Loaded Tater Tots Recipe | Easy Homemade Totchos (2024)

Loaded Tater Tots are the ultimate comfort food and the perfect appetizer. Perfectly crispy and piled high with melty cheese, crispy bacon, refreshing sour cream, and fresh green onions they are guaranteed to be a hit for any occasion.

Why This Is The Perfect Appetizer

• It’s super simple. Just cook the tater tots, layer on all of your favorite toppings, and bake until perfectly melty and delicious.
• Minimal ingredients. This tasty dish only takes a few ingredients, so there’s no need to make an extra trip to the grocery store to cure that craving for something crispy, cheesy, and delicious.
• Limitless variations. Just when you think you’ve tried every delicious combination of toppings, you’ll think of another creative combination that will have you coming back for more.

Loaded Tater Tots are totally versatile, tasty, and couldn’t be easier to make. Whether you are hosting friends, craving a late-night snack, or need some comfort food to snuggle in with on a lazy weekend, this amazing appetizer is guaranteed to please.

What Are Loaded Tots Made Of?

Make sure you have these ingredients in your kitchen before you get started:

• Tater Tots– These form the crispy base, providing a starchy texture and potato flavor.
• Shredded Cheese– Adds gooeyness and richness to the tots, melting over the crispy exterior and enhancing the overall flavor.
• Cooked Bacon– Provides a savory flavor, offering a crunchy texture and bursts of saltiness throughout the dish.
• Sour Cream– A cool and creamy addition that provides a contrast to the crispy tots.
• Green Onion– Provides freshness and a mild onion flavor, balancing the richness of the cheese and bacon.
• Seasonings– Enhance the tots by seasoning with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

How To Make Loaded Tater Tots

Prepare the tater tots. Begin by cooking the frozen tater tots completely until crispy and delicious. Cook them in the air fryer, deep fryer, or oven according to the package instructions.

Layer the toppings. Place the cooked tater tots onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Pile on your favorite toppings that you want to be melted onto the top of your totchos. Reserve any condiments that should remain cold to place on top after they are baked.

Bake, serve, and enjoy! Bake the loaded tater tots for 7-10 minutes at 375F or until the cheese is melted. Remove them from the oven. Finish topping your loaded tots with sour cream, green onions, and any other cold toppings. Serve immediately while they are piping hot and enjoy!

Tips And Tricks

These totchos are a super simple recipe as written, but there are a few steps you can take to make sure they turn out perfectly every time. Read over these tips and tricks before you get started:

• Absorb the excess oil. If you opt to deep fry the tater tots before loading them with toppings, make sure you place them on a layer of paper towels to absorb any excess oils.
• Don’t skimp on the cheese. The melted shredded cheese works as the glue that holds all of the tasty toppings on while you dig in. Don’t be afraid to add plenty of cheese to keep them from being too messy.
• Use microwaveable bacon. Save even more time by using microwaveable bacon or bacon bits.
• Season generously. While the toppings are certainly the star of the show, don’t forget to add plenty of seasoning before piling them high. Salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika bring out the amazing flavors of all of the other ingredients to create a deliciously cohesive dish.

Variations

Love loaded tots but want more ways to switch up the flavors? Try some of these tasty variations to add some variety to your next appetizer spread:

• Pack on the protein. While bacon is a deliciously salty addition to the totchos, there are so many more protein options that are delicious on them. Try precooked buffalo chicken, BBQ pulled pork or even steak fajitas meat.
• Keep it vegetarian. If you prefer to keep things meat-free omit the bacon bits and add on some sauteed onions and peppers for more flavor and substance.
• Try TexMex. Top your loaded tater tots with ground beef, black beans, corn, and salsa for a hearty meal with some southwest flair.

What To Eat With Loaded Tater Tots

Not sure how loaded tater tots fit into your weekly meal plan? Here are a few ways you can enjoy them that just make sense:

• Hot wings- Take your next game night or tailgating part to the next level by serving some of your favorite appetizers.
• Mozzarella sticks- Offer some extra cheesy variety in your appetizer spread with air fryer mozzarella sticks.
• Burgers- Serve them as a side dish with your favorite Smash burger or sliders.

Storage And Reheating

Totchos are best enjoyed fresh out of the oven so that the tater tots remain crispy and delicious.

If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in your refrigerator for 3-4 days. When you’re ready to eat them, pop them in the air fryer or oven at 375F for 3-5 minutes until they are warmed through and crispy.

More Amazing Appetizers

• Pizza Bombs
• Cashew Chicken Dip
• Elote Dip
• Spinach Dip with Garlic Bites
• Buffalo Chicken Pull Apart Dip

If you love this Loaded Tater Tots recipe as much as we do, make sure you share it with your friends on social media so they can try it too! Don’t forget to save it for the next time you need the perfect game-time snack or late-night comfort food.