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    Home » All Recipes » Mexican Basics

    Chorizo con Papas (Mexican Chorizo and Potatoes)

    Published: May 27, 2019 · Updated: Sep 7, 2026 by Maggie Unzueta

    Chorizo con Papas is a classic Mexican dish made with spicy Mexican chorizo, tender diced potatoes, and sautéed onion. Serve this flavorful filling in warm tortillas for an easy and satisfying meal.
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    A skillet filled with diced potatoes and chorizo garnished with chopped cilantro. The dish is labeled “Authentic Mexican Chorizo con Papas.”.
    Chorizo Con Papas is a true Mexican classic that’s full of bold flavors and very satisfying. By Mama Maggie’s Kitchen
    Diced potatoes cooked with a reddish-brown spiced mixture of chorizo con papas, garnished with chopped herbs, in a metal pan.

    Chorizo con Papas 🥔 is an easy Mexican skillet made with spicy Mexican chorizo, tender potatoes, and onion. It comes together quickly and makes a hearty filling for tacos, Sopes, or Gorditas.

    This is one of those recipes I make when I want something fast, flavorful, and filling without spending a lot of time in the kitchen.

    Serve it with warm tortillas and your favorite toppings for an easy Mexican meal the whole family will love.

    Table of Contents

    • 1. Why You’ll Love This Recipe ❤️
    • 2. 👩🏼‍🍳 Instructions
      • 2.1. Cooking the Chorizo
      • 2.2. Substitutes
      • 2.3. How do you know when it is done?
      • 2.4. 🥔 Cooking the Potatoes
      • 2.5. The Name Game
    • 3. 🙋🏻‍♀️ Frequently Asked Quetsions
    • 4. 🍴 More Mexican Chorizo Recipes
    • 5. 😋 Hungry for More?
    • 6. Chorizo con Papas (Mexican Chorizo with Potatoes)
      • 6.1. Ingredients
      • 6.2. Instructions
      • 6.3. Video
      • 6.4. Notes
      • 6.5. Nutrition

    Why You’ll Love This Recipe ❤️

    • Quick and easy. The potatoes cook while you prepare the chorizo, so dinner comes together fast.
    • Big flavor from simple ingredients. Mexican chorizo seasons the potatoes and onions as everything cooks together.
    • Budget-friendly. You only need a handful of everyday ingredients to make a filling meal.
    • So versatile. Serve it in tacos, or use it as a filling for sopes, gorditas, and Pambazos.
    • Perfect for leftovers. Reheat it the next day for an easy breakfast or lunch.
    Maggie Unzueta Avatar

    -Maggie

    A hand holds a Ranchero pork chorizo sausage; chorizo is shown raw in a bowl, cooking and crumbling in a pan, and finally cooked with onions and drained on paper towels.

    👩🏼‍🍳 Instructions

    Cooking the Chorizo

    • Remove the chorizo from the casing.
    • Cook it for about 8-10 minutes.

    Mexican chorizo can be either pork or beef mixed with a lot of spices. Some people make Homemade Chorizo, and if you use lean pork or beef, it can be less fatty.

    If you are using store bought chorizo, know that it will be fatty and draining excess fat is essential.

    🌟 Word to the Wise: Stand back! Chorizo splits and splatters when it is frying in the pan. Protect your cookbooks and your children.

    It cooks up quickly though. That is why it is the perfect ingredient for fast and delicious meals.

    Substitutes

    • For the vegetarians, try this recipe with soyrizo. It is made with the same spices as regular Mexican chorizo and has good flavor.
    • Looking for a leaner option? Try turkey or chicken chorizo. It is less fatty than traditional pork or beef chorizo.

    How do you know when it is done?

    It can be hard to tell when chorizo is done because of the reddish spices. If you cook it long enough, though, it will start to brown up. Usually about 8-10 minutes of cooking.

    Four-panel image showing whole potatoes, peeled and diced potatoes, diced potatoes in a pot, and cooked potato pieces in the pot.

    🥔 Cooking the Potatoes

    • Wash, rinse, and peel the potatoes.
    • Dice into small cubes.
    • Add them to a stock pot and cover with water. Boil until tender. About 7 minutes.
    • Once the potatoes are cooked, drain the water.

    You can use frozen potatoes, or peel, dice, and boil potatoes for this recipe.

    You might want this dish with more potatoes and less chorizo. That’s when it’s truly “Papas con Chorizo.”

    The Name Game

    Chorizo con Papas means “chorizo with potatoes,” while Papas con Chorizo means “potatoes with chorizo.” You may also see Chorizo con Papa or Papa con Chorizo. The names vary, but they’re all referring to the same delicious combination.

    A close-up of cubed potatoes piled on top of browned ground chorizo in a large skillet, ready to be mixed or cooked together.
    • Heat up oil in a skillet.
    • Add diced onion. Cook for 1 minute before adding the potatoes and chorizo.
    • Mix well. Cook for 3 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro.
    • Serve and enjoy!

    You can also add diced tomatoes and jalapenos. That’s totally optional.

    Serve with warm tortillas for tacos. And DONE! Dun. Dun. Dun.

    🌟 Great idea: Make this recipe and add eggs. This makes a tasty Mexican breakfast for any food lover!

    🙋🏻‍♀️ Frequently Asked Quetsions

    What is Chorizo con Papas?

    Chorizo con Papas is a Mexican dish made with Mexican chorizo, potatoes, and onion. The chorizo is cooked until browned, then combined with tender potatoes for a flavorful and satisfying filling.

    What kind of chorizo should I use?

    Use Mexican chorizo, which is fresh and uncooked and needs to be cooked before eating. Pork chorizo is traditional, but beef, chicken, turkey, or soyrizo can also be used.

    Can I use frozen potatoes?

    Yes! Frozen diced potatoes are a convenient shortcut for this recipe. You can also peel, dice, and boil fresh potatoes until tender before adding them to the skillet.

    How do I keep Chorizo con Papas from getting greasy?

    Mexican chorizo can release quite a bit of fat as it cooks. Once the chorizo is cooked, transfer it to a paper towel-lined plate and drain most of the excess grease from the skillet. Leave about 1 tablespoon in the pan to cook the potatoes and onion.

    Can I add eggs?

    Absolutely! Add scrambled eggs to the cooked Chorizo con Papas for an easy and flavorful Mexican breakfast.

    A skillet filled with cubed potatoes mixed with cooked chorizo, reminiscent of Chorizo con Papas, is garnished with chopped cilantro and sits on a wooden surface.

    🍴 More Mexican Chorizo Recipes

    • Chorizo con Huevos
    • Frijoles Puercos
    • Nopales con Chorizo
    • Queso Fundido with Chorizo
    • Frijoles Charros
    • Chorizo Cheese Dip

    Chorizo con Papas is one of those simple Mexican recipes that proves you don’t need a long list of ingredients to make something really delicious. Spicy chorizo, tender potatoes, and onion come together in one skillet for a meal that’s hearty, flavorful, and easy enough for a busy weeknight.

    And if you have leftovers, don’t forget about breakfast. Add a couple of scrambled eggs and you have an entirely new meal.

    It’s simple, satisfying, and exactly the kind of recipe I love having in my back pocket.

    😋 Hungry for More?

    Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube for my latest recipes and videos.

    Did you make this recipe? Please rate the recipe below!

    Diced potatoes cooked with a reddish-brown spiced mixture of chorizo con papas, garnished with chopped herbs, in a metal pan.

    Chorizo con Papas (Mexican Chorizo with Potatoes)

    Chorizo con Papas is a classic Mexican dish made with spicy Mexican chorizo, tender diced potatoes, and sautéed onion. Serve this flavorful filling in warm tortillas for an easy and satisfying meal.
    4.91 from 22 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner, Lunch
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 322kcal
    Author: Maggie Unzueta
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon oil
    • 10 ounces Mexican pork chorizo casings removed
    • 1 small onion diced
    • 1 pound potatoes cut into small (¼-inch) diced, and boiled
    • Salt and Pepper
    • Cilantro chopped (optional)

    Instructions

    • Heat oil to large skillet.
    • Add chorizo and break up the large clumps as it cooks. About 8-10 minutes.
    • Take chorizo out of the pan and place on a large paper towel to remove some of the grease.
    • Pour out any additional grease from the skillet, leaving about 1 tablespoon of grease.
    • Return skillet to the stove.
    • Add onion and potatoes.
    • Saute until brown. About 10 minutes.
    • Add chorizo to the pan.
    • Combine well.
    • Taste for salt and pepper.
    • Add chopped cilantro.
    • Serve with warm tortillas and enjoy!

    Video

    Notes

    SUBSTITUTES
    • For the vegetarians, try this recipe with soyrizo. It is made with the same spices as regular Mexican chorizo and has good flavor.
    • For the healthy eaters, try turkey or chicken chorizo. It is less fatty than pork chorizo or beef.
    Warning: Stand back! Chorizo splitters and splatters when it is frying in the pan. 
    Can I use frozen potatoes? Yes! Frozen diced potatoes are a convenient shortcut for this recipe. You can also peel, dice, and boil fresh potatoes until tender before adding them to the skillet.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 322kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 519mg | Potassium: 508mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 380IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 4mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @MamaMaggiesKitchen or tag #MamaMaggiesKitchen!

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    About Maggie Unzueta

    Maggie Unzueta is the face behind In Mama Maggie's Kitchen. She has been publishing Mexican recipes and creating delicious recipes since 2010. From family recipes to her extensive travels throughout Mexico, she brings traditional Mexican flavors from South of the Border and into your kitchen. Maggie has been featured in notable culinary websites and other media outlets. For more details, check out her About page.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      4.91 from 22 votes (1 rating without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Nikki Wayne

      February 12, 2021 at 6:13 pm

      5 stars
      Wow.. That sounds great with potatoes..
      It looks so yummy.

      Reply
      • Maggie U

        March 10, 2021 at 8:55 am

        So easy and delicious

        Reply
    2. Pam Wattenbarger

      February 12, 2021 at 12:18 pm

      This recipe is always a hit at our house. Chorizo and potatoes are the perfect blend!

      Reply
      • Maggie U

        February 24, 2021 at 1:22 pm

        So good right? We love this one too

        Reply
    3. Barbara Hilow

      October 22, 2020 at 10:45 am

      5 stars
      Excellent and simple to make. It’s a big hit at my house.

      Reply
      • Maggie U

        October 26, 2020 at 4:38 pm

        So glad you enjoyed this!

        Reply
    4. Gillian Leighton

      June 29, 2020 at 9:22 am

      5 stars
      So simple and great tasting, thank you!

      Reply
      • Maggie Unzueta

        June 29, 2020 at 3:12 pm

        Simple is sometimes better.

        Reply
    5. Joseph

      December 24, 2019 at 10:45 am

      I’ve cooked chorizo my whole life and love it! Just a tip. You don’t need to add oil prior to cooking the chorizo as it has plenty of grease in it already. Just start the pan over low heat which is what you’ll be cooking it on anyway as you mentioned it pops and splatters all over if your not careful. When using soyrizo you will, however, need to start the pan with some oil in it as the soy version is much leaner and less greasy. If you omit the oil in soyrizo it will most definitely want to stick to the pan! My mouth watered reading this recipe.

      Reply
      • Maggie Unzueta

        December 31, 2019 at 4:45 pm

        Thank you! Maybe it’s just the chorizo I bought. It can be lean. I have yet to try this recipe with soyrizo. Definitely on the list!

        Reply
    6. Lindsey

      February 21, 2019 at 2:03 pm

      5 stars
      This looks so good! And I love the fairly simple ingredient!

      Reply
    7. Amberly

      February 21, 2019 at 12:26 pm

      Yum!! My husband is going to love this!

      Reply
    8. Clair

      February 21, 2019 at 9:57 am

      Oh my! This looks and sounds so good! I love chorizo!

      Reply
    9. Katherine

      February 21, 2019 at 6:11 am

      Haha I never understood people that say cilantro tastes like soap either! But this looks and sounds so delicious. I love how hearty and flavorful it sounds. Can’t wait to try it!

      Reply
    10. Alice

      June 06, 2018 at 9:08 pm

      I have been making Chorizo con Papas forever. My grandmother use to make it as tacos. I changed it up a bit by making Tostadas. With a layer of refried beans on the tostada shell, add the chorizo con papas, then add toppings like lettuce, tomato, sour cream. Yum. I think I am hungry.

      Reply
    11. tonie

      January 04, 2018 at 10:12 am

      5 stars
      I used frozen potatoes o’ brian or southern potatoes. pre cook for a couple of minutes then add the chorizo. you can also add a couple of eggs. mix it all together delish.
      .

      Reply
      • Maggie Unzueta

        January 07, 2018 at 5:12 pm

        I’ve never used frozen potatoes, but what you describe sounds yummy.

        Reply
    12. DRG

      December 12, 2017 at 4:38 pm

      I roasted the potatoes before combining with the chorizo. I also added a can of fire roasted tomatoes. Delicious.

      Reply
      • Maggie Unzueta

        December 14, 2017 at 12:27 pm

        That sounds yummy!

        Reply
    13. Kathy B

      October 10, 2017 at 11:49 am

      5 stars
      I really liked this. I love the combination of potatoes and chorizo – good for any meal!

      Reply
      • Maggie Unzueta

        October 12, 2017 at 8:18 am

        Couldn’t agree with you more. Glad you like it!

        Reply
    14. Jimmy and Tina

      December 29, 2016 at 12:08 am

      5 stars
      I had to chuckle at least big smile reading about taking hours to make a meal. I’m not a huge fan myself and love to make things that are quick and easy. These days though anything that reminds me of home is well worth it! This dish looks divine and oh how I miss Chorizo and basically Mexican food in general! I moved to UK and they just don’t have the cuisine that I crave, which right now is enchilada! I really need to find a sauce recipe to make from scratch. These potatoes and Chorizo I think would full fill my cravings and going to have to find something to substitute since food here is not so spicy at all.

      Reply
    15. Lindsey

      December 22, 2016 at 1:09 pm

      5 stars
      Girl I am from New Mexico and we loveeee chorizo! Thanks so much for this amazing recipe – I just pinned it! <3

      Reply
      • Maggie Unzueta

        December 26, 2016 at 12:36 pm

        Thanks for pinning! 🙂

        Reply
    16. Kelly

      December 20, 2016 at 6:04 pm

      We love chorizo – what a wonderfully simple (& I’m sure super tasty!) dish!!! YUMMY!

      Reply
      • Maggie Unzueta

        December 26, 2016 at 12:33 pm

        It is! Thank you 🙂

        Reply
    17. Rachel

      December 20, 2016 at 5:21 pm

      Spicy potatoes sounds just perfect during the chilly winter months!

      Reply
      • Maggie Unzueta

        December 26, 2016 at 12:33 pm

        Oh yeah! Love anything spicy 🙂

        Reply
    18. Cait Weingartner

      December 19, 2016 at 11:30 pm

      This dish looks so good! I also love the fact that it’s easy to make. The last thing I feel like doing during the week, is coming home and spending a lot of time in the kitchen. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Maggie Unzueta

        December 26, 2016 at 12:39 pm

        My thoughts exactly! 🙂

        Reply
    19. Leah

      December 19, 2016 at 12:53 pm

      Looks like such a easy and delicious dinner! What a great idea!

      Reply
      • Maggie Unzueta

        December 26, 2016 at 12:33 pm

        Thank you 🙂

        Reply
    20. Danielle

      December 19, 2016 at 7:26 am

      5 stars
      This! With some eggs over easy on top and a few slices of avocado. My dream breakfast. All day every day.

      Reply
      • Maggie Unzueta

        December 26, 2016 at 12:36 pm

        Mine too 🙂

        Reply
    Newer Comments »

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