.
- Roast potatoes directly on the middle oven rack at 400°F (200°C) for 50-60 minutes until tender when pierced with a knife, ensuring crispy exterior and soft interior.
- While potatoes are baking, brown of lean ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking meat into small crumbles.
- Add finely diced onions and minced garlic to the beef, cooking until vegetables are translucent and fragrant.
- Drain excess fat from the meat mixture, then stir in packaged taco seasoning, water, and salsa.
- Simmer beef mixture for 10-15 minutes until liquid reduces and flavors meld together, creating a robust taco filling.
- Remove potatoes from oven and let cool slightly, then carefully slice lengthwise and gently scoop out most of the interior, leaving a thin potato shell.
- Mash the scooped potato flesh with butter, salt, and pepper, then lightly mix back into the potato shells.
- Fill each potato skin generously with the seasoned taco beef mixture and top with shredded cheddar cheese.
- Return stuffed potatoes to the oven and broil for 2-3 minutes until cheese melts and becomes bubbly and slightly golden.
- Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro, sour cream, diced tomatoes, and sliced green onions before serving immediately.
Notes
- Customize your potato skins by using different cheeses like pepper jack or sharp cheddar for extra flavor kick.
- Opt for lean ground beef or substitute with ground turkey to create a lighter version of this hearty dish.
- Prepare taco seasoning from scratch using pantry spices if you want to control sodium and avoid packaged mixes.
- Leftover potato filling makes an excellent next-day lunch topping for salads or quick nachos.
- Store any unused taco meat in airtight containers for up to three days, perfect for quick meal prep.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 90mg