Air Fryer tater tots are just the best, hands down! This method produces tater tots that truly taste deep fried but are way healthier. Easy to make from frozen tater tots in just about 15 minutes. You’ll never, ever cook tater tots any other way.
Why These Air Fryer Tater Tots Are So Good!
- This is a healthier way of cooking a favorite game day snack and side dish.
- It only takes 15 minutes to cook the tater tots from frozen.
- They are seriously delicious! They taste deep fried but are so much healthier!
- You only need three ingredients for unbelievably crispy tots!
How to Make Air Fryer Tater Tots
- Preheat air fryer to 400ºf if your AF needs that.
- Coat the tots with a little cooking spray, like avocado oil. Sprinkle with salt and toss to coat. These steps produce the best ever air fryer tater tots.
- Cook for 15 minutes on 400ºf – flip them in the basket every 5 minutes or so until crisp and golden and medium brown in a few spots
- Add extra time if you want them crispier
What are Tater Tots?
Tater Tots are made from grated potato that is then deep fried. They are crispy on the outside and soft in the middle. They are naturally vegan and you can get varieties that cater to specific diets such as gluten-free.
A healthier way to cook tater tots
There’s nothing quite like a crispy tater tot, but to get that restaurant quality crunch means you need to be reaching for the deep fat fryer. But no more! You can achieve the same crunchiness with far less fat by using an air fryer.
It’s so quick, easy and hassle free, and you can cook the tots right from frozen. This is for sure a must have dish for game day Sundays!
What do you serve with tater tots?
Tater Tots are a classic side dish or party food. You can serve these alongside a meat main course as a potato side dish, or serve to a crowd of people as a party appetizer along with your sauces of choice.
You can also add various toppings to your cooked tots; cheese, sriracha, salsa and guacamole all work amazingly well!
Top Tips To Make Air Fryer Potato Tots
- Pre-heat your air fryer for the crispiest tater tots.
- The cooking spray and salt really help to crisp the tater tots, so don’t skip these ingredients!
- Flip the tots in the basket during cooking, so they cook evenly.
- Use organic frozen tater tots for the healthiest version
- Serve immediately!
Be sure to check out these other popular recipes!
- Air Fryer French Fries
- Egg Roll in a Bowl Recipe
- Baked Potatoes on the Grill
- Crockpot Potato Soup
- Sausage in the Air Fryer
- Mashed Potato Pancakes
- How to Toast Pecans
- How to Cook Acorn Squash
- Gluten Free Cornbread Recipe
- Crock Pot Chicken Wings
Hey – you’ve made it this far, and now we’re best friends! If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a star rating ★ below. Make sure you follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook, too!
Air Fryer Tater Tots
Ingredients
- 16 ounces frozen tater tots
- avocado oil (or other cooking spray)
- salt
Wine Pairings — See Notes
- 14K Bubbly Rosé click to buy
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400ºF. Coat the frozen tots with a little cooking spray, like avocado oil. Sprinkle with salt and toss to coat.
- Cook for 15 minutes on 400ºF – flip them in the basket every 5 minutes or so until crisp and golden and medium brown in a few spots. Add extra time if you want them crispier.
Video
Notes
I recommend buying wine from Scout and Cellar, especially for lower carb or sugar and the health conscious. There’s no added sugar to these wines, and they’re all much lower in carbs, calories, and sugar. For me, there’s no headache or fogginess the next day! This recipe is a simple tater tot side dish, so you can get away with a variety of wine pairings perfect for starchy sides. I recommend:
Nutrition
Cheryl Malik is the recipe developer, writer, and photographer behind the healthy, flavorful, family friendly recipes at 40 Aprons. She’s been a blogger for 10 years and is known for her delicious recipes and detailed recipe instructions. Cheryl is a mom of two who lives in Memphis, TN.
kristi says
Used this recipe just yesterday and they were the best tater tots we’ve ever had! Done in 15m and were perfectly brown and crispy. Yum!
Jen says
Just got an air fryer and looked up recipes for tater tots. Saw this one and it turned out perfect! So easy, too! Turned out crispy outside and soft inside!
Chris says
So simple but they made the tater tots SO GOOD
Beth says
A wine paring with tater tots? I love it! Turned out great!
Cheryl Malik says
So tasty!!
Nutmeg's Mom says
These were VERY close to deep-fried tater tots; not quite as good as ones from a restaurant deep-fryer, but definitely better than what I can bake in the oven! I’ll definitely make them again (I really want to toss them with truffle salt before serving). I do have a request: can the recipe have an approximation as to how many tots constitute one serving? The nutritional data from the package of my tots was a bit more specific, and it appears the kcals & CHO on this page would be for about 10 tots (give or take). Regardless, these were pretty dang good.
Amelia Camurati says
This recipe is definitely better than the oven. So crispy with less fat than frying!
Dawn Clark says
Wow, did my tater tots get SUPER BROWN! 15 minutes is too long. Everything else was great!
Amelia Camurati says
I check and shake every 5 minutes!
Will Pa says
Oh my gosh!
I admit, I didn’t think there would be much of a difference between tots from the oven and from the air fryer. Then I saw your video, and thought ‘why not give it a try?’
I am SO glad we did. I never want tots from the oven again. Thank you so very much.
Amelia Camurati says
The air fryer seems to be the best way to get something crispy without frying it in oil. Glad you gave it a try!
Bhawana says
You are such a inspiring person. Glad to find you here with great recipes.
Thanks
Amelia Camurati says
Thank you for your kind words, Bhawana!
HollyFlip says
wow, thanks.
Noel says
These are awesome, love it. Thanks for sharing Cheryl.
Cheryl Malik says
Air Fryer = miracle worker!! Glad you liked them 🙂
NS says
One word, Awesome!! Didn’t know they could be soooooooo good.
Charlie Trotter says
Great Share!! I just make this following your recipe. Thanks for share this recipe.
Cheryl Malik says
You’re welcome!
Mary Everling says
Yum.,Easy n delicious!
Brick says
Excellent
After 14 min cooking 4 ck thighs I added the tater tots and cooked exactly like ur recipe
Wonderfully delicious
Ty
Chris says
These were SO good! They really tasted deep fried