Loaded Tater Tots
Frozen tater tots are baked until golden, then topped with shredded cheese, crumbled bacon, sour cream, and green onions to make these Loaded Tater Tots. You better believe that’s a combination that causes my kids to eat the sheet pan clean in minutes. Quick and easy to make, they’re a fun appetizer or side for game day and casual gatherings. Plus, tater tots are usually gluten free. Just double-check your bag’s label, and this one’s an easy share for everyone at the table!
Delicious Details
- Cuisine Inspiration: American
- Primary Cooking Method: Oven
- Dietary Info: Gluten-free
- Skill Level: Easy
Loaded tater tots, aka totchos (tater tot + nachos), have become a big family favorite lately. They’re a fun alternative to regular nachos or Loaded French Fries, with crunchy tater tots as the base instead of chips or fries. I usually assemble and serve them straight from the sheet pan for game day and parties. They’re also a great appetizer and snack for the kids.
The version I’m sharing today is a classic, with lots of cheese, crispy bacon, sour cream, and green onions…basically the toppings from my Loaded Baked Potato. But you can turn basically any nacho or loaded fry recipe, like BBQ Chicken Nachos or Loaded Buffalo Chicken Fries, into loaded tots. So many options!
Why My Family Is Obsessed With These Loaded Tater Tots
- Cheese + bacon. Let’s be honest, cheese and bacon make pretty much everything better. These loaded tater tots are no exception. They’re loaded with two kinds of gooey, melty shredded cheese and crunchy, salty crumbled bacon (in addition to other toppings).
- Great for sharing. These are one of our favorite appetizers for casual family gatherings and game days. They’re also great for the kids to share with their friends as an after-school snack.
- Many variations. I stuck with the classic “loaded” combo here, with lots of cheese, bacon, sour cream, and green onions. But you can really top these tater tots with any of your favorite toppings and even things like buffalo chicken. I included lots of suggestions below!
Ingredient Notes
Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this loaded tater tots recipe. I’ve also included a few ingredient notes and tips that might be helpful. Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card with measurements.
- Bacon – If using raw bacon, you’ll need to cook and cool it ahead of time. I’ve shared my favorite methods, including the air fryer and the microwave, in my post How To Cook Bacon. You can also use pre-cooked crumbled bacon; I would just recommend crisping it up in the microwave before using it.
- Frozen tater tots – Most tater tots are gluten free but double-check the label if needed. I like the Ore-Ida brand.
- Cheese – I use equal parts Colby Jack and sharp cheddar cheese. While you can use just one kind, a combination of cheeses is definitely a good call, as the tots had such good flavor!
- Sour cream – For best drizzling, I add a little water and sour cream to a bowl, give it a mix, and drizzle it over top with a spoon. You can also use the squeezable sour cream, but I find it’s still too thick for my liking.
- Sliced green onions – I like the pop of color and mild flavor added by the green onions. Chives or red onions would also work for a little different flavor.
How To Make Loaded Tater Tots
It takes just a few extra minutes to take basic frozen tater tots to a whole new level with this recipe. The printable instructions can be found in the recipe card below.
- Prep. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Cook the bacon using the desired method, crumble, and set aside.
- Bake the tater tots. Spread the frozen tater tots on a baking tray. Bake according to the package directions, usually around 25 minutes, and stir halfway.
- Add the cheese. Once the tater tots are golden brown, season with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle all of the cheese evenly on top. Bake for another 5 minutes or so, just until the cheese melts.
- Add the toppings. Top the tater tots with the crumbled bacon, sour cream, and green onions. Enjoy!
More Topping Ideas
The fun thing about these loaded tater tots is that there’s a million ways to customize them, turn them into a meal, or just swap an ingredient or two.
- Switch up the sauce: Change things up by using my Big Mac Sauce, Avocado Crema, or Greek Yogurt Ranch instead of the sour cream. You can also make it extra gooey with Gluten Free Cheese Sauce instead of the shredded cheese.
- Taco totchos: Swap the bacon for taco meat made with my Homemade Taco Seasoning, and top it with salsa, pico de gallo, diced avocado, or any other favorite taco toppings.
- Chili cheese tots: Swap the shredded cheese for Gluten Free Cheese Sauce and replace the bacon with Ground Turkey Chili, my World’s Best Chili, or No Bean Chili.
- BBQ pulled pork totchos: Use the toppings in my BBQ Pulled Pork Fries for a fun twist that easily doubles as a full meal.
- Buffalo chicken totchos: These are a game day favorite! I like to use the meat leftover from Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches and top them with cheese sauce, crumbled bacon, and Greek Yogurt Ranch Dip or Greek Yogurt Blue Cheese.
Make Ahead & Storage
- Can I make this ahead of time? If using raw bacon, you can prep by cooking, cooling, and crumbling it ahead of time and shredding the cheese ahead of time. For the other steps, I would recommend waiting until you’re ready to eat before beginning to prepare.
- Storage: This is best served hot, but if you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Reheat them in the oven or microwave.
Make It A Meal
These loaded tater tots make a great side dish or appetizer, especially on game day and at parties. Though some of the variations with added protein can easily pass as a meal!
- More appetizers & snacks: If these loaded tots are being served up on game day, it’s usually as part of a spread with other finger foods. Baked Buffalo Wings, Bacon Blue Cheese Buffalo Dip, and Balsamic Glazed Cauliflower Wings are some of our favorites.
- Salad: A quick way to turn these tots into dinner is to serve them with your favorite side salad. Any salad loaded with veggies is perfect.
- Serve as a side: For a quick, kid-approved dinner, pair these loaded tater tots with a family-favorite main, whether it’s as simple as Air Fryer Hot Dogs or Air Fryer Hamburgers, or go full comfort food with Gluten Free Fried Chicken.
More Easy Potato Side Dishes
Loaded Tater Tots with Bacon and Cheese
Ingredients
- ½ cup cooked and crumbled bacon (about 6-8 slices, 4 oz)
- 32 ounces frozen tater tots (gluten free, if needed, such as Ore Ida)
- salt and pepper , to taste
- 1 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese (4 oz, 115 grams)
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (4 oz, 115 grams)
- ½ cup sour cream (125 oz)
- 3 Tablespoons sliced green onions
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Cook bacon according to the package directions or using your preferred method, crumble, and set aside.
- Spread the 32 ounces frozen tater tots on a medium baking tray and bake at 425°F according to the package directions (usually around 25 minutes), stirring halfway to ensure an even, golden crust forms.
- Once golden brown, remove from the oven, season with salt and pepper to taste, and sprinkle 1 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese and 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese over the top. Return to the oven for another 5 minutes, just until the cheese is melted.
- Remove the tater tots from the oven and top with ½ cup cooked and crumbled bacon, ½ cup sour cream, and 3 Tablespoons sliced green onions and serve hot!
Notes
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