These homemade tater tots are made in the air fryer and come out lightly crispy on the outside and deliciously creamy on the inside.
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Making tater tots at home is a lot easier than you might think, and they turn out tasting so much better than the frozen variety.
All you need is a few simple ingredients, and an air fryer.
These homemade tots are crispy on the outside, and creamy and packed with flavor on the inside.
Just the way tater tots should be.
These tater tots are made without much oil, so they have less fat and are way healthier than the store bought options.
And although they do take some extra time, they aren't difficult to make at all.
I personally like baking these tater tots in the air fryer because they cook evenly and quickly.
This makes for crispy tater tots that are tasty and delicious.
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What You'll Love About This Recipe
- Crispy Perfection: Achieve a golden, crispy exterior with a fluffy interior, thanks to the air fryer's cooking method.
- Healthier Option: Made with less oil compared to traditional frying, offering a guilt-free indulgence.
- Customizable: Easily tailor the recipe with your favorite seasonings or add-ins like cheese or bacon bits for a personal touch.
Ingredients
Potatoes: The base ingredient of any traditional tater tot. We'll be using boiled, grated potatoes.
Seasonings: A little seasoning to add to great flavor and make these tater tots mouth watering! We used the following seasonings
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Chili flakes
- Chopped parsley
- Oregano
- Salt & pepper
Flour: To mix with our grated potatoes to make sure they stay in their tater tot form.
Instructions
Start by boiling your potatoes until they are tender when pierced with a fork.
Drain potatoes and set aside until are cool enough to work with your hands without burning them.
Grate the potatoes using a cheese grater or box grater and put into a large bowl.
Add your seasonings and flour to your shredded potatoes and mix to combine everything very well.
It should start to form a sticky dough.
Divide the dough evenly into 20 small balls. I like to divide the dough into 2 equal balls and keep dividing.
Form tater tots from each of the small dough balls.
Preheat the air fryer and place your tater tots into the air fryer basket. Brush the tater tots with a small amount of vegetable oil.
Cook in your air fryer for 8 to 10 minutes and then flip them.
Cook for an additional 5 minutes, or until the tater tots are lightly golden brown.
The tater tots should have a crispy outer layer but remain soft and fluffy on the inside.
Serve the tater tots hots with ketchup, barbecue sauce, or your favorite dipping sauce.
Top Tip
They type of potatoes you use will make a big difference in the texture of your tater tots. Try to use extra starchy potatoes like russet potatoes for a tender and fluffier inside. Don't worry though, if you only have other potatoes on hand, they'll work too.
Substitutions
Potatoes: While russet potatoes are ideal for their starch content and texture, you can also use Yukon Gold potatoes for a slightly creamier consistency.
Oil: If you're out of olive oil, feel free to use avocado oil or vegetable oil for frying. Each will give a nice crispness to the tater tots.
Seasoning: Traditional tater tots are seasoned with salt, but for a different taste, you can use garlic powder, smoked paprika, or even a sprinkle of parmesan cheese to enhance the flavor.
Variations
- Cheesy Tater Tots: Mix in shredded cheddar or pepper jack cheese with the grated potato mixture before shaping and cooking to add a gooey, cheesy center.
- Spicy Tater Tots: For those who like it hot, adding diced jalapeños or a dash of cayenne pepper to the potato mix can spice things up.
- Sweet Potato Tots: Substitute the russet potatoes with sweet potatoes for a sweeter, nutrient-rich alternative. Sweet potato tots pair wonderfully with a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg for a festive twist.
Storage
Refrigerating Tater Tots: Cool the tater tots completely before storing to prevent them from becoming soggy. Place them in an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag, separating layers with parchment paper to avoid sticking. Refrigerated tater tots will last for up to 3 days. Reheat them in the air fryer or oven to restore crispness.
Freezing Tater Tots: For best results, freeze tater tots after cooking and cooling. Spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze individually, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container. Frozen cooked tater tots can last for up to 3 months. Reheat directly from frozen in the air fryer or oven, no thawing necessary.
Reheating Tater Tots: To reheat, place tater tots in the air fryer at 400°F for 5-10 minutes or in the oven at 425°F for 10-15 minutes, until they are heated through and crispy again. Avoid microwaving as it can make them soft and mushy.
FAQs
Absolutely! Preheat your oven to 400°F. Place your tater tots on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and lightly oil them. Bake for 16-18 minutes, then flip your tots and continue baking for an additional 8-9 minutes until your tots are golden brown.
Yes, you can prepare tater tots ahead of time and freeze them before cooking. Lay them out on a baking sheet to freeze individually, then transfer to a freezer bag for storage.
Yes, if you make them from scratch using just potatoes, oil, and gluten-free seasonings, they are gluten-free. However, always check the labels on store-bought versions if you're concerned about gluten.
Tater tots are versatile and can be served as a side dish, a snack with dipping sauces, or even used as a base for a tater tot casserole or nachos.
Recipe
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Homemade Air Fryer Tater Tots
Ingredients
- 1 lb potatoes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes
- ½ cup chopped parsley
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon oregano
Instructions
- Boil potatoes until tender. Drain water and allow to cool.
- Shred potatoes with box grater and place in large bowl.
- Add salt, black pepper powder, onion powder, garlic powder, chili flakes, chopped parsley, all-purpose flour, and oregano.
- Mix well to combine. Potato mixture should be a little sticky like dough.
- Divide potato mixture into 20 small balls and form into tater tot shape.
- Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 350 F.
- Place the tater tots in the air fryer basket and brush a little oil on top.
- Air fry tater tots for 8-10 minutes. Flip and cook for additional 5 minutes or until lightly brown.
- Serve hot with your favorite ketchup or dipping side.
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