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    Air Fryer Tater Tots (3 Ways!)

    Published: May 12, 2021 by Elise Shivamber · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This post may contain affiliate links. I earn a commission on these links at no cost to you.

    These air fryer tater tots are the easiest, crispiest side dish ever. No added oil and only 15-minutes to achieve delicious tots from frozen in the air fryer. Plus, three different seasonings if you want to spruce up the traditional tater tot recipe!

    air fryer tater tots,air fried tater tots,tater tots

    Bored of the typical tater tots recipe? I’m not, but after trying out a bajillion different ways to eat tater tots I don’t think I’m ever going back! Three seasonings offered: Mexican Chili Lime, Greek Seasoning, and Spicy Smoky Buffalo … which will be your favorite?

    Eating clean for the past five years, my favorite recipes were those that use simple, fresh ingredients. I’m a huge proponent of making easy side dishes that don’t skimp out on taste. For side dish recipes like this one, I prefer only a few ingredients that pack a huge flavor. For other simple, delicious side dishes try Mexican Street Corn (Elotes) or Fresh Avocado Salad.

    Jump to:
    • Highlights of this Recipe
    • Ingredients & Substitutions
    • Tips for Choosing the Best / Healthiest Tater Tots
    • Diet Substitutions 
    • Step-By-Step Instructions
    • Three Seasonings for Tater Tots
    • Air Fryer Tips & Tricks
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Other Side Dishes You May Also Like
    • What Do You Serve with Air Fryer Tater Tots
    • 📖 Recipe

    Highlights of this Recipe

    This recipe is:

    • Easy
    • Healthier
    • Quick
    • Fun

    Ingredients & Substitutions

    air fryer tater tots,air fried tater tots,tater tots
    • Frozen Tater Tots. Your preference of frozen tater tots. Choose your favorite between regular potato and sweet potato tater tots.
    • Seasoning. (optional)

    Tips for Choosing the Best / Healthiest Tater Tots

    Not going to lie, tater tots are probably my favorite carb?? I always avoided tater tots when I could because I thought of them as unhealthy. 

    My suggestions to make this side dish healthier: 

    1. Unseasoned. Buy tater tots unseasoned and add your own seasoning! 
    2. No Oil. Using the air fryer with no added oil already reduces the added fat in this recipe. 
    3. Nutrition Facts. Read the nutrition facts when purchasing a bag of frozen tater tots. Just because something says organic or is made of sweet potato does NOT mean it’s healthier than another option.
    4. Portion-control. It’s easy to make the entire bag of frozen tater tots and then feel stuffed and sick to your stomach. It helps to measure out your food depending on how many people are eating it.

    My favorite brands for tater tots are Alexia and Cascadian Farms!

    Diet Substitutions 

    Vegan. This air fryer recipe already is!

    Gluten Free. Most frozen tater tot packages already are, but just ensure so on the packaging! 

    Paleo / Whole30. Use frozen cauliflower vegetable tater tots as a substitute! Or make your own!

    Step-By-Step Instructions

    frozen tater tots inside an air fryer basket

    STEP ONE: Preheat the air fryer.

    STEP TWO: Air fry the frozen tater tots. 

    STEP THREE: Shake after 5-minutes, 10-minutes, and then remove.

    STEP FOUR: Eat as is, or add seasoning.

    Three Seasonings for Tater Tots

    air fryer tater tots,air fried tater tots,tater tots
    1. Mexican Chili Lime Seasoning

    With chili lime seasoning and even cotija cheese if you’d like, Mexican chili lime tater tots is delicious! If you’re a fan of Tajín or Trader Joe’s Chili Lime seasoning this is where it’s at!

    1. Greek Seasoning

    With dried herbs, garlic and onion, what’s not to like about this fresh take on the typical tater tots. Perfect for those who love Italian seasoning. Try using fresh herbs if you’d like!

    1. Spicy Smoky Buffalo Seasoning

    With cayenne pepper, paprika and chili powder, this spicy and smoky buffalo seasoning is great for those who like a little heat!

    Air Fryer Tips & Tricks

    • Make sure to preheat the air fryer to allow for the crispiest air fryer tots! My Ninja Air Fryer suggests 3 minutes of preheating so that is what I typically do.
    • Spread out frozen tater tots in an even layer.
    • Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. Do it in batches rather than overcrowd your air fryer.
    • It’s best to shake the air fryer basket halfway through the frying time. This helps make sure all sides are evenly crisped. You can shake the basket or use tongs to toss the tater tots.
    air fryer tater tots,air fried tater tots,tater tots

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can you reheat tater tots in the air fryer?

    Yes! You can cook and also reheat tater tots in the air fryer!

    How do you reheat tater tots in the air fryer?

    1. Preheat your air fryer for 3 minutes at 350ºF.
    2. Air fry the tater tots for 3-5 minutes, and then serve warm!

    What are some ways to season the air fryer tater tots?

    You can try my three seasonings: Mexican Chili Lime, Greek, or Smoky Spicy Buffalo. Or you can add cajun seasoning, chili powder, Italian seasoning, or even plain garlic salt! 

    Are air fried tater tots healthy?

    Tater tots themselves can be high calorie, high fat, high carbs. Look at the nutrition facts when purchasing a bag. This air fryer recipe uses no oil, which helps make these tater tots more healthy than deep frying or using oil.

    Best air fryer tater tot dipping sauce?

    Air Fried tater tots don’t really need a sauce - they’re great as is! If you do want a dipping sauce, try ketchup, mustard, avocado lime sauce, or even BBQ sauce!

    Other Side Dishes You May Also Like

    • air fryer tater tots,air fried tater tots,tater tots
      Gluten Free Mashed Potatoes
    • air fryer tater tots,air fried tater tots,tater tots
      Mexican Breakfast Potatoes
    • air fryer tater tots,air fried tater tots,tater tots
      40+ Best Sides for Fish Tacos
    • air fryer tater tots,air fried tater tots,tater tots
      Corn Tortilla Chips (Gluten Free)

    What Do You Serve with Air Fryer Tater Tots

    📖 Recipe

    tater tots in a red basket with an air fryer in the back and a ketchup bottle out of sight

    Air Fryer Tater Tots (3 Ways!)

    Elise Shivamber
    These air fryer tater tots are the easiest, crispiest side dish ever. No added oil and only 15-minutes to achieve delicious tots from frozen in the air fryer. Plus, three different seasonings if you want to spruce up the traditional tater tot recipe!
    No ratings yet
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 3 mins
    Cook Time 12 mins
    Total Time 15 mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 5 servings
    Calories 161 kcal

    Equipment

    • Air Fryer

    Ingredients
      

    • 16 OZ Frozen Tater Tots

    Mexican Chili Lime Seasoning

    • 1 TBSP Tajin or Chili Lime Seasoning
    • 0.5 OZ Cotija Cheese optional

    Greek Seasoning

    • 2 TSP Dried parsley
    • 2 TSP dried Oregano
    • ½ TSP Garlic Powder
    • ½ TSP onion powder
    • ½ TSP Garlic salt

    Spicy Smoky Buffalo Seasoning

    • ½ TSP Cayenne Powder
    • ¼ TSP chili powder
    • 1 TSP Paprika
    • ½ TSP Kosher Salt
    • ½ TSP garlic powder

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF for 3 minutes.
    • Place the frozen tater tots in the air fryer basket in an even layer. If your air fryer is smaller you may have to complete in batches.
    • Air fry the tater tots for 12-minutes at 400ºF. After 5-minutes, remove the air fryer basket and shake well to toss all of the tater tots. Repeat after an additional 5-minutes (at the 10-minute mark).
    • If after 10-minutes your tater tots have become dark brown, watch closely for the remaining time.
    • Remove after the full 12-minutes.

    With Seasoning

    • If using a seasoning: combine the seasoning ingredients.
    • Add the air fried tater tots and seasoning to a large bowl and toss gently to cover all tater tots evenly.

    Notes

    Make sure to preheat the air fryer to allow for the crispiest air fryer tots! My Ninja Air Fryer suggests 3 minutes of preheating so that is what I typically do.
    Spread out frozen tater tots in an even layer.
    Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. Do it in batches rather than overcrowd your air fryer.
    It’s best to shake the air fryer basket halfway through the frying time. This helps make sure all sides are evenly crisped. You can shake the basket or use tongs to toss the tater tots.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 3OZCalories: 161kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 2gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 388mgPotassium: 240mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 4IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 12mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword air fryer, air fryer tater tots, tater tots
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