Gone are the days when tater tots were merely a side dish at the school cafeteria. These little potato puffs will become the most popular party snack you serve. Most of your guests will scarf down an overwhelming majority of the bag before they even take their coats off. Let's go make history.
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1) Loaded Tater Tot Skewers
All the comfort of a loaded baked potato on a stick for easy grab-and-go eating!
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Loaded Tater Tot Skewers
Crispy tater tots interspersed with bacon and cheese, served on skewers and dipped in a quick sour cream and chive dip!
Ingredients
Method
- Bake the tater tots according to package directions until deeply golden and crisp, about 25 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Meanwhile, cook the bacon pieces in a skillet until crisp, then drain on paper towels.
- Stir together the sour cream, chives, milk, and garlic powder to make the dip and chill.
- Thread each skewer alternating tots, bacon, and cheese cubes, leaving a handle at the bottom.
- Arrange the skewers on a platter with the dip in the center and serve while the tots are still warm.
Notes
Soak wooden skewers in water for 10 minutes if you want to broil them for an extra minute to melt the cheese.
2) Cheesy Bacon Tater Tot Bombs
Of course, this has a molten cheese center and is wrapped in bacon!
Cheesy Bacon Tater Tot Bombs
Cubes of cheese are wrapped in bacon, then baked so that the bacon crisps and the cheese oozes.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 400F and line a baking sheet with parchment.
- Press a small cube of mozzarella into the center of each thawed tater tot, pinching it closed.
- Wrap each stuffed tot with a half slice of bacon and secure with a toothpick.
- Stir the brown sugar and smoked paprika together and sprinkle over the bombs.
- Bake for 22 to 25 minutes until the bacon is crisp and the cheese peeks out, then let cool 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Letting them rest keeps the cheese from squirting out on the first bite.
3) Tater Tot Nachos
When you swap tortilla chips for tots, nachos get a whole lot more fun!
Tater Tot Nachos
Crispy tots that are covered with melted cheese and seasoned beef. Served with all the nacho toppings on a sheet pan.
Ingredients
Method
- Bake the tater tots on a large sheet pan until crisp, about 25 minutes.
- While they bake, brown the ground beef in a skillet, drain, then stir in taco seasoning and a splash of water.
- Spread the cooked beef and black beans over the hot tots, then cover with shredded cheese.
- Return the pan to the oven for 5 minutes until the cheese melts.
- Top with tomato, green onions, jalapenos, and a drizzle of sour cream and serve straight off the pan.
4) Crispy Parmesan Tater Tots
The easiest upgrade is somehow the bowl still empties first.
Crispy Parmesan Tater Tots
Golden Tots are tossed in melted butter, garlic, parmesan, and herb seasoning snow!
Ingredients
Method
- Bake the tater tots until extra crispy, about 28 minutes, flipping once.
- Stir the garlic powder into the melted butter.
- Toss the hot tots in a large bowl with the garlic butter until coated.
- Add the parmesan, parsley, and pepper and toss again so everything clings.
- Pile onto a platter and serve immediately while crisp.
Notes
Use freshly grated parmesan if you can, it melts onto the tots instead of clumping.
5) Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Bites
Game Day in a single bite! Enjoy the taste of Tangy Buffalo with crunchy potatoes!
Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Bites
Tots topped with shredded buffalo chicken and blue cheese crumbles are baked until bubbly.
Ingredients
Method
- Bake the tater tots until crisp, about 25 minutes.
- Toss the shredded chicken with the buffalo sauce in a bowl until coated.
- Spoon a little buffalo chicken onto each hot tot and arrange on a platter.
- Sprinkle with blue cheese crumbles and diced celery.
- Drizzle with ranch dressing and serve right away.
Notes
Rotisserie chicken makes this a five-minute filling.
6) Bacon-Wrapped Tater Tot Jalapeño Poppers
Two party legends coming together can only result in epic things.
Bacon-Wrapped Tater Tot Jalapeño Poppers
Cream cheese-stuffed jalapenos filled with tater tots and wrapped in bacon.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 400F and line a baking sheet with foil.
- Stir the cream cheese, cheddar, and garlic powder together, then spoon into each jalapeno half.
- Press a thawed tater tot on top of the filling in each pepper.
- Wrap each popper with a half slice of bacon and place seam side down on the sheet.
- Bake for 25 minutes until the bacon is crisp and the peppers soften, then cool slightly before serving.
Notes
Wear gloves when seeding the jalapenos so your fingers don't sting later.
7) Garlic Herb Tater Tots
These smell great, have a buttery texture, and are just fancy enough to make it feel like you put in extra effort.
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Garlic Herb Tater Tots
Tots that are crispy and tossed with garlic, some fresh herbs, and just a touch of lemon zest for brightness.
Ingredients
Method
- Bake the tater tots until golden and crisp, about 28 minutes.
- Warm the olive oil and minced garlic in a small pan over low heat until fragrant but not browned.
- Stir the rosemary and thyme into the warm garlic oil.
- Toss the hot tots in a bowl with the herb oil, lemon zest, and salt.
- Serve immediately on a warm platter.
8) Chili Cheese Tater Tots
Cozy diner vibes you can scoop right onto a chip, or just eat with a fork!
Ingredients
Method
- Bake the tater tots until crisp, about 25 minutes.
- Warm the chili in a saucepan over medium heat until bubbling.
- Pile the hot tots into a baking dish and pour the chili over the top.
- Cover with shredded cheddar and broil for 3 to 4 minutes until melted and bubbly.
- Finish with green onions, a sprinkle of chili powder, and dollops of sour cream.
Notes
Leftover chili from a weeknight pot is perfect here.
9) Tater Tot Sloppy Joes
Small open-faced sloppy joes on top of crunchy tater tots. Ideal for little hands.
Tater Tot Sloppy Joes
Savoury sloppy joes beef served with crispy tots and topped with cheese.
Ingredients
Method
- Bake the tater tots until crisp, about 25 minutes.
- Brown the ground beef with the diced onion in a skillet, then drain.
- Stir in the ketchup, brown sugar, and Worcestershire and simmer 5 minutes until thick.
- Spoon the sloppy joe mixture over the crisp tots on a platter.
- Sprinkle with cheddar and let the heat melt it before serving.
10) BBQ Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
A scoopable casserole sticks to your insides and tastes like the best parts of a cookout.
BBQ Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
Layers of crispy tots, BBQ chicken, and gooey cheese all baked together.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 425F.
- Toss the shredded chicken with the barbecue sauce until coated.
- Spread the tater tots in a baking dish and scatter the BBQ chicken and red onion over the top.
- Cover with shredded cheddar and bake for 30 minutes until the tots crisp and the cheese bubbles.
- Sprinkle with cilantro and let cool 5 minutes before scooping.
11) Southwest Tater Tots
Smoky and a little spicy, perfect for dipping in cool avocado crema.
Southwest Tater Tots
Tots tossed in Southwest seasonings and finished with corn, black beans, and a zesty lime drizzle.
Ingredients
Method
- Toss the frozen tots with the taco seasoning, then bake until crisp, about 28 minutes.
- Whisk the sour cream with the lime juice to make a thin crema.
- Pile the seasoned tots on a platter and scatter the corn and black beans over the top.
- Drizzle with the lime crema and sprinkle with cotija.
- Finish with cilantro and serve warm.
Notes
Char the corn in a dry skillet first for extra smoky flavor.
12) Spinach and Artichoke Tater Tot Bites
Your favorite creamy dip is now resting on a crispy tot for easy picking!
Spinach and Artichoke Tater Tot Bites
Golden cheese topping and warm spinach artichoke dip on crispy tater tots.
Ingredients
Method
- Bake the tater tots until crisp, about 25 minutes.
- Mix the spinach, artichokes, cream cheese, parmesan, and garlic in a bowl until combined.
- Spoon a little of the dip onto each hot tot and set on a baking sheet.
- Sprinkle with mozzarella and broil 3 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbly.
- Arrange on a platter and serve warm.
13) Ranch Tater Tot Wedges
Crispy tots with ranch that has a nice tang to it baked right on top. Extra ranch for dipping of course.
Ranch Tater Tot Wedges
Ranch dip goes well with the tots that are tossed with cheddar and ranch seasoning.
Ingredients
Method
- Toss the tots with the melted butter and half the ranch seasoning, then bake until crisp, about 28 minutes.
- Sprinkle the cheddar over the hot tots and return to the oven for 3 minutes to melt.
- Toss the tots with the remaining ranch seasoning.
- Transfer to a platter and sprinkle with chives.
- Serve with a bowl of ranch dressing for dipping.
14) Sriracha Tater Tots
Sweet heat that surprises you and makes you come back for more.
Sriracha Tater Tots
Tots that are crispy and covered in stick honey sriracha sauce and topped with sesame.
Ingredients
Method
- Bake the tater tots until extra crispy, about 28 minutes.
- Whisk the sriracha, honey, soy sauce, and sesame oil together in a small bowl.
- Toss the hot tots in a large bowl with the sauce until evenly glazed.
- Transfer to a platter and sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions.
- Serve right away while sticky and hot.
Notes
Add an extra teaspoon of honey if you want to tame the heat for the kids.
15) Tater Tot Waffle Iron Grilled Cheese
If you put tots in your waffle iron, you will get some seriously crispy and cheesy hash brown patties. No joke.
Tater Tot Waffle Iron Grilled Cheese
Tots are smashed into a waffle iron and made into golden, cheesy paddy goodness.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the waffle iron and coat with cooking spray.
- Press a layer of thawed tater tots into the iron and close, cooking 6 to 8 minutes until golden and crisp.
- Repeat to make a second waffle.
- Lay cheese slices between two tot waffles and press together until melted, about 1 minute back in the iron.
- Brush the outsides with garlic butter, cut into wedges, and serve hot.
Notes
Let the tots fully thaw so they press together into a solid waffle.