Cheesy Potato and Olive Taco Cups

Cheesy potato and olive taco cups are a delicious twist on regular tacos! Everything there is to love about tacos, tucked in a crispy baked bite that is compact and loaded with comforting flavor. They are perfect for gameday or the holidays which are around the corner. These make a great appetizer that is fun, transports easily and can be customized to your favorite flavor combos.

These taco cups are loaded with cheesy goodness, seasoned beef, green onions, and potatoes plus we are maximizing our flavor by adding California Ripe Olives which add a delicious silky and buttery flavor. The crispy potatoes and ground beef are seasoned with homemade taco seasoning and combined with a blend of cheeses that holds everything together as they make their way to their individual flour tortilla cups. These little taco cups are crispy, with a cheesy center and are topped with fresh sour cream, lemon kissed cilantro and tomato. They are quick and ready to be enjoyed and savored in no time! Sounds delicious, right? Let me show you how to make them.

Why you will love this recipe

• Easy to prep ahead and bakes in about 15 minutes!
• Bite size and portable for parties or as snacks
• Easy clean up
• 12 Individual servings that can also be made for meal prep or served as an appetizer

Homemade Taco Seasoning

Skip buying the pre-made seasoning packets at the grocery store and keep a stash of this in your pantry. Not only is this homemade taco seasoning cheaper, but you can also easily control the heat and salt! Skip the unwanted ingredients and go a little heavier on those flavors you really want to pop. It’s super simple to whip up a batch and keep it on hand. This blend has very little heat but you can always add a little more chipotle or cayenne chili powder, if you want more spice. This is a great starting base that is so flavorful, feel free to make it your own by adjusting ratios to your personal preference.

• Chili powder
• Garlic powder
• Onion Powder
• Ground Cumin
• Ground Chipotle
• Smoked paprika
• Dried Oregano
• Salt

You most likely have some of the ingredients needed for this homemade taco seasoning. In a bowl combine all of the above spices (measurements in recipe below) This will make more than you need for this recipe, which is great so you have a little extra to play with in other meals. Store in an airtight container to keep it fresh and ready to use and flavor up meals!

The taco base

The base of our cups is made from soft taco flour tortillas. This kind of tortilla works great because it is flexible and can mold easily to fit in our cupcake pan. Cut the tortillas in a cross, this will yield 4 triangle sections per one. Line the cupcake pan with some non-stick spray before placing them in. The tortillas crisp up once baked and are the perfect little vessel to get all that goodness in a bite.

Little bites, big flavor thanks to the simple combination of ingredients! These look like you put in tons of effort but they are easy, tasty and sure to impress at your next gathering.

Ingredients:

California Ripe Olives- In this recipe I will be using green and black olives, the contrast in color is beautiful, and they both bring a slightly different flavor profile. Look for the CA GROWN seal to ensure you are getting the best quality product! California Ripe Olives unique brining process takes 7 days and gives them the signature taste we all love, I really like that they are so flavorful without being overly salty. The brine solution removes all the bitterness and the end result is a silky, buttery olive that is versatile and flavorful.

Did you know that 95 % of commercial olives in the U.S are grown in California? And more specifically over 56% of the olive groves are located here in the CA central valley. Hundreds of farmers and their families work each year to bring California Ripe Olives from their farms to your table. The olive groves range from small 5-acre lots to 1,000-acre farms. 

Olives are harvested between September-November here in California and can be hand picked by skilled farmworkers or mechanically harvested. They are harvested when they are still green and have just began to change color. Although olives are harvested in the fall they are available year round at your favorite grocery stores!

Potatoes– I went with a Russet potato, the classic that is used for baked potatoes. The soft texture holds cheese and seasoning beautifully.

Cheese-Adds richness , flavor and also that gooey cheesiness. I really like a blend of sharp cheddar cheese and a Mexican blend for maximum flavor.

Flour tortillas– Soft taco flour tortillas, these perfectly crispy baskets hold their shape and make a great and tasty vessel for our delicious filling. One tortilla is enough for 4 servings.

Green Onions– Fresh with a little spice, they brighten up the filling.

Olive oil– A tad bit of oil is needed to get our potatoes nice and golden before going in the oven.

Ground beef-Adds savory and heartiness to each bite as well as adding extra protein.

Cilantro– Fresh herb to balance out the richness of the other ingredients.

Lemon– Adds a little zest to our cilantro brightening up the taco cups.

Tomato- Sweet, tangy and a burst of another fresh element.

Sour cream- Complements and balances out the rich taco filling.

Taco toppings

The toppings are truly endless and can be adjusted based on preference. Here’s a few that would work really well. Choose your favorite and load them up.

• Pico de Gallo (tomato, cilantro and fresh jalapeno)
• Sour cream
• Pickled onions
• Pickled Jalapenos
• Tomatoes
• Cilantro
• Chives

Lets prepare them

1.Begin by cutting the flour tortillas into 4 even cross sections. You will be left with 12 triangles that will be the base for the taco shells. Place each piece onto a non-stick cupcake pan (or spray) Gently push the center of each tortilla to mold to the pan.

2. Peel the potatoes, cubing them and placing them in a medium bowl.

3.To a skillet on medium heat, add the olive oil and the potatoes until crispy, adding in 1 Tbsp. of the homemade taco seasoning.

4.Once crispy, add in the ground meat with another 1/2 Tbsp. of the taco seasoning (over the beef) Remove from heat once completely cooked and browned.

5. Slice the olives, green onions, cilantro, tomato (keep separate)

6. Into the pan with the potatoes and ground beef add in the cheese, olives and green onions, mix to combine ingredients.

7.Add a light layer of cheese to each of the cups

8.Next add a spoonful of the mixture into each of the taco cups and add another light layer of cheese on top.

9.Place in a pre-heated oven at 350 °F for 15-16 minutes until the tortillas crisp and are golden on the edges.

Allow to cool just slightly and then load with your desired toppings and enjoy!! If not serving right away, wait to add toppings until ready to serve. To reheat, place in the oven at 350 for around 6-7 checking on them half way through to make sure they don’t over brown.

Whether you are serving these up on taco Tuesday or any day of the week they will disappear quickly! I hope these cheesy potato and olive taco cups make an appearance at your next gathering. Fun and delicious food combos always make any get together even better.

Check out these other delicious recipes using California Ripe Olives:

Olive & pepper queso fundido

This cheesy and irresistible Mexican appetizer has layers of delicious flavors in every bite and it’s a one pan deal! Oaxacan cheese brings you the perfect cheese pull and it’s accompanied by savory smokey chorizo. This Queso fundido or “melted cheese” is leveled up with even more flavor with the addition of peppers, mushrooms, and California ripe Olives!

Fried Olive Jalapeno Bites

These fried olive and jalapeño bites are light, crispy and perfectly golden crusted olive that is stuffed with a creamy and spicy center that delivers the perfect crunch. Think of jalapeno poppers but in this case it’s the Olives that are popping, in the best possible way.

This post was made in partnership with CA grown & California Ripe Olives all expressed opinions and recipes shared are my own. I am thankful to share about the bounty our state has to offer and recipes to make with in season produce. Check out other delicious and creative ways to use your California ripe Olives and more info on how they’re grown!