Chorizo con Papas (or Mexican Chorizo with Potatoes) is a true Mexican food classic. It's full of bold flavors and very satisfying. As a taco, a filling for gorditas, or in a sandwich, this recipe is absolutely delicious!

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Chorizo Con Papas in a skillet and topped with chopped cilantro.

The answer to “must make food fast” dilemma is Chorizo con Papas.

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When I get in the kitchen, I want to cook and get food on the table pronto. I LOVE to cook. I’m just like you, though. I have a job, a family to feed, a house to clean, spiders to kill.

This Mexican recipe fits the bill. Delicious, easy, and everyone in my family loves it.

Table of Contents

1 More Chorizo Recipes
2 What is it made of?
3 Substitutes
4 The Name Game
5 What’s the Difference?
6 How do you know when it is done?
7 Where to buy it:
8 Chorizo con Papas, or Mexican Chorizo with Potatoes

More Chorizo Recipes

Remove the chorizo from the casing.
Cook it for about 5-7 minutes.

What is it made of?

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.

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.

The Name Game

• Chorizo con papas means “chorizo with potatoes.”
• Papas con chorizo means “potatoes with chorizo.”

You might also hear “Chorizo con Papa” or “Papa con Chorizo.” As in singular, or only 1 potato. They all mean the same thing.

Word to the Wise: Stand back! Chorizo splitters 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.

What’s the Difference?

• Spanish chorizo is dried, smoked, and cured in a casing.
• Mexican chorizo is raw. It has vinegar and spices. You gotta cook it.

Spanish chorizo you can cook in the oven. Mexican chorizo, you have to cook it in a skillet.

If a recipe asks for Spanish chorizo, it is not interchangeable with Mexican 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 5-7 minutes of cooking.

• Watch the video to see how to drain the fat from cooked chorizo. Be very careful when doing this. It will be hot.

Where to buy it:

Most stores carry chorizo nowadays. Look for it in the refrigerator area at your local grocery store.

Some Mexican grocery stores will even make their own and sell it fresh.

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

• Avoid using mashed potatoes, french fries, and tater tots. 🙂

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

Once the potatoes are cooked, drain the water.
Add diced onion to the chorizo, and mix the potatoes and chorizo mixture together.

You can also add chopped cilantro and diced tomatoes.

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!

Chorizo Con Papas in a skillet topped with chopped cilantro.

Chorizo con Papas is a full of bold flavors and very satisfying. Plus, you only need a few ingredients to make a truly flavorful meal.

It makes a great topping for sopes and as a filling for gorditas. Hope you enjoy!

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