18 Fun Recipes That Start With Tater Tots (2024)

They're crunchy on the outside, pillowy on the inside, and these nuggets of potato, better known as Tater Tots, are perfect for dipping and enjoying unadulterated. However, they are a versatile ingredient to use in a variety of different dishes, from breakfast entrées to sandwiches and even tatchos (a tater tot-based take on nachos). These tater tot recipes are as fun as they are delicious. Start with this list of recipes with tater tots we love. Soon, we think, the tots will inspire a lot of creativity.

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Tater Tot Taco Casserole

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Tater tot casseroles are a classic potluck dish. This version has Mexican flavors thanks to taco seasoning, Mexican style corn, black beans, and Mexican cheese. Allrecipes cook Gramsfam 1 says this "was a quick and easy dinner and my family absolutely loved it. I added a small can of diced green chilis to give it a little extra flavor."

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Quick and Easy Tater Tot Casserole

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If getting dinner on the table quickly is your goal, this tater tot casserole couldn't be easier. Season and layer ground beef with tater tots, pour over a mixture of mushroom soup, celery soup and milk, then bake. It's also very versatile. Allrecipes cook Cardinals Fan said they "browned the hamburger first and added green beans and shredded cheese to the recipe," like many of the other reviewers.

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Buffalo Chicken Totchos

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Nachos are a fan favorite, and when you replace the tortilla chips with tater tots, you have a whole new dish that's just as perfect. This version tops the tots with buffalo chicken, cheese, and ranch dressing (or blue cheese if you prefer).

  • 50 Foods to Buffalo

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Cheesy Bacon Tater Tots®

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"The potatoes crisp in bacon grease before being baked with Cheddar cheese for an easy bacony, cheesy treat," says fabeveryday. "These delicious tots are great as a side dish or as a game day appetizer. Add an egg on top, and it's an amazing breakfast, too!

Triple Bypass

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This indulgent dish (hence the name!) is a riff on chili-cheese fries, but with tots of course. It's also a perfect dish for a night of sports or watching the Big Game. Many reviewers subbed in fresh cheddar for the Velveeta, added chopped canned jalapeños, or made their own chili instead of using canned.

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Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots

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Any food wrapped in bacon is usually a party pleaser, so bacon-wrapped tots will go fast! Serve as part of a brunch or for an appetizer at a party. Some reviewers said they omitted the cheese in favor of pickled jalapeño, and others whipped up dipping sauces — honey mustard or maple syrup were favorites.

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Bacon Tater Egg Cups

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These egg cups are a great way to start your morning; they're filled with everything that makes for a great breakfast— fresh veggies, bacon, cheese, eggs, and tater tots of course. Throw in whatever veggies you have on hand or sub in sausage for bacon. Reviewer Chris has an extra tip: "After reading reviews I used extra tater tots, and smashed them down to use as a base which crisped nicely."

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Sloppy Tots

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A twist on the beloved Sloppy Joe's, this tater tot recipes subs out the bun for a whole lot of tots. Reviewer Lisa Altmiller says, "This was a nice and easy weeknight meal. The kids loved it and so did the grown-ups! The recipe as-is would feed a family of 4 with no leftovers. Next time I will double it, so we can have larger portions."

  • 12 Inventive Sloppy Joe Makeovers

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Memphis BBQ Pork Totchos

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A beautiful blend of the best flavors of a BBQ pork sandwich and Tex-Mex tacos, atop a bed of crispy, pillow tater tots. Totchos are fun for the whole family, and we promise there won't be anything left at the end of dinner if you're serving these.

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Tater Tot Bake

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This dish is a twist on Shepard's Pie and a fan favorite for many families who put their own spin on it based on what their family likes. Reviewer Morgmom says, "This was a great recipe!!! It was so easy to make and even my 14 month old loved it! I did add a little garlic just because we love it, and I followed the suggestion in previous reviews; I mixed the soup and milk into the ground beef instead of pouring it over — the tots were very crispy this way!"

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Tater Tot and Bacon Breakfast Casserole

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This simple but satisfying dish is easy to put together and perfect for a big brunch — it serves eight. Many have taken the liberty to add to this basic building block dish. Reviewer PitterPatter says, "My family loved this! Doubled the recipe and had it Christmas morning," she says, "Mixed all ingredients together instead of layering - found that works better."

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Sheet Pan Brunch Totchos

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This breakfast version of totchos really brings the heat with andouille sausage and pickled jalapeños. It's also poutine-like with the sausage gravy. Add scrambled eggs if you don't like sunny side up, or if you are spice adverse, sub in regular sausage and take out the jalapeños.

  • 6 Easy Ideas for Sheet Pan Brunch Dishes

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Chicken Tot Pies

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Tater tots serve as the top crust in this riff on chicken pot pie that is still filled with all the ingredients that make this homestyle comfort food. Reviewr Mary718 says, "The tater tots turn this from regular chicken pot pie into something special." She goes on to say, "This warmed me up through and through on a freezing cold night.

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Sriracha Gouda Grilled Cheese with Sweet Potato Tots

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Who needs tots on the side when you can have them on your sandwich? Sweet potato tots (you could use regular as well) make an appearance in this decadent and spicy grilled cheese made with Sriracha Gouda cheese. If you can't find it, regular sriracha paired with Gouda cheese works well. Kale adds in some greens, and bacon adds some additional saltiness.

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Tot Sliders

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You'll want to use the flatter tots for these sliders which serve as buns in this cute appetizer. Make mini burgers like you would for any sliders and top them with your favorite condiments — ketchup, mustard, mayo — and baby gherkins. We are sure they'll be the hit of any party!

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Loaded Tater Tots

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All the incredible flavor of loaded potato skins, but with a bit less effort — you just have to bake the tots. Use this recipe as a template for cooking your loaded tots, but get creative with your toppings for your next dinner, movie night, or home tailgate.

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Poutinertots

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For people who take poutine very seriously, you'll have to shade your eyes for this fun take on the iconic Canadian dish. Instead of fries, you'll use crispy baked tots. "The crispy tots hold up well to the gravy, plus the name is fun to say," says recipe creator sonjagroset.

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Homemade Tater Tots

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Tater tots don't always have to come frozen in a bag; you can actually make your own! And if you need your own for one of the earlier recipes, this is a good homemade tater tot recipe to try. Reviewer Nickie Chouinard says, "Amazzzzzing! Did I say amazing?!? I only made 1/2 the batch to make sure it was good and next time I will double the batch and freeze. Not only were they good, but extremely easy to make."

18 Fun Recipes That Start With Tater Tots (2024)

FAQs

What pairs well with tater tots? ›

Tots add a nice crunch to any sandwich, especially a melty grilled cheese. Change up the meat and cheese depending on what you and your kid's like. Grilled ham and Swiss sandwiches, and turkey cheddar melts, are both even better with tots.

What were tater tots originally called? ›

Tater Tots History and Popularity

Created by Ore-Ida in the 1950s to limit waste during french fry production, tater tots (also known as potato rounds) have come a long way from their humble origin.

How do I get the crispiest tater tots? ›

A longer cook time will cause the tots to shrink and dry out a little, which makes them even crispier all around on the outside with a potato-y center that's more dense and creamy.

How old is tater tot? ›

Tater tots were invented by F. Nephi Grigg of Ore-Ida in 1953 as a way to use excess potato shavings that came from making frozen french fries.

Are tater tots or fries more unhealthy? ›

Tater tots are made from grated deep-fried potato. The fact they are grated, means there is more surface area to soak up the frying oil compared to french fries, making the tater tots fattier by comparison.

Are tater tots junk food? ›

Tater tots are a popular snack or side dish made from grated or finely chopped potatoes that are typically deep-fried until they are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. While they can be delicious, they are not generally considered a health food.

What is a tater tot slang? ›

(US, baseball, slang) A home run.

What state is famous for tater tots? ›

That's thanks to the resourcefulness of two local brothers who, nearly 60 years ago, found a way to transform potato scraps into the now-iconic American snack food. Anyone just learning that the barrel-shaped potato bites have roots in Oregon certainly isn't alone.

What country invented tater tots? ›

United States

Has McDonald's ever sold tater tots? ›

McDonald's Is Serving ~Tater Tots~ Now and They Look Seriously Delicious. Tiny fried potato bites! McDonald's is introducing tater tots to its menu — officially named Hash Brown Bites — and of course, they're not available in the United Sates.

Does Sonic deep fry their tater tots? ›

The crispy, craveable potato nuggets have a deep-fried crust and lightly salted flavor that makes them downright irresistible. Nobody does tots like Sonic.

Are tater tots fried or baked? ›

Form potatoes into tots. Heat vegetable oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium high heat until it registers 360 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer. Working in batches, add tots to the Dutch oven and cook until evenly golden and crispy, about 3-4 minutes.

What is Tater Tot kitten? ›

The internet is mourning Tater Tot, a tiny beloved kitten who was found with four deformed legs and a cleft jaw: 'Tater Tot is a symbol for courage and strength' Kieran Press-Reynolds. Aug 4, 2023, 1:46 PM PDT. Tater Tot's splints being cut off.

Who is tater the cat? ›

Taters, a 3-year-old orange tabby cat, is having his 15 seconds of fame. The world met Taters after NASA used a laser to stream a test video of the feline 19 million miles from the Psyche spacecraft to Earth on Dec. 11.

Where was Tater Tot cat? ›

Tater Tot, a 5.5-week-old kitten won hearts all across Utah and far beyond. UPDATE: Tater Tot died on Tuesday after moving hearts of people around the world. MIDVALE, Utah — It's a cat whose story captured hearts across Utah and far beyond.

What goes good with fried taters? ›

What to Eat with Fried Potatoes
  • Grilled Chicken Breast. ...
  • Beef Stir-Fry. ...
  • Grouper Fillet with Key Lime Butter Sauce. ...
  • Turkey Chili. ...
  • Pork Chops. ...
  • Shrimp Scampi. ...
  • Vegetable Curry. ...
  • BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwich.
Mar 14, 2024

How many tater tots per person? ›

Load 'em up like a baked potato

First, bake or air fry your tots until crispy and golden. If you're cooking for a group, aim to prepare around 10 to 12 tots per person — more if folks are hungry.

What does Domino's put on their tater tots? ›

Our golden brown tots are covered in a melty blend of mozzarella, cheddar, and provolone, but that's not all — we also add a creamy Alfredo sauce for the ultimate mix of cheesy goodness. You know what would go great with these loaded tots? A cheesy pizza, of course.

Do tater tots count as fries? ›

Thus, tater tots are NOT French fries. If they were, they'd be called tater fries, but they're not.

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