Air Fryer Tator Tots

If you love golden and perfectly crispy tator tots, you have to try this air fryer recipe. You are going to love how they turn out and how simple they are. Serve with our homemade ketchup and the kiddos will come back for seconds. You may even like these other Healthy Snacks for Toddlers.

In less than 15 minutes, this tasty snack or side dish can be ready to enjoy. You can serve them as is or add some seasoning to enhance the flavor. Either way you make them, these air fryer tator tots will be requested all the time.

What are Tator Tots?

Tator Tots are a kid-friendly frozen food that everyone actually loves. They are bite-size and the perfect side dish or snack anytime of the day. They are easy to make and are a perfect side to hamburgers, hot dogs or just about anything.

My kids love them just as a snack as they can easily grab them as a filling snack item. We even top them on casseroles or place them in a breakfast burrito.

The crispy outside texture with the soft inside make for the best food item that everyone will enjoy. You may even like this Totchos for an easy weeknight meal.

Why This Recipe Works

We have been starting to use our air fryer more and more. I am starting to prefer my kids to use it instead of the oven-baked. Air Fried Tator tots are one of those food items that just taste great after cooking in the air fryer.

The tots come out so crispy and there is very little work involved to preparing to put them in the air fryer. Rather you are using frozen tator tots or homemade tater tots, they always come out perfectly.

Making air fryer tater tots is an easy meal and air frying them makes for easy clean up. The cooking process is a breeze and you will love the way they taste.

Ingredients

Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe in the recipe card.

Seasonings Variations

Tator Tots are great just as they are. But we do like to add in some seasoning to enhance the flavor. I usually add about 1 teaspoon when I am adding in seasoning. Here are some of our favorite seasonings:

• Italian Seasoning
• Season Salt
• Taco Seasoning
• Garlic Salt or Garlic Powder

How to Make Tator Tots in the Air Fryer

• Step 1 – First, spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.

• Step 2 – Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees. If your air fryer doesn’t have the preheat option, just set your air fryer to 400 degrees and heat for about 5 minutes.

• Step 3 – Second, place the tator tots in the basket and spread out into a single layer.

• Step 4 – Cook at 400 degrees F for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Times will vary depending on air fryer.

• Step 5 – Remove tater tots and place on serving plate. Repeat with remaining tater tots

• Step 6 – Serve immediately with ketchup, cheese, bacon or other condiments that you like

Expert Tips

• Cooking – Shaking the basket every 5 minutes will result in crispier air fryer tots. Be mindful of the cooking time as it does vary based on the type and brand of air fryer you are using.
• Crispy Tots – If you prefer extra crispy tots, cook them longer than 15 minutes in 2-3 minute intervals until they are how you like them.
• Cooking Spray – Use the cooking spray or vegetable oil you prefer but we love Avocado oil spray. They turn out so crispy and delicious. All it requires is a little bit of oil.

Favorite Dipping Sauce

• Homemade ketchup
• Shredded Cheese– pepper jack, cheddar, mozzarella are all good options.
• Homemade Ranch– This easy ranch dressing is amazing.
• Queso – So easy and tastes just like at a restaurant. Homemade cheese sauce is also good too.
• Chili -This is our favorite hot dog chili and it is so delicious on tater tots.
• Easy Guacamole Recipe with Salsa – This is another great option that is delicious and easy to make.
• Sour Cream

Serving Suggestions

Tator tots are great with lots of different foods. Here are some of our favorite ways to serve them:

• Side Dish – Air Fryer Hamburgers, Grilled Hot Dogs, or Air Fryer Brats
• Tater Tot Nachos – Make Tator Tots with your air fryer and top with shredded cheese. Place in the oven and make Cheesy Tator Tots. Sprinkle with onions and chili and it becomes a complete meal.
• Wrap – Make a tator tots chili cheese wrap. This is one my favorite lunches.
• Bacon – We have an easy air fryer bacon recipe here to serve with the tator tots with Over Hard Eggs for a delicious breakfast idea.