Air Fryer Tater Tots: Quick, Crispy, Delicious

Tater tots are a popular snack, side dish, or appetizer. They are crispy, golden potato bites, made by grating skin-on potatoes into tiny pieces and mixing them with flour, salt, and seasonings. The name Tater Tots is a registered trademark of Ore-Ida, the company that invented them. However, many brands make similar products, sold under names like Taters, Crispy Potato Puffs, or Tater Bites.

Tater tots can be made in an air fryer. The benefit of using an air fryer is that it cooks frozen foods to be super crispy, and it is also quicker than using an oven. To make tater tots in an air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and cook the tater tots for 10-15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to prevent them from breaking apart.

How to make tater tots in an air fryer

Ingredients and Equipment:

• Frozen tater tots
• Air fryer
• Cooking spray (optional)
• Dipping sauces (optional)

Method:

First, preheat your air fryer to 400°F. You can do this by heating it to this temperature for 1-5 minutes, depending on the model of your air fryer.

Next, place the frozen tater tots into the fryer basket. It is important that they are arranged in a single layer, and they can be cooked in batches if necessary. You may also want to spray the tops with cooking spray at this point for extra crispiness.

Cook the tater tots for 7-12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. The exact cooking time will depend on your desired level of crispiness, so keep an eye on them!

Once they are golden brown and crispy, remove them from the air fryer and serve. They can be enjoyed as a side dish or an appetizer, with your favorite dipping sauces.

Tips:

• You can experiment with different seasonings. Taco seasoning, chili lime seasoning, garlic powder, and onion powder are all great options.
• If you are cooking mini tater tots, they will need less time in the air fryer, so check on them after 5 minutes.
• If you are reheating leftover tater tots, preheat your air fryer to 350-400°F and cook them for 2-5 minutes.

Tips for making tater tots in an air fryer

Air-fried tater tots are a quick, easy, and delicious snack or side dish. Here are some tips to ensure you get perfect, crispy tater tots every time:

Preheat your air fryer

For the best results, preheat your air fryer for a few minutes before adding the tater tots. This helps to ensure the tater tots cook evenly and get extra crispy.

Prepare the tater tots

Place the frozen tater tots in the air fryer basket or tray in a single layer. It's okay if they slightly overlap, but they should not be stacked. If you are cooking a large batch, you may need to cook them in batches.

Cook the tater tots

Air fry the tater tots at 400°F for 7-12 minutes, shaking the basket or tray halfway through. The exact cooking time will depend on your desired level of crispiness, so keep an eye on them. If you want them extra crispy, add another minute or two of cooking time.

Season and serve

Tater tots can be served as a side dish or snack with your favorite dipping sauces, such as ketchup, BBQ sauce, cheese sauce, or mustard. For some extra flavor, sprinkle your favorite spice blend on the hot tater tots and toss to coat. Taco seasoning, chili lime seasoning, or garlic and herb seasoning are all great options.

Reheat and store

If you have any leftover tater tots, you can reheat them in the air fryer at 400°F for 2-5 minutes. They can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 6 months.

Troubleshooting

If your tater tots are not crisping up, try giving them a light coat of cooking spray or olive oil halfway through cooking.

Final Thoughts

Air-fried tater tots are a quick, easy, and delicious snack or side dish that the whole family will love. With these tips, you can ensure your tater tots turn out perfectly crispy and golden every time.

How to store and reheat tater tots

Tater tots are best enjoyed fresh, but if you have any leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three to five days. You can also freeze them for longer storage. Just make sure they are cooled before storing to prevent condensation and sogginess.

To reheat tater tots, avoid using the microwave as this will make them soggy and unevenly heated. Instead, use an air fryer, oven, or frying pan.

Air Fryer:

• Preheat your air fryer to 350°F to 400°F.
• Place the tater tots in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are in a single layer and not piled on top of each other.
• Cook for about 5 to 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through for even heating.
• Serve immediately.

Oven:

• Preheat your oven to 360°F or 400°F.
• Place the tater tots on a baking sheet or tray, ensuring they are in a single layer with no overlap.
• Bake for about 7 to 15 minutes, then flip the tots for even heating and bake for another 7 to 8 minutes.
• Serve immediately.

Frying Pan:

• Place a skillet on the burner and turn it on.
• Coat the pan with cooking spray or a bit of oil.
• Put the tater tots in the pan, ensuring they are in a single layer.
• Heat for about 1 minute, then flip them over and heat for another minute.
• Remove them from the pan and place them on a paper towel to absorb any excess oil.
• Serve immediately.

What to serve with tater tots

Tater tots are a versatile side dish that can be served with a variety of meals. Here are some ideas for what to serve with tater tots:

Burgers and Sandwiches

Tater tots can be a great substitute for French fries, making them a perfect side dish for burgers. They can also be used as a crunchy, crispy layer in sandwiches, adding a salty and irresistible texture.

Meats

Tater tots pair well with a variety of meats, including hamburgers, pork loin, sloppy joes, London broil, and grilled cheese and fish sticks for the kids. For a heartwarming dish, try the Minnesota Hmong Hotdish, which features ground pork shoulder, root vegetables, and tater tots.

Breakfast

Tater tots can be a great breakfast food, especially when paired with pancakes and bacon. For a more savoury option, try a breakfast hash by sautéing tater tots with peppers, onions, ham or other meat, and eggs.

Appetizers and Snacks

Tater tots can be a great base for appetizers, such as tot-chos (tater tot nachos) or chicken and tater tot waffles. They can also be enjoyed as a snack on their own, especially when dipped in sauces like Big Mac sauce, BBQ sauce, nacho cheese sauce, honey buffalo sauce, or ketchup for the kids.

Casseroles and Pies

Tater tots can be used to create a variety of casseroles and pies, such as a tot-topped casserole, chicken and tater tot casserole, tater tot breakfast casserole, or a classic beef tot hotdish. For a fun twist, try using tater tots as a pie crust for a chicken pot pie.

With their versatility and crowd-pleasing appeal, tater tots are a great option for a quick and easy side dish or a creative ingredient in more complex recipes.

Why make tater tots in an air fryer

There are several reasons why you should make tater tots in an air fryer. Here are some of them:

Speed and Efficiency

Air fryers are known for cooking frozen foods quickly and efficiently. They can cook tater tots in as little as 7 to 15 minutes, which is much faster than a traditional oven. This makes them a convenient option for a quick and easy snack or side dish.

Crispiness and Texture

Air fryers are able to produce super crispy tater tots with a better texture than traditional cooking methods. This is because air fryers cook by circulating hot air around the food, resulting in an even and crispy cook.

Ease of Use

Making tater tots in an air fryer is a simple process that only requires a few steps. You don't need to defrost the tater tots or pre-cook them, and they can go straight from the freezer into the air fryer. This makes them a low-effort option for a crunchy and delicious snack.

Health Benefits

Air fryers can produce crispy tater tots without the need for added oil. This is because frozen tater tots already contain oil, and the air fryer's cooking method allows for even and efficient cooking without the need for additional fat. This makes air-fried tater tots a healthier alternative to deep-fried or oven-baked options.

Versatility

Air-fried tater tots can be served as a side dish, snack, or appetizer and paired with various dips and sauces. They can be a versatile addition to meals, suitable for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Convenience

Air fryers are a convenient option for making tater tots as they don't heat up the entire house like a traditional oven. This is especially beneficial during hot summer months when you want to avoid excess heat in the kitchen.

Frequently asked questions