Loaded Tater Tots Recipe
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If you’re a fan of comfort food with a twist, this loaded tater tots recipe is about to become your new obsession. Imagine crispy tots smothered in a velvety cheese sauce and topped with crispy bacon bits. It’s the ultimate snack, side dish, or even a main course if you’re feeling adventurous. These loaded tater tots are easy to make and impossible to resist, perfect for game day, a cozy movie night, or anytime you need a cheesy, bacon-filled indulgence.
Craving more delicious appetizers to wow your guests? I’ve got you covered! Try my cheesy baked quesadillas, perfect for any occasion. For a shareable feast, dive into these loaded sheet pan nachos or savory pulled pork nachos. Each recipe is easy, flavorful, and guaranteed to make your appetizer game strong!
Why You’ll Love These Loaded Tots
- Crowd-Pleaser: It’s a hit with both kids and adults, making it an ideal choice for family dinners or parties.
- Customizable: You can easily add or swap out toppings to suit your taste preferences.
- Game Day Favorite: Perfect for serving during sports events, this recipe will make you the MVP of any game day gathering.
- Budget-Friendly: The ingredients are affordable and often already in your pantry or fridge.
I can almost guarantee that 50% of the time I have a salty craving it’s for tater tots with cheese. The combination hits that salty spot so perfectly that it’s slightly addicting. Almost like totchos, this recipe is so super simple and perfect for loading up with your favorite toppings! Think of them like tater tot nachos.
Use this recipe as a base and build up with whatever you are craving. This version leans heavily into “loaded baked potato” territory, but with a few topping additions you could have something loaded with new flavor!
Ingredient You Need
- Tater Tots (or Crispy Crowns): For extra crispiness, bake or air fry your tater tots (or crispy crowns) instead of baking. This keeps them light and crunchy, perfect for holding up the toppings.
- Butter: Use unsalted butter to have better control over the saltiness of your cheese sauce. Melt it slowly to avoid burning.
- Garlic or Onion: Sauté finely minced garlic or onion in the butter until fragrant and translucent to add a depth of flavor to your cheese sauce.
- Flour: Whisk flour into the melted butter until it’s smooth and lightly browned to create a roux, which will thicken your cheese sauce perfectly.
- Milk: Use whole milk for a richer, creamier cheese sauce. Warm it slightly before adding to the roux to prevent lumps.
- Sour Cream: Stir in a dollop of sour cream to your cheese sauce for a tangy kick and extra creaminess.
- Pepper: Freshly ground black pepper adds a bit of heat and complexity to the cheese sauce. Add it to taste.
- Hot Sauce (Optional): A few dashes of hot sauce can elevate the flavor of the cheese sauce without overpowering it. Adjust according to your spice preference.
- Cheese: Use freshly grated cheese instead of pre-shredded for a smoother sauce. Sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a blend of cheeses work best.
- Bacon: Cook bacon until it’s extra crispy, then crumble it over the tots. This ensures a satisfying crunch in every bite.
- Toppings: Get creative with toppings! Green onions, diced tomatoes, jalapeños, or even a sprinkle of fresh herbs can add color and flavor to your loaded tater tots.
Variations to Try
Want to shake things up? Try these variations of this tater tot appetizer!
- Different Cheeses: For a spicy kick sub pepper Jack cheese, for a gooey stretchy finish go with mozzarella, blue cheese offers a bold tang, or a sprinkle of Parmesan can offer a sharp, savory finish.
- Other Veggies to Top With: Try adding diced bell peppers for a sweet crunch, red onion, cherry tomatoes, or even olives.
- Queso: Smoked queso adds a rich, smoky flavor. or you can try this Chili’s-style queso for a restaurant-quality topping.
- Ground Meat: Try adding season ground beef (think taco meat style), ground turkey, chorizo or ground chicken for a little protein punch.
- Salsa: This avocado salsa brings a creamy, zesty flavor or you can whip up this easy blender salsa for a fresh taste!
- Guacamole: Make a batch of this simple guacamole for a creamy, flavorful topping.
- Other Sauces: Drizzle ranch for a cool, herby finish or bbq sauce can add a tangy smoky flavor that is delicious with the bacon.
- Jalapeños or Pickled Jalapeños: For those who love a bit of heat and crunch.
How to Make Loaded Tater Tots
- Preheat the Oven: Set the oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Prepare the Tater Tots: Spread the tater tots out in a single layer on a baking sheet. If you like, you can sprinkle some seasoning on them. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until they are golden and crispy.
- Start the Cheese Sauce: While the tots are baking, melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add 1 minced garlic clove and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
- Make the Sauce: Slowly whisk in the milk. Keep stirring and let it simmer until the sauce thickens, about 3-5 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Stir in the sour cream, pepper, and hot sauce if you like it spicy. Add 1 cup of shredded cheese and stir until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Finish the Tater Tots: Take the tater tots out of the oven. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of shredded cheese and crumbled bacon on top of the tots. Put them back into the oven for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melty.
- Serve: Take the tots out of the oven. Drizzle the cheese sauce over the top and sprinkle with green onions. Enjoy as-is or add any additional toppings.
What to Serve with Loaded Tater Tots
- Fresh Salads: Crisp garden salad or tangy coleslaw to balance the richness.
- Grilled Proteins: Grilled chicken, steak, shrimp, or portobello mushrooms add a satisfying protein boost.
- Dips and Sauces: Guacamole, salsa, ranch, barbecue sauce, or creamy aioli for extra flavor.
- Light Veggie Sides: Steamed or roasted vegetables like broccoli, green beans, or corn on the cob.
- Refreshing Beverages: Ice-cold beer, sparkling lemonade, or iced tea to keep things refreshing.
- Desserts: Fresh fruit salad, brownies, or cookies for a sweet finish.
- These pairings will elevate your loaded tater tots to a delicious, well-rounded meal!
Storing and Using Leftovers
How to Store and Reheat:
- Storing: Place any leftover loaded tater tots in an airtight container. Store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: To keep them crispy, reheat the tots in an oven or air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for about 10-15 minutes. You can also use a microwave, but they may not be as crisp.
Creative Ways to Use Leftovers:
- Breakfast Boost: Add a fried or scrambled egg on top of the reheated tots for a hearty breakfast.
- Tater Tot Hash: Mix the leftover tots with sautéed veggies and a protein of your choice (like sausage or bacon) for a delicious hash.
- Tater Tot Casserole: Layer the tots in a baking dish with leftover meats, veggies, and extra cheese, then bake until bubbly.
- Loaded Tot Nachos: Spread the tots on a baking sheet, top with cheese, salsa, and other favorite nacho toppings, then bake until everything is melted and delicious.
Tips for Success:
Air Fryer Method for Tots: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Arrange the tater tots in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they aren’t overcrowded. Cook for 15-20 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until the tots are golden and crispy.
How to Keep Tots from Being Soggy:
- Spacing: Make sure the tots are spread out in a single layer on the baking sheet or air fryer basket. Overcrowding will cause them to steam rather than crisp up.
- Pat Dry: If the tots are frozen, pat them dry with a paper towel before cooking to remove any excess moisture.
- Preheat the Oven or Air Fryer: Ensuring your oven or air fryer is fully preheated before adding the tots will help them start crisping up immediately.
Tips for Layering with Cheese and/or Sauces:
- Layering Cheese: For the best melt and flavor, layer shredded cheese both under and on top of the tots. This helps the cheese melt evenly and creates a gooey, cheesy delight.
- Adding Sauce: To prevent sogginess, add any cheese sauce just before serving. Drizzle it over the top and add any other toppings right away.
- Broiling: After adding the cheese and toppings, pop the tray under the broiler for a minute or two. This gives a bubbly, slightly crispy top layer.
Recipe FAQs
Tater tots go well with a variety of dishes. Try serving them with fresh salads, grilled proteins like chicken or steak, dips like guacamole and salsa, or even a refreshing beverage like iced tea or an ice-cold beer.
To keep tater tots crispy, use an air fryer set to 400°F (200°C) for 15-20 minutes, shaking halfway through, or bake them in a preheated oven at 425°F (220°C) for 25-30 minutes. Ensure they are spread out in a single layer and not touching to avoid steaming. If using frozen tots, pat them dry before cooking to remove excess moisture.
Loaded tater tots can be topped with a variety of ingredients. Great cheese options include cheddar, Pepper Jack, mozzarella, or blue cheese. For proteins, try crispy bacon, ground beef, chorizo, or grilled chicken. Veggies like diced bell peppers, onions, cherry tomatoes, olives, and jalapeños add color and flavor. Finish with sauces such as cheese sauce, guacamole, salsa, ranch, or barbecue sauce, and extras like green onions, sour cream, and pickled jalapeños.
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Loaded Tater Tots
Ingredients
- 16 oz tater tots (about 4 cups)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 clove garlic
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 tablespoon sour cream
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- dash hot sauce (optional)
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup sharp cheddar (shredded)
- 1/4 cup bacon (cooked and crumbled)
- Green onion
- Sour cream
Instructions
- Set the oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Spread the tater tots out in a single layer on a baking sheet. If you like, you can sprinkle some seasoning on them. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until they are golden and crispy.
- While the tots are baking, melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk to combine. Cook for 1 minute or until bubbly. Add 1 minced garlic clove and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
- Slowly whisk in the milk. Keep stirring and let it simmer until the sauce thickens, about 3-5 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Stir in the sour cream, pepper, and hot sauce if you like it spicy. Add 1 cup of shredded cheese and stir until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Take the tater tots out of the oven. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of shredded cheese and crumbled bacon on top of the tots. Put them back into the oven for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melty.
- Take the tots out of the oven. Drizzle the cheese sauce over the top and sprinkle with green onions. Enjoy as-is or add any additional toppings.
Video
Notes
- Adding Sauce: To prevent sogginess, add any cheese sauce just before serving. Drizzle it over the top and add any other toppings right away.
- Broiling: After adding the cheese and toppings, pop the tray under the broiler for a minute or two. This gives a bubbly, slightly crispy top layer.
Nutrition
The nutrition facts provided are calculated using a third-party tool and are estimates only. Actual nutritional content may vary based on the ingredients and brands you use, as well as portion sizes. For accurate results, please consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.
In the above instructions you forget to say when to add the flour.
Thanks for catching that, Heidi. I fixed it.
obsessed with the options for toppings and gooey cheese sauce!