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Learn how to make Tater Tots at home - easy to make and loaded with amazing taste. Seasoned with garlic & onion powder, salt & pepper they come out crispy on the outside and soft and creamy on the inside.
This recipe includes both air fryer * and oven instructions.
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If you're like me and live in a country where there's no way to get tater tots - or if you just want to try to make them yourself - then this guide is for you!
Tater tots are easy to make at home, and with this homemade tater tots recipe you are in 100% control of the seasoning & other ingredients.
Why you will love this recipe
- It's easy - not as easy as frozen tots, but almost
- It's pretty quick with just 10 minutes of active cooking
- It's cheap and made with pantry staples
- They're so delicious seasoned with garlic and onion powder
- They come out crispy on the outside and soft on the inside - just like how a tater tot should be!
What you need to make them
Ingredient notes & substitutions
- Potatoes - any kind works, but Yukon Gold, Russet and King Edward make the best tots in my opinion
- Vegetable oil - any neutral variety works great, I always use rapeseed oil
- Corn starch can be swapped for potato starch
- Seasonings can be adjusted to suit your taste - for example, you can double the amount of black pepper for a more peppery version
How to make Tater Tots
To make homemade air fryer * tater tots you will need half-boiled potatoes. To achieve this, boil them (peeling optional) for 8 minutes. Then drain the water, and set the potatoes aside to cool for at least 15 minutes.
- Grate the potatoes - the skin will fall off easily while you do this
- Place corn starch together with garlic powder, onion powder, salt & pepper in a small bowl
- Mix well
- Place grated potatoes and seasoning in a large bowl
- Use your hands to mix together the potatoes and seasoning. Work the potato mixture like you would a bread dough, for about 1 minute.
- When the mixture keeps together well, you're done
- Make the tots by taking a piece of dough and placing it in your hand. Squeeze it gently to create a tot.
- Repeat until you've made 25 tots and the dough is finished
- Place the tots in a bowl and pour over the oil
- Mix gently so that the tots keep their shape
- Place the tots in a single layer in a preheated air fryer * basket, and air fry for 15 minutes at 400°F (200°C). Remove the basket every 5 minutes and shake it gently to turn the tots.
- Serve immediately with ketchup or your favorite sauce!
Tips & tricks
- You don't have to peel * the potatoes first - the skin will come off easily when you grate them
- To quickly cook the potatoes - cut them in smaller pieces and microwave for 2 minutes
- You can use a food processor * to grate potatoes and mix with the seasoning
- Make the tots pretty even in size to help them cook evenly
- Dip your fingers in cold water before making the tots, to avoid the dough sticking to them. Repeat when the dough starts sticking again.
- Air fry in a single layer for an even cook. I have a small air fryer where 2 servings of this recipe fits perfectly in one layer, but if you want to double the recipe you might need to fry them in batches.
- You can also bake them in the oven: place on a baking sheet lined with aluminium foil and bake for 20 minutes at 400°F (200°C). Carefully turn them after 10 minutes.
- Serve them immediately as they will loose their crisp quickly
- Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days
- Heat leftovers in the air fryer * for 5 minutes at 350°F (180°C) (shake once halfway) or fry them in some butter in a pan
- Freeze leftovers to keep them for up to 3 months
- If you want to freeze the whole batch bake them for just 6-8 minutes per side, then freeze them individually before placing in plastic bags in the freezer
Recipe FAQ
The best way to make tater tots crispy is to air fry them. If you don't have an air fryer, bake them in the oven and make sure they have crisped up on the bottom before flipping them. After cooking, place on a paper towel to soak up any excess oil and add a bit of extra crisp.
Tater tots are made of potatoes, spices and a bit of flour or starch.
If you prefer to use frozen tater tots they are also best cooked in the air fryer. Coat them with a little bit of oil, and then cook them in the air fryer for 15 minutes at 400°F (200°C). Remove the basket and shake them around every five minutes for an even cook.
What to serve with Tater Tots
I love these air fryer tater tots as a snack on their own or as a side for meat. Here are some of my favorite things to serve alongside them:
- Feta Stuffed Chicken
- Baked Chicken Tenders
- Duck with Orange Sauce
- Blue Cheese Sauce
- Guacamole
- Chipotle Ranch
- Tyrosalata (Whipped Feta)
More quick & easy air fryer sides
Looking for more quick & easy air fryer sides?
- Air Fryer Carrot Fries
- Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
- Air Fryer Baby Carrots with Honey Butter
Did you love this recipe? Rate it five stars!
...and let me know what you loved about it in the comments.
Recipe
Homemade Air Fryer Tater Tots
Print Pin RateIngredients
- 4 medium-sized potatoes
- ½ tablespoon corn starch
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon fine table salt
- ⅛ teaspoon fine ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoon vegetable oil
Instructions
- Boil the potatoes for 8 minutes, then pour off the water and set the potatoes aside to cool for at least 15 minutes4 medium-sized potatoes
- Grate the potatoes.
- Mix together corn starch, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper in a small bowl.½ tablespoon corn starch, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon fine table salt, ⅛ teaspoon fine ground black pepper
- Place grated potatoes and the mixed seasoning in a bowl and mix together. Use your hands and knead it like a dough for about 1 minute. When it holds together and resembles a dough, it's done.
- Divide the dough into 25 parts and create tots by grabbing a piece of dough and squeezing it gently in your hand. Use a tiny bit of water on your fingers to avoid the dough sticking to them. Repeat until you've made all the tots. Meanwhile, preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- Place the tots in a bowl and pour over the oil. Mix gently to avoid breaking apart the tots.2 teaspoon vegetable oil
Air Fryer Instructions
- Place tots in a single layer in the air fryer basket and air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 15 minutes. Remove the basket every 5 minutes and shake gently to turn them.
- Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce!
Oven Instructions
- Place on a baking sheet lined with aluminium foil and bake in a preheated oven for 20 minutes at 400°F (200°C), turning them carefully halfway.
- Place on a paper towel to soak up any excess oil, then serve!
Equipment needed for this recipe
- Mixing bowl*
Video
Notes
Ingredient notes & substitutions
- Potatoes - any kind works, but Yukon Gold, Russet and King Edward make the best tots in my opinion
- Vegetable oil - any neutral variety works great, I always use rapeseed oil
- Corn starch can be swapped for potato starch
- Seasonings can be adjusted to suit your taste - for example, you can double the amount of black pepper for a more peppery version
Tips & tricks
- You don't have to peel the potatoes first - the skin will come off easily when you grate them
- To quickly cook the potatoes - cut them in smaller pieces and microwave for 2 minutes
- You can use a food processor to grate potatoes and mix with the seasoning
- Make the tots pretty even in size to help them cook evenly
- Dip your fingers in cold water before making the tots, to avoid the dough sticking to them. Repeat when the dough starts sticking again.
- Air fry in a single layer for an even cook. I have a small air fryer where 2 servings of this recipe fits perfectly in one layer, but if you want to double the recipe you might need to fry them in batches.
- You can also bake them in the oven: place on a baking sheet lined with aluminium foil and bake for 20 minutes at 400°F (200°C). Carefully turn them after 10 minutes.
- Serve them immediately as they will loose their crisp quickly
- Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days
- Heat leftovers in the air fryer for 5 minutes at 350°F (180°C) (shake once halfway) or fry them in some butter in a pan
- Freeze leftovers to keep them for up to 3 months
- If you want to freeze the whole batch bake them for just 6-8 minutes per side, then freeze them individually before placing in plastic bags in the freezer
Nutrition
Nutritional information is approximate and automatically calculated, and should only be viewed as an indication.
Katrina M Staples
Can you make thetots without.onion powder and garlic powder. I don't like the taste with these 2 ingredients
Emmeline Kemperyd
Hi Katrina! Sure, you can make them without those. I just like the extra flavor, but if you don't feel free to skip them or swap for another seasoning you do enjoy. /Emmeline
susan mccrodden
Can this recipe be made ahead and frozen for later use. How can this be made in a air fryer with racks not a basket?
Emmeline Kemperyd
Hi Susan, I haven't tried to make it ahead and freezing it - but I will definitely try that and report back! the cooking method will be the same for an air fryer with racks. As with all air fryers the cooking time can vary so keep an eye on them to make sure they're cooked just right. /Emmeline