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."

  • 15 Potluck Recipes So Good They'll Make You Famous at Church

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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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18 Fun Recipes That Start With Tater Tots (9)

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.

  • 20 Low-Effort Winter Dinners for Nights It's Almost Too Blah to Cook

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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 were tater tots originally called? ›

From tater treats to imi-taters

Nephi Grigg of Ore-Ida in 1953 as a way to use excess potato shavings that came from making frozen french fries. Originally, the shavings were sold as livestock feed. The term “tater tot” is a proprietary name owned by Ore-Ida.

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.

How do I get the crispiest tater tots? ›

If your oven runs hotter than normal, preheat to 400°F. Take a nonstick baking tray and add the tater tots, making sure to leave a little space in between each one. I recommend placing them raw on the baking tray without lining them with parchment paper. This helps them crisp up better.

What is good on top of tater tots? ›

Best Loaded Tater Tot Toppings

Cheddar, sour cream, and chives. Jack cheese, canned black beans (well-drained), and salsa.

What is a tater tot slang? ›

Tots are short for "tater tots", which are small cylindrical pieces of deep-fried grated potato often served as a side dish or snack. Tots can be a term of endearment used to refer to young children, often toddlers.

What do British people call tater tots? ›

In the UK we call these potato croquettes, which comes from the French word croquet, which means to bite or to crunch. We call them tater tots.

Are tater tots junk food? ›

Warning: There's absolutely nothing healthy or nutritionally redeeming about “tater tots.” They're straight up junk food, loaded with fat and salt. But they're also crispy, salty and simply irresistible — no matter what your age. Ore-Ida's Tater Tots were invented in Oregon in 1953 as a way to use up potato scraps.

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.

Did McDonald's have tater tots? ›

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. The Hash Brown Bites are at McDonald's Australia, and they're described as "crunchy and golden on the outside and steaming, fluffy potato on the inside." ~FlUfFy PoTaTo~.

What is the generic name for tater tots? ›

Tater tots, also known as baby taters or potato gems are grated potatoes formed into small cylinders and deep-fried, often served as a side dish. The name "tater tot" is a registered trademark of the American frozen food company Ore-Ida, but is often used as a generic term.

What happens if you overcook tater tots? ›

They have a high starch content, making the tater tots fluffy and crispy on the outside. Parboil the potatoes (don't cook them through): This is super important. Parboiling the potatoes softens the potatoes enough to grate them easily. If you overcook them, the tots will be mushy.

What is tater tots short for? ›

Tater tots are grated potatoes formed into small cylinders and deep-fried, often served as a side dish. The name "tater tot" is a registered trademark of the American frozen food company Ore-Ida, but is often used as a generic term. "Tater" is short for potato.

What do you put on a tater tot bar? ›

Toppings of Your Choice:
  1. Sargento shredded cheese – a variety to choose from.
  2. Shredded Chicken or Chicken Chunks.
  3. Seasoned Ground Beef or Chili.
  4. Bacon, chopped.
  5. Beans – a variety to choose from.
  6. Daisy Sour Cream.
  7. Salsa – a variety of flavors and heat.
  8. Guacamole.

What's a good side dish for tater tot casserole? ›

If you're serving this as the main dish then why not try serving this tater tot casserole with green beans, spinach, or a bountiful fresh salad.

What is another name for a tater tot? ›

Tater tots, also known as baby taters or potato gems are grated potatoes formed into small cylinders and deep-fried, often served as a side dish. The name "tater tot" is a registered trademark of the American frozen food company Ore-Ida, but is often used as a generic term.

What does the name Ore-Ida mean? ›

The company's name is a syllabic abbreviation of the first few letters of Oregon and Idaho and the original logo consisted of the outlines of Oregon and Idaho with Ore-Ida superimposed in italicized letters. After going public in 1961, the Ore-Ida brand was acquired by the H. J. Heinz Company in 1965.

Were tater tots invented in Oregon? ›

You may not know that tots were invented in Ontario, Oregon in 1953. It was the answer for what to do with potato shavings left over from the production of french fries. To celebrate the culinary holiday, we sent photojournalist Steve Kaufmann to a Bend food cart where the top menu item was having its day.

Are tater tots just hash browns? ›

Are Tater Tots Hash Browns ? Tater Tots and Hashbrowns are very very similar,the main difference between these two dishes is the spicing. Both are best made with Russet Potatoes as they are dry and high in starch, making them perfect for crispy fried potato dishes such as french fries and tater tots.

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