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Air Fryer Mashed Potato Tacos Recipe

4.4 from 106 reviews

These Air Fryer Mashed Potato Tacos offer a unique twist on traditional tacos by using creamy, seasoned mashed potatoes as the filling. Perfectly crisped in the air fryer, the tacos are soft inside with a crunchy outside, topped with fresh vegetables and cheese for a deliciously comforting and satisfying meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Mashed Potato Filling

  • 1 pound Russet potatoes (about 3 medium potatoes)
  • 1 cup cottage cheese
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder

Tacos and Toppings

  • 10 corn tortillas
  • Lettuce, shredded (for topping)
  • Tomato, diced (for topping)
  • Avocado, sliced (for topping)
  • Cheddar cheese, shredded (for topping)
  • Red onion, finely chopped (for topping)
  • Cilantro, chopped (for topping)
  • Oil spray (for air fryer basket and tortillas)

Instructions

  1. Prepare Potatoes: Peel and dice the Russet potatoes into 1-inch cubes and place them in a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Cover with cold water.
  2. Boil Potatoes: Bring the water to a boil and cook the potatoes for 10-15 minutes until they are fork-tender and easy to mash.
  3. Blend Cottage Cheese: While the potatoes boil, add the cottage cheese to a blender and blend until it becomes smooth and creamy.
  4. Mash Potatoes: Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot. Add the blended cottage cheese and all the seasonings (salt, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder). Mash until mostly smooth, leaving a few lumps. The mixture should be thick enough to prevent oozing when used as taco filling. Add more cottage cheese or a splash of milk if needed.
  5. Warm Tortillas: Place the tortillas on a microwave-safe plate and cover with a damp paper towel. Microwave for 20 seconds to soften them.
  6. Assemble Tacos: Spread about a few tablespoons of the mashed potato filling on half of each tortilla and fold the tortillas over to close.
  7. Prepare Air Fryer: Spritz the air fryer basket with oil spray to prevent sticking. Place the tacos in a single layer in the basket, spritz the tops of the tacos lightly with oil spray as well.
  8. Cook Tacos: Air fry at 400°F for 6 minutes. The tortillas will crisp up nicely and continue to crisp slightly after removal.
  9. Repeat and Keep Warm: Repeat the assembly and cooking for the remaining tacos. Keep cooked tacos warm in the oven or return all cooked tacos to the air fryer for 1 minute to rewarm before serving.
  10. Add Toppings and Serve: Carefully pry apart the folded tortillas and fill with preferred toppings such as shredded lettuce, diced tomato, avocado, cheddar cheese, red onion, and cilantro for a fresh finish.

Notes

  • Using cottage cheese in the filling makes the mashed potatoes creamy and adds protein without cream or butter.
  • If the mashed potatoes are too thick, add a splash of milk or more blended cottage cheese to loosen the texture.
  • Microwaving the tortillas briefly prevents them from cracking when folding.
  • You can keep cooked tacos warm in a low oven or briefly reheat in the air fryer just before serving.
  • Feel free to customize toppings based on your preference.

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