These flavorful tater tots in air fryer are cooked until golden, crisp finish with just little oil. They are crunchy on the outside, tender inside, perfectly seasoned, and loaded with cheesy goodness in every bite! They make the perfect bite-sized party appetizers, game-day snacks, and movie-time munchies.
If you are looking for more air fryer recipes, try zucchini fries, sliced potatoes, and grilled cheese. They are easy, delicious, and are all cooked to a golden, crunchy finish!
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🛒Ingredients For Air Fryer Tater Tots
- Potatoes - I recommend using golden potato varieties like Yukon Gold or Dutch yellow potatoes. They have high starch content, which results in a fluffy texture on the inside and a crispy exterior when fried or baked. You can also try using russet potatoes if that is what you have.
- Parsley - gives the tots a fresh, slightly peppery, and herbaceous flavor.
- Seasoning - this recipe calls for salt, garlic powder, and onion powder. This will give the dough a savory base.
- All-purpose flour - this will act as a binder that will hold the grated potatoes together and keep them intact as they cook in the air fryer. You can also use fine breadcrumbs as an alternative.
- Parmesan cheese - adds a rich, slightly nutty taste and improves the overall flavor and texture of the nuggets.
- Olive oil - to help make the crust crispy and prevent them from sticking to the basket. You can also use any spray oil of your choice.
For the full list of ingredients, please scroll down to where you'll find the recipe card.
Can you bake the tots instead? You can place them at 425°F (220°C) for about 20-25 minutes or until they are golden brown and crispy.
🥣How To Make Tater Tots In Air Fryer
Prepare the potatoes. Peel the potatoes and cook them whole in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes; they should be fork-tender but not breaking apart.
Then, let them cool completely. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes before following the next step.
Make the potato dough. Shred potatoes using a coarse box grater or food processor. Then, place shredded potatoes into a large bowl.
Add chopped parsley, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, all-purpose flour, and parmesan cheese. Stir to combine.
Shape the tots. Roll the dough into 2-inches long tater tots.
When forming the tater tots, roll them into compact cylinders. This helps them hold their shape while air frying.
Prepare for cooking. Pre-heat the Air Fryer to 400F.
Then, arrange tater tots in a single layer and brush them with oil or spray oil.
Cook and serve! Cook tater tots for 14-15 minutes, flipping them over at half-time. Serve them warm with your favorite dipping sauce.
📋Tips For Making The Best Air Fryer Tater Tots
- Squeeze excess moisture. After grating the potatoes, use a clean kitchen towel to squeeze out excess moisture. This step helps prevent soggy tater tots and promotes crispiness.
- Adjust the seasonings. Feel free to make the necessary adjustments to the seasoning depending on your preference.
- Do not overcrowd the basket. Arrange the tater tots in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving some space between them. Overcrowding can lead to uneven cooking.
- Flip or shake. Flipping the tots midway through cooking ensures that they are evenly cooked and browned.
- Adjust the cooking time. Remember that air fryers can have different settings and capacities, so it may take a bit of experimentation to find the perfect cooking time and temperature for your specific appliance.
- How do I make it vegan? The only ingredient that you need to replace is the parmesan cheese. You can use nutritional yeast or any type of non-dairy parmesan brand that you prefer.
- Make them spicy. If you want to add a touch of fieriness to your tater tots, you can add cayenne powder, rec chili flakes or chili powder to the dough.
Storage Instructions
- 🍱To Store. Store any leftover cooked tater tots in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days. Reheat them in the air fryer or oven for the best results.
- 🥶Freezing. Allow cooked tater tots to cool to room temperature first. Then, place the tater tots on a baking sheet in a single layer and freeze until firm. This prevents them from sticking together. Once frozen, transfer the tater tots to a freezer-safe, airtight container or bag. Label and date it for easy reference.
- 🔥To Reheat. To reheat frozen tater tots, preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and cook for 5-6 minutes, shaking the basket occasionally for even heating. Alternatively, you can use an oven or toaster oven.
👪How To Serve With Tater Tots
They would go perfectly with a side of dipping sauces: jalapeno cream cheese dip, pimiento jalapeno dip, creamy avocado dip, or a simple mayo and ketchup combo. You can also serve them alongside burgers, sandwiches, and subs for a hearty meal!
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📖Recipe
Tater Tots in Air Fryer Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pound golden potatoes
- A handful of parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Prepare the potatoes. Peel the potatoes and cook them whole in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes; they should be fork-tender but not breaking apart. Then, let them cool completely. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes before following the next step.
- Make the potato dough. Shred potatoes using a coarse box grater or food processor. Then, place shredded potatoes into a large bowl. Add chopped parsley, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, all-purpose flour, and parmesan cheese. Stir to combine.
- Shape the tots. Roll the dough into 2-inches long tater tots. When forming the tater tots, roll them into compact cylinders. This helps them hold their shape while air frying.
- Prepare for cooking. Pre-heat the Air Fryer to 400F. Then, arrange tater tots in a single layer and brush them with oil or spray oil.
- Cook and serve! Cook tater tots for 14-15 minutes, flipping them over at half-time. Serve them warm with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- To Store In the fridge. Store any leftover cooked tater tots in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days. Reheat them in the air fryer or oven for the best results.
- In the freezer. Allow cooked tater tots to cool to room temperature first. Then, place the tater tots on a baking sheet in a single layer and freeze until firm. This prevents them from sticking together. Once frozen, transfer the tater tots to a freezer-safe, airtight container or bag. Label and date it for easy reference.
- To reheat. To reheat frozen tater tots, preheat your Air Fryer to 400°F (200°C) and cook for 5-6 minutes, shaking the basket occasionally for even heating. Alternatively, you can use an oven or toaster oven.
Nutrition
❤️Did you make this recipe? Please be sure to leave a rating and a comment below. Thank you!❤️
Rita
enjoy a delicious batch of air fryer tater tots - tender inside with crispy exterior!
Michael Taylor
This looks so yummy! I had no idea you could make food like this with an air frier!
Rita
amazing right!? Thanks for commenting!