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These Loaded Tater Tots are everyone’s favorite game day snack! You can serve them as an easy appetizer, a side dish, or you can even load them up with meat and beans as a whole meal. These cheesy tater tots are baked until golden, then topped with a creamy ranch sauce, crispy bacon, and plenty of melted cheese.
For more cheesy tater tot goodness, try my Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole or Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole.
Why you’ll love this family favorite recipe!
If you’re anything like me and my family, then you love a good snack! This Loaded Tater Tots recipe seriously disappear whenever I make them. It’s one of those recipes that’s super easy to make, and you can dress them up or down depending on the occasion. They’re perfect for a potluck, barbecue, or an after school snack!
Versatile: Make as a side for burgers and hot dogs, or an easy and delicious appetizer. Customize with toppings to fit the occasion.
Simple Ingredients: Made with only a few ingredients: tater tots, cheese, and bacon! Then top with your favorite sauce.
Convenient: Frozen tater tots are so convenient and easy to dress up. Keep a few bags in your freezer, and load on the toppings for an easy snack or dinner in a pinch!
Table of contents
Loaded Tater Tots Ingredients
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
- Frozen Tater Tots – No need to thaw! Keep them frozen to create a crisp layer on top.
- Sour Cream – I recommend using full-fat sour cream for a more creamy flavor. Reduced-fat will also work.
- Ranch Dressing – Use your favorite brand, or make homemade ranch dressing recipe !
- Shredded Mexican-Style Cheese – I like to use a block of cheddar and shred it myself. It has a better consistency when it melts.
- Bacon – Make your own and chop into thick pieces, or save yourself some time and use store-bought bacon bits.
- Green Onions – This adds a nice pop of color and freshness.
Variations
- Spice it up and add some jalapeño slices and hot sauce!
- Use a nacho cheese sauce instead of Mexican-style cheese for a spicier, gooey-er dish.
- Make totchos (AKA nachos made with tater tots)! Load these up with black beans, leftover taco meat, and don’t forget the salsa and guac!
How to Make Loaded Tater Tots
- Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and coat with nonstick spray. Arrange the tater tots in an even layer and cook according to the package directions.
- Once the tater tots are baked, set the oven to broil, and sprinkle the cheese over the top.
- Broil for 3 to 4 minutes until the cheese is completely melted over the top.
- Remove from the oven, drizzle with the ranch sauce, then sprinkle over the bacon and green onions to serve.
Serving Suggestions
Serve as an easy side with classics like burgers, hot dogs, or fried chicken.
Make it a meal and load up with some leftover taco meat, pulled pork, or chili.
Feed a crowd! Load up a few sheet pans with different toppings, then simply set them out for everyone to enjoy. No individual serving plates or bowls required!
Storage + Reheating
Loaded tater tots can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To reheat them, place them on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 10 to 15 minutes, or until they’re hot and crispy again.
*When reheating, you may want to add a sprinkle of cheese on top if it’s needed to make them extra cheesy and gooey.
Frequently Asked Questions For Loaded Tater Tots
If you like your tots with BIG crunch, you can air fry or even deep fry them instead of baking them. Just follow the package instructions, then place the cooked tater tots on the sheet pan, add the cheese, and melt it in the oven.
Yes! You can easily make these loaded tater tots vegetarian. You can substitute the bacon or meat for plant-based crumbles, beans, and extra veggies like tomatoes, olives, and peppers.
We use a Mexican-style blend, but shredded cheddar and Colby Jack are classic choices. If you’re looking for a spicy kick, I recommend Pepper Jack. For the ultimate gooey cheese blend, use both shredded cheddar and a nacho cheeses sauce.
The best loaded tater tot recipe! They might even be better than nachos. For more easy appetizer recipes, check out my full roundup of super bowl appetizers.
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Loaded Tater Tots
Equipment
- Baking sheet
- Mixing bowl
Ingredients
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 1 package frozen tater tots 32 ounces
- 1 cup sour cream
- ¼ cup ranch dressing
- 2 cups shredded Mexican-style cheese
- 6 slices bacon cooked and chopped
- 2 green onions thinly sliced
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and coat with nonstick spray. Arrange the tater tots in an even layer and cook according to the package directions.Nonstick cooking spray, 1 package frozen tater tots
- While the tater tots bake, whisk together the sour cream and ranch dressing and set aside.1 cup sour cream, ¼ cup ranch dressing
- Once the tater tots are baked, set the oven to broil. Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top, then return to the oven for 3 to 4 minutes until the cheese is completely melted over the top.2 cups shredded Mexican-style cheese
- Remove from the oven, drizzle with the ranch sauce, then sprinkle over the bacon and green onions to serve.6 slices bacon, 2 green onions
Notes
- Extra crispy tater tots: If you like your tots with BIG crunch, you can air fry or even deep fry them instead of baking them. Just follow the package instructions, then place the cooked tater tots on the sheet pan, add the cheese, and melt it in the oven.
- Cheese options: We use a Mexican-style blend, but shredded cheddar and Colby Jack are classic choices. If you’re looking for a spicy kick, I recommend Pepper Jack. For the ultimate gooey cheese blend, use both shredded cheddar and a nacho cheeses sauce.
- Vegetarian option: You can easily make these loaded tater tots vegetarian. You can substitute the bacon or meat for plant-based crumbles, beans, and extra veggies like tomatoes, olives, and peppers.
Best tater tots ever. Probably my 4th time making these today
They look like they are rolled into balls. Can you do that. They do it at work too.
Do I use dry Ranch Seasoning or Prepared Ranch Salad Dressing?..
We use prepared dressing!
These were good but the cooking spray made the Tots greasy. Next time I’ll do as I always do, which is to just use Parchment paper.
Sorry to hear this. Just a light spray should do, but parchment paper is a great alternative! We hope you give it another try. 😊
Thinking of draining a can of black beans and adding them as a topping to these “tatchos”???